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Episode Description

In this episode, Julia speaks with five young women leaders: Olivia, Temilade, Enaya, Karimot, and Meenakshi who reflect on how leadership is evolving through the perspectives of a younger generation. These women share how their experiences of navigating issues like climate change, social equity, and personal identity have shaped their approach to leadership. Their stories highlight the tension between adapting to traditional models and forging new paths that align with their values of empathy, collaboration, and inclusivity.

“The moment you take an initiative to solve a problem, you are already a leader. Leadership is simply making a change where you are, in your space, as little as it can be.”

These young leaders view leadership as accessible and inclusive rather than a title or position. They observe the proactive and transformative approach that young women can advocate taking responsibility to address issues in their immediate environments, no matter the scale. Central to their discussion is the desire to redefine leadership as a human-centric practice, emphasising respect, kindness, and the dismantling of hierarchical barriers. Each leader underscores the urgency of action and the necessity of intergenerational collaboration to address global challenges effectively.

Listen to this one to gain insight into unique priorities and challenges faced by young women leaders today and learn how they are challenging the status quo to create a more equitable and inclusive leadership landscape.

About the Guests

Olivia Grobocopatel

Olivia Grobocopatel is a consultant with a diverse background in public policy, social enterprise, and economic development. Currently with IDOYA, she focuses on inclusive transformation and policy implementation. Olivia holds dual Master’s degrees in Global and International History from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, where her research explored regional integration and development in South America.
With professional experience spanning industrial operations at Techint, social enterprise at Matriarca SRL, and policy advisory work in Namibia through the Harvard Growth Lab, Olivia combines global perspective with hands-on expertise. She is passionate about indigenous cultures, the assimilation of globalization, and peace processes in Latin America, advocating for public policy solutions grounded in historical research and local development.

Temilade Salami

Temilade Salami, also known as Global Temi, is a passionate Nigerian Climate Education and Communications expert, and the Executive Director of EcoChampions, an organization dedicated to empowering young people in Africa with the tools and knowledge necessary for impactful climate action. She believes that climate education is key to addressing the climate crisis and that young people, equipped with the right skills and information, can lead the charge in developing innovative solutions. Temilade has earned numerous accolades for her work in sustainability, including being named one of Nigeria’s 25 Under 25 Leaders on Energy and Sustainability in 2020. She is also a 2018 LASEPA Ambassador against Noise Pollution, a 2018 Idea Hub Africa Talent of the Future, and a US Consulate’s Carrington Youth Fellow.
She is an advocate for scaling climate education across Africa and works to close the education gap that limits young people’s ability to address the effects of climate change. Through her work, Temilade has created platforms like the Climate Education Leaders Fellowship to help young Africans lead the way in the global fight for a sustainable future.

Enaya Noor Mian

Enaya Mian is a 17-year-old from Karachi, Pakistan, and the founder of the Youth Circle of Synapse, a youth-led organization dedicated to raising mental health awareness among young people in Pakistan. Passionate about creating positive change, she actively advocates for open conversations around mental well-being. Currently pursuing her A Levels at Karachi Grammar School, Enaya aspires to a future in Journalism and Gender Studies. Beyond her advocacy, she enjoys reading, music, and true crime podcasts, blending her curiosity and creativity to inspire and inform others.

Karimot Odebode

Karimot Odebode is a Nigerian poet, education advocate, and founder of the Black Girl’s Dream Initiative, a youth-led organization working to close the gender gap in education through the arts, advocacy, technology, and sports. She is the author of A Woman Has Many Names, a poetry collection amplifying the voices of women and advancing sustainable development.
Recognised globally for her work, Karimot created the Transform Education anthem for the United Nations Girls Education Initiative and has been featured by the Global Education Summit, Plan International, and BBC Media Action. She was named one of the 2022 UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals and honored by the Oyo State Government as one of 100 influential young people for her advocacy.
A former Youth Champion for ONE Campaign, Karimot continues to use her poetry and activism to empower girls and women, creating a world where they can thrive.

Meenakshi Arundhati

Meenakshi Arundhati is an actor, writer, and researcher with a passion for exploring the intersections of culture, history, and performance. With a diploma in Acting and Theatre Making from The Drama School, Mumbai, Meenakshi is deeply engaged in the creative arts and committed to using theatre as a means of personal and social transformation.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, with a major in History, from the Manipal Centre for Humanities at Manipal Academy of Higher Education. Her academic background in history and the arts informs her creative work, blending storytelling with a nuanced understanding of culture and society. Meenakshi has also published works such as A Dancer’s Guide to Writing Fiction and Orienting Odissi – A Personal Reflection. As an actor and writer, Meenakshi continues to explore new dimensions of storytelling, with a focus on creating work that challenges norms and invites critical reflection.

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.