Women Emerging Podcast

Women Emerging

Every week, we produce a new episode that explores women and leadership from a different perspective. In a series of lively, wide-ranging discussions, we talk to women all over the world who are dealing with tough leadership challenges in their daily lives. We find out the barriers they face and how they are overcoming them; they share their experiences, insights and advice. (the series also informs and illustrates the expedition while it is underway and gives updates on the members’ progress.) Episodes come out every Wednesday and once a month, we do a live q&a.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    190. Transformational Leadership and How To Get Unstuck

    In this episode, Julia speaks with Mai Chen, constitutional lawyer, author, and change-maker, about one of the most overlooked challenges of leading finding the energy to keep going when you feel stuck.  Mai reflects on what she calls “transcending worlds” - the process of shifting from one phase of life or leadership into another, especially after exhaustion or disappointment. She shares how energy, not time, is the true currency of leading, and how we often drain it trying to meet expectations, fit into old definitions of success, or push through without rest.  The conversation explores how to pause without guilt, rebuild momentum after burnout, and reconnect with a sense of purpose that feels alive again. Mai’s reflections remind us that the real work of leading isn’t just about direction, it’s about the Energy that sustains it.  Listen to this episode to learn how to regenerate Energy when you’re stuck, and how to transcend the worlds that no longer serve your growth.  About the Guest:   Dr Mai Chen (LLB(Hons)(Otago), (LLM(Harvard),HonLLD(Otago), CMInstD), is a top barrister in NZ and President of NZ Asian Lawyers. She was previously Managing Partner, Chen Palmer Public and Employment law Specialists, independent non-executive Director, Bank of New Zealand Board, New Zealand, a member of the New Zealand Securities Commission member, Adjunct Professor at the University of Auckland Business School and School of Government, the Inaugural Chair, NZ Global Women, and a top 10 finalist, 2014 and 2016 New Zealander of the Year

    29 min

  2. 29 OCT

    189. WE Explorers Jenny & Unnati on Body & Disability

    In this episode, Julia speaks with Unnati and Jenny, two women who joined the Women Emerging expedition on leading with a disability or chronic condition, about what it means to lead when your body demands a different pace, and how that changes everything about how you lead yourself and your team.  They start by exploring the pressure to push through pain, mask discomfort, and pretend you’re fine, especially when you’re the one in charge. Both share the emotional cost of ignoring your limits, and what happens when you don’t give your team permission to share their pain and limitations.   From there, the conversation moves into the nuance of vulnerability. What do you share about your condition? When does it build trust and when does it start to center you too much?   Listen to this episode to rethink what strength looks like and to discover how self-awareness, emotional literacy, and forming a relationship with your body might just be the leadership shift we all need.  About the Guests:   Unnati Joshi is a development professional with over a decade of experience in community outreach, partnerships, and program management. Currently serving as a Senior Program Officer at Mountaintop International, she holds a degree in Psychology, an MBA in Marketing, and certifications in Counseling Psychology, CBT, and Adolescent Guidance. Committed to education and community development, she collaborates with social leaders and engages youth and women through storytelling circles, fostering spaces for connection and growth. An advocate for mental well-being, Unnati focuses on holistic development and community resilience while pursuing personal and professional growth.  Jenny is an advocate for ‘Systematic Inclusion’, bringing to life the criticality of accessibility if we are to become an equitably safe and sustainable world.  Jenny is dyslexic and has ADHD and believes that “the way that my brain is wired differently is an asset”. This led her to leading the Heathrow Inclusive Learners Partnership to ensure equitable pathways for learners to gain experience, internships and work.  Jenny advocates that each person should have an equitable seat at the table and creating an environment that is safe for everyone; to challenge and improve the way we interreact and build the world around us.

