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Episode Description

In this joyful and heartwarming episode, Julia interviews Ani, a Buddhist nun and musician, who shares her unique perspective on leadership, emphasising the importance of leading with compassion and using small, thoughtful actions like gifting someone a beautiful pair of shoes to make a meaningful impact. “Leadership should resonate in your persona and inspire others with the joy you carry within,” Ani reflects.
She also discusses how leadership is not about rigid authority but about connecting with people in a way that encourages positive energy. “The more you give joy, the more it increases,” she says, highlighting the infectious nature of a true smile.

Following Ani, Julia introduces Harriet, a courageous leader who has stayed in Northern Uganda despite facing tremendous challenges, including the violence many women there have experienced. Harriet’s resilience and dedication are a testament to the power of leading with compassion and empathy. She too believes that leadership, while demanding, should come from a place of authenticity and connection with others.

Listen to this one to explore how these simple acts of leadership can transform lives .

About the Guests

Ani Choying Drolma

Ani Choying Drolma is a renowned Nepalese Buddhist nun, singer, and philanthropist. Known as the “Singing Nun,” she has gained international acclaim for her spiritual music that blends traditional Tibetan chants with contemporary melodies. Beyond her musical career, Ani Choying is a passionate advocate for education and gender equality. She founded the Nuns Welfare Foundation of Nepal, which works to empower young girls through education and provides opportunities for nuns to gain vocational skills. Her inspiring work has made her a global ambassador for compassion and change.

Harriet Adong

Harriet Adong is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Integrated Rural Development (FIRD) in Uganda, with over a decade of experience in peacebuilding, gender advocacy, and human rights. A skilled social scientist, Harriet focuses on designing impactful programs for women, girls, and indigenous communities, addressing issues like conflict-related sexual violence and climate justice. Her work combines advocacy, mentorship, and capacity-building to create sustainable change and empower marginalized groups.

About the Host

Julia Middleton

Julia Middleton is the host of the Women Emerging podcast and a best-selling author of “If that’s leading, I’m in” as well as two previous books: “Leading beyond Authority” and “Cultural Intelligence”. She is deeply committed to helping people from all backgrounds to find their own approach to leading.

In 2020, Julia launched Women Emerging and in 2022 she lead an expedition of 24 women to find ‘an approach to leading that resonates with women’. She now leads expeditions with women all over the world based on 4Es methodology, discovered in the first expedition.

Prior to that, Julia was founder and, for over thirty years, Chief Executive of Common Purpose, which grew to become one of the biggest leadership development organisations in the world.
Julia is also an Ambassador for the Aurora Prize based in Armenia, on the boards of Alfanar Venture Philanthropy in the Arab World and Equality Now which operates globally, and on the Advisory Councils of Fundacao Dom Cabral in Brazil and Synapse in Pakistan.

Born in London and brought up in New York, Julia was educated at French Lycées and graduated from the London School of Economics. She is married, with five children and lots of grandchildren.