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Episode Description

This is the second episode that delves into the inner workings of the Women Emerging Expedition: a seven-month virtual journey designed to reimagine leadership for women. Julia speaks with Ana and Mona about their previous expeditions. Julia explains how the Women Emerging expedition will bring together 24 women from diverse backgrounds, connecting monthly to exchange ideas and challenge each other’s perspectives. In between, members will independently reach out to women worldwide, gathering stories about leadership that reflect real-life struggles, successes, and lessons.
At the heart of the expedition is a collaborative process: pooling insights, testing ideas, and redefining leadership in ways that resonate with women. Julia shares the ambitious plans for the outcomes, including a collective “collection” phase to disseminate the findings. From open-source resources and a book to creative projects like music compositions, the expedition seeks to inspire and empower women globally.
Julia reflects, “It’s not just about creating a leadership model. It’s about inspiring women to say, ‘If that’s leadership, I’m in.’” (the foundation for Julia’s book – If That’s Leading, I Am In)
This episode offers an inspiring glimpse into the expedition’s innovative approach, its emphasis on collaboration, and its potential to redefine how leadership (leading) is understood and practiced.

About the Guests

Ana Porzecanski

Ana Luz Porzecanski is director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American University of Natural History. Ana Luz Porzecanski is a renowned biodiversity conservation specialist with extensive experience in scientific research, education, and professional training. Dedicated to understanding and preserving biodiversity, Ana Luz has designed and led capacity development projects across Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the United States, working to enhance conservation efforts and professional growth for diverse audiences.

Mona Singh

Mona Singh holds the board chair of Women Moving Millions. Sharmila (Mona) Sinha is a renowned advocate for gender equality with over 25 years of experience in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. At Equality Now, Mona has been instrumental in directing over $1 billion toward projects that enhance women’s economic agency and support women leaders. She serves on various non-profit boards, including Women Moving Millions and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, and has previously chaired the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition’s Fund for Women’s Equality.

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.