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Episode Description

In this episode of the podcast, Julia delves into the lessons and insights she has gained throughout her leadership expedition. Through the lenses of generational differences, gender dynamics, and the evolving role of technology, Julia unpacks how her journey has reshaped her understanding of leadership. She discusses the joy of working with women, the power of creating the right culture, the art of ferocious listening, and the resilience required to navigate moments of uncertainty—all while staying agile and playful.
“Reframing all these perceived weaknesses of women and reframing them as our strengths… In the modern day, they are our strengths. We need them badly. We need to be emotional. We need to not be full of ourselves. We need to be irrational. We need to ask questions. We need to push back. We need to think differently and be confidently different.” Julia reflects on the need to consciously reframe generational influences and perceived weaknesses, transforming challenges like imposter syndrome and biases into strengths that drive humility, empathy, and innovation.
Julia reveals four personal breakthroughs and invites listeners to rethink leadership as authentic, agile, and transformative. Thus, the episode invites listeners to rethink leadership as a dynamic, inclusive, and holistic practice, one that embraces emotional intelligence, intergenerational collaboration, and a willingness to challenge traditional paradigms.

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.