    35 min

  3. 22 OCT

    188. WE Explorers Lily & Melati on How Friendship Informs Co-leading

    In this final episode of the Changemakers series, Julia speaks with Lily and Melati, co-founders and co-leaders of their organisation, about what it really means to lead side by side.  The two reflect on the months they’ve just spent on the Women Emerging Expedition, realising again and again how rare and valuable it is to have a partner in leadership when so many peers are walking a lonely road. They talk about the power of being “the same but different” similar enough to share a wavelength, different enough to bring out each other’s strengths.  Lily and Melati also explore the challenges of co-leading: how a close friendship can fuel vision, stamina, and creativity, but also complicate leading others, setting boundaries, and making hard calls. They share glimpses of their day-to-day rhythm from long hours in Bali to impromptu walks through new cities and how that rhythm builds a kind of “leadership soulmate” energy that keeps their mission alive.  Listen to this episode to hear how friendship can make co-leading extraordinary and what it takes to keep that friendship strong while leading others.  About the guests:  Melati is a 24-year-old full-time changemaker and movement builder, and the founder of YOUTHTOPIA and Bye Bye Plastic Bags. She founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags at the age of 12, since then, Melati has spoken on world stages such as TED and the UN, she recently co-chaired the World Economic Forum GPAP committee, sat on the inaugural Expert Advisory Panel for the Earthshot Prize, and has had her film, Bigger Than Us, premiere at the 74th Cannes Film Festival 2021. Today, Melati launched her new company, YOUTHTOPIA, focusing on youth empowerment through short, meaningful peer to peer programs and providing them the tools they need to be changemakers. Her vision is to make YOUTHTOPIA the go-to platform for young changemakers.    Lily is a 22-year-old Singaporean-Iranian changemaker and one of the Co-Founders of YOUTHTOPIA. Since its launch in 2020, YOUTHTOPIA has focused on youth empowerment through peer-to-peer programmes, providing students with the tools they need to be changemakers. Currently, Lily is also a senior at Yale-NUS College studying Global Affairs and Environmental Studies. In line with the values of YOUTHTOPIA, Lily is an active changemaker in her community who leads the Moulmein-Cairnhill Mentoring and Tutoring Programme for disadvantaged students in Singapore, and is heavily involved in grassroots voluntary work. Lily is also the youngest ever elected PAP Policy Forum Council member, and is a vocal advocate for youth-centric policies within the government.

    27 min

  4. 15 OCT

    187. WE Explorers Maryam and Nivaal on Combining Listening and Decision-Making

    In this episode, Julia speaks with identical twins Maryam and Nivaal, who often lead together as one voice. They share how their approach to leading has evolved sometimes converging, sometimes diverging and how they balance respect for each other’s strengths with the need to make joint decisions. Maryam & Nivaal were part of Women Emerging expedition for Global Changemakers in partnership with Youthtopia The conversation explores a central dilemma for leaders: if you never listen, you risk mistakes and isolation; if you listen to everyone, you risk paralysis. Maryam and Neval talk candidly about how they’ve learned to find the balance, from setting boundaries around feedback to recognising when to say no, and creating structures that make input meaningful rather than overwhelming.  Listen to this episode to explore how to find your own voice as a leader while still creating space for others and how to balance inclusion with clarity when making tough decisions.  About the guest:   Maryam and Nivaal Rehman became activists when they were eight years old, and started inspiring girls in their village in Pakistan to continue their education, when poverty was leading them to quit school and work instead. The now 18-year-old twins have since worked in their local and global community for causes including girls’ education in Pakistan and around the world, climate justice, gender equality and inclusivity. They even have their own non-profit, The World With MNR, that uses advocacy, storytelling and development to take action and inspire others to do the same.They are continuing their activism through volunteering, traveling and sharing their experiences through their social media and their YouTube channel, The World With MNR. They’ve used their platform to cover several events — from the Social Good Summit in New York City, to the Girl Up Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. — and interview global figures, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, and Madame Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank. Their activism has led to recognition in media and several awards, including the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award (now the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers). Most recently, they released their documentary on the status of girls’ education in Pakistan, and held global screenings to spark further conversation and inspire audience members to take action themselves.

    29 min

  5. 8 OCT

    186. WE Explorer Belai on Leading Without Words: Art, Rhythm, and Connection

    In this episode, Julia speaks with Belai, a young changemaker and artist, about the power of leading without words.    Belai shares how she uses traditional art forms like music, dance, and weaving as leadership tools to connect people, shift energy, and ground communities in shared purpose. From playing the sape (a traditional healing instrument) to leading communal dances and weaving circles, she shows how leadership can transcend language barriers and invite deeper connection.  She also speaks candidly about the risks of relying too much on words, the burnout young activists face, and the importance of replenishing energy to sustain change-making over the long run.  Listen to discover how leadership can be quiet yet powerful—an invitation, a rhythm, a flow of energy that unites people and sustains movements.  About the guest:   Belai is a Health and Human Sciences student and climate activist currently studying in Sheffield, UK. Her passion for both human and environmental health combine in Planetary Health. Descending from the Dayak people of Borneo, she is also involved in supporting the development of local and customary communities in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

