Episode Description

In this episode, Julia Middleton is joined by Unjela Kaleem to explore the fine line between leading with empathy and overstepping, even with the best of intentions. Leading is not just about taking action it is about knowing when to step in and when to hold back.

“In the words of Albert Camus, ‘Good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence, if they lack understanding.’” Unjela reminds us that in moments of crisis, when there is only a split second to make a key decision, leaders must pause and question their instinct to fix everything. Sometimes, intervening, even with the right intentions, can mean crossing a line.

Navigating diverse cultural contexts in a globalized world adds another layer of complexity. What is appropriate in one setting may be intrusive in another, putting even the most experienced leaders in a difficult position.

Listen in to explore how to strike the right balance between support and overstepping, ensuring that your leadership empowers rather than overpowers.

About the Guests

Unjela Kaleem

Unjela Kaleem has 20+ years of experience as a senior leader across Oceania, Europe, Africa, MENA, and Asia in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and public affairs with diverse organizations such as Nestle, UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS), The World Bank, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (IFPMA), SITA aero, Overseas Investors Chamber (OICCI), Dow Jones newswires, and the BBC. She was also the first female CEO of an international chamber of commerce in Asia.

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.

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