Episode Description
This episode tells us the inception story of Women Emerging. Julia is joined by 7 women from Polynesia, Egypt, Germany, the UK, Uganda, the US and Zambia to discuss how women leadership looks like in different countries.
It all started in the very beginning of covid, a strange time for everyone where coping with isolation from covid had become a priority. For Julia, the word ‘isolation’ acted as a metaphor for the isolation that women have been in and suffered from for centuries. and so began the journey of speaking to some amazing women from all over the world.
This episode is a mosaic of hope, courage, and transformation that informs us about redefining empathy, reclaiming emotional intelligence, and challenging societal norms that marginalise women.
About the Guests
Sina Wendt
Council Member, Auckland University of Technology
Sina Wendt is a Pacific leader of Samoan, German, and English heritage, renowned for her contributions to governance and leadership development. Appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022, she brings over 25 years of experience across the commercial, public, and non-profit sectors. Committed to fostering culturally intelligent leadership and upholding Te Tiriti principles, Sina specializes in governance, strategic transformation, and cross-cultural collaboration, with a focus on creating equitable outcomes for Māori and diverse communities. A skilled facilitator and speaker, she thrives on building partnerships and empowering leaders for the 21st century.
Saba Al Mubaslat
Regional Director – MENA, Ford Foundation
Saba Al Mubaslat is a humanitarian leader and social justice advocate, serving as Regional Director for MENA at the Ford Foundation. With over 25 years in humanitarian response, including roles as CEO of The Asfari Foundation and the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, she has driven localized solutions to global challenges. A champion of grassroots empowerment and sustainable change, Saba has led initiatives supporting vulnerable communities across the Middle East, leveraging her expertise to foster collaboration, resilience, and impactful philanthropy.
Katja Weisheit
Marketing, Turtle Foundation
Katja is an urban planner and climate advocate, currently interning at C40 Cities, where she supports international urban climate action. A UCL graduate with experience in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism from the University of Copenhagen, she has conducted research on green infrastructure in Yerevan and co-founded Caucasus Connect, an arts initiative promoting regional youth unity. An award-winning scholar, musician, and polyglot, Katja is passionate about collective action, inclusive education, and building bridges across cultures.
Victoria
Mentor CliniQ. London
Victoria is a British-Spanish Argentinian trans woman passionate about empowering the transgender community. With over 25 years in arts and culture as an events organizer and performer, she champions trans representation and inclusion. Since 2021, Victoria has mentored and assessed trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals at CliniQ in London, becoming its Director in 2023. Her contributions extend to youth support, consultancy, and volunteering in LGBTQ+ initiatives.
Harriet Adong
Executive Director, Foundation for Integration Rural Development
Harriet Adong is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Integrated Rural Development (FIRD) in Uganda, with over a decade of experience in social science, gender, and human rights advocacy. A dedicated peacebuilder and mentor, Harriet specializes in addressing conflict-related sexual violence, empowering women and girls, and designing programs for marginalized communities. Her work extends to capacity building for organizational leaders and civil society, fostering climate justice, youth empowerment, and Indigenous rights. Harriet is a strategic advocate committed to sustainable, evidence-based solutions for advancing equality and human dignity.
Erum Sattar
Lecturer, Water Diplomacy Track Leader and Programme Lead Sustainable
Water Management Tuffs Institute of the environment, Friedman School of
Nutrition Science and Policy Tutts University
Erum Sattar is a Lecturer and former Program Director for the Sustainable Water Management program at the Institute of the Environment, Tufts University. With a Ph.D. from Harvard University, Erum specializes in sustainable water resources, fostering innovative solutions to address global water challenges. A dedicated educator and thought leader, she has contributed as a judge for events like the MIT Water, Food, & Agriculture Innovation Prize. Erum’s expertise bridges academia and practical application, empowering communities to navigate complex environmental issues with resilience and creativity.
Chulu Chansa
Founder, Africana
Chulu Chansa is a Personal Brand Strategist, award-winning podcaster, and host of the Africana Woman podcast, dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to craft distinctive brand identities. With a background in architecture that fuels her creative problem-solving, Chulu has over 14 years of diverse experience spanning education, wellness, marketing, and governance. A passionate advocate for growth and evolution, she inspires professionals to “Just Start, Dream Big, and Evolve,” while sharing insights through her newsletter, The Introvert Networker. Chulu is also a leadership coach, wellness entrepreneur, and community builder in Zambia and beyond.
About the Host
Julia Middleton
Founder, Women Emerging
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.
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