    35 min

  6. 1 OCT

    185. WE Explorer Ghina on Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Lead

    In this episode of the series with explores from Changemakers expedition, Julia speaks with Ghina, a 24-year-old law graduate whose message is simple and urgent: don’t wait to lead.  Growing up the youngest of four sisters, Ghina absorbed early lessons that leadership isn’t a title but a mindset, something you practice long before anyone calls you a leader. She reflects on the battles with self-doubt, modesty, and cultural expectations that made her hesitate to step forward, and the turning points when she decided to challenge herself and lead anyway.  Ghina speaks about the different ways of leading sometimes from the front, sometimes alongside, sometimes from behind and why knowing yourself is key to choosing which way to step up. She also talks honestly about exhaustion, criticism, and the ever-present voices of insecurity, and how she counters them with one conviction: my dreams are bigger than my doubts.  Listen to this episode to explore why starting early matters, how to lead without copying others, and why finding and owning your own voice is the most powerful act of change.  About the guest:   As a law graduate, Ghina Rai has been fearlessly advocating women's rights through many channels, including her own social community, InPower Indonesia, which focuses on women's substantive representation in policymaking. Through her unyielding commitment to championing the cause of the marginalized, she imparts hope and inspires change by teaching refugees and living with labour rights movements. She also used her writings online to shed light on inequalities and serve as a call to action. In her leisure time, she practices martial arts, showcasing the unlimited potential of women.

    29 min

  7. 24 SEPT

    184. Navigating the World We Live In with Hope – Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro

    In this standalone episode, Julia turns to Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, global leader and philanthropist, for wisdom on how to lead with hope in a world that often feels overwhelming.  Musimbi reflects on lessons from communities she has worked with around the world, including Indigenous women in Peru who remind us that as long as we are alive, we cannot live without hope. She speaks about hope not as naïve optimism, but as an active choice: showing up each day, making small differences, and course-correcting even when change feels impossibly far away.  She also shares how to be authentic while carrying hope for others, the importance of joy and resilience in dark times, and the balance between acknowledging doubt and refusing to be paralysed by it. From drawing on history to noticing the smallest sparks of change, Musimbi shows that hope is both a practice and a responsibility.  Listen to this episode to discover how to navigate today’s world with courage, joy, and hope and why leading with hope is not optional, but essential.  About the guest-   Musimbi Kanyoro is a globally respected leader in education, philanthropy, and women’s empowerment. She is the Chair of the Board at UWC International, guiding a worldwide education movement for peace and sustainability. Previously, she was President and CEO of Global Fund for Women, where she oversaw over $140 million in grantmaking and elevated the organisation’s global influence. Musimbi has also held senior leadership roles at the Packard Foundation, World YWCA, and Lutheran World Federation. With a PhD in Linguistics and advanced studies in theology, she is recognised internationally as a trailblazer championing women’s leadership, rights, and cross-cultural collaboration.

    24 min

  8. 17 SEPT

    183. How to Lead: Balancing Task, Team, and Individual – Julia Cleverdon Returns

    In this episode of the How to Lead – 2025 Edition series, Julia Middleton revisits a Women Emerging favourite: Julia Cleverdon’s framework of task, team, and individual.  Back by popular demand after her earlier episodes (95 and 96), Julia Cleverdon returns to answer listener questions on how leaders can hold these three circles in balance. She shares insights on building strong teams without letting prima donnas dominate, sustaining energy when cynicism creeps in, and the challenges of leading virtual teams. She also reflects on when it’s right to focus heavily on a task, and when the priority must shift to nurturing individuals or repairing culture.  The conversation makes clear that the art of leading isn’t about perfect equilibrium, but about knowing when to lean into one circle more than the others without ever letting any of them drop.  Listen to this episode to explore how task, team, and individual interact in real-world leadership and why the most effective leaders never lose sight of all three.  About the guest:  Dame Julia Cleverdon is Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund. She was previously Chief Executive of Business in the Community from 1991 to 2007 and later Special Adviser to The Prince’s Charities.  Julia co-founded Step Up To Serve (#iwill) and is Vice Patron of Teach First, having been its first chair. She served on the Careers and Enterprise Company and Fair Education Alliance boards, and was previously chair of the National Literacy Trust. She is Patron of Right to Succeed and chaired Place Matters and the National Statistician’s Committee on Inclusive Data.

    35 min
See All (190)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Every week, we produce a new episode that explores women and leadership from a different perspective. In a series of lively, wide-ranging discussions, we talk to women all over the world who are dealing with tough leadership challenges in their daily lives. We find out the barriers they face and how they are overcoming them; they share their experiences, insights and advice. (the series also informs and illustrates the expedition while it is underway and gives updates on the members’ progress.) Episodes come out every Wednesday and once a month, we do a live q&a.

Information

  • Creator
    Women Emerging
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    190
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Women Emerging
  • Show Website
    Women Emerging Podcast

You Might Also Like