Women Emerging Podcast

In this episode, Julia speaks with Ebisan about trust — and why it begins not with others, but with learning to trust ourselves. Ebisan reflects on how she approaches relationships with openness, but also with hesitation — not as fear, but as discernment. She talks about trusting the signals we feel in our bodies, and how gut instinct often tells us when something feels right, or when something feels off, long before we can explain it. The conversation explores how trust is built in layers, through consistency, accountability, and paying attention to behaviour over time. Ebisan shares how trust looks different across cultures, generations, and contexts — and why what feels trustworthy in one situation may not translate directly into another. Ebisan and Julia also speak candidly about disappointment — what happens when trust is broken, why we often feel more disappointed in ourselves than in others, and how ignoring early signals can leave us feeling foolish rather than angry. This episode is a reminder that trusting others starts with self-trust — listening carefully, questioning our instincts when needed, and learning to hold openness and hesitation in balance as we navigate relationships. About the Guest: Ebisan Akisanya, Chairman, WIMBIZ Board of Trustees, is a seasoned development professional with nearly 30 years of experience driving social impact across corporate and nonprofit sectors. Her passion for inclusive growth is reflected in her active service on several not-for-profit boards, where she contributes to initiatives that address systemic social inequities and uplift vulnerable populations. She currently serves as coordinator, Corporate Responsibility and National Programs at Chevron Nigeria, where she leads initiatives that drive sustainable impact. Ebisan holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Lagos. Beyond her corporate role, Ebisan is also an active member of the African Philanthropy Forum (APF), a dynamic network of social investors committed to advancing development across the continent.

In this episode, Julia speaks with Geetanjali Sampemane about trust — and what it really takes to build systems that people are willing to rely on, even when they do not fully understand how those systems work. Geeta reflects on her early work helping connect institutions in India to the internet, and how mistrust of new technology gradually shifted through familiarity, experience, and positive outcomes. She shares how trust is rarely based on complete knowledge — it is a judgement call, shaped by risk, context, and past experience. The conversation explores why trust is fragile and difficult to rebuild once broken, and how negative experiences undermine not only our trust in systems, but also our confidence in our own judgement. Geeta also speaks about the role of those designing systems — the importance of clarity, reliability, predictability, and security — and why trust is strengthened when expectations are shared, behaviour is consistent, and mistakes are acknowledged rather than hidden. This episode is a reminder that trust is not blind belief. It is built through constant attention, thoughtful design, and the quiet work of making systems worthy of the people who depend on them. About the Guest: Geetanjali Sampemane is a software engineer at Google London, where she focuses on designing systems for security, privacy and transparency. She started her career helping countries get connected to the Internet, first in India with the ERNet project, and then with the UNDP’s Sustainable Development Networking Programme. She got to see first-hand how people and organisations learn to trust new technology.

In this episode, Julia speaks with Swatee Deepak about trust — taking the conversation beyond how it is built to the factors that quietly break it. Swatee works at the intersection of philanthropy, gender equality, and community building, and is the founding partner of Shake The Table.Swatee reflects on her experience convening groups of women philanthropists — many of whom arrive already cautious and guarded — and why trust cannot survive without clarity. When people feel unclear about purpose, expectations, or what the exchange really is, trust begins to erode.She introduces the idea of friendship as method — an ethic grounded in mutuality, shared responsibility, and human connection. Trust, she explains, weakens when communities become centred on the convenor, when power is misused, or when transparency gives way to cleverness.The conversation names the moments where trust fractures: when people feel used, manipulated, unrecognised, or unvalidated. When surprises replace honesty. When boundaries blur. When humility disappears.This episode is a reminder that trust rarely breaks in one dramatic moment. More often, it breaks in small, avoidable ways — and it is the work of the leader to notice them before it is too late.About the Guest: Swatee Deepak works at the intersection of philanthropy, gender equality, academia, the arts and community building. She is the founding partner of Shake The Table and Closer Than You Think, Co-Chair of the Global Fund for Children and EMpower – The Emerging Markets Foundation, Advisory member of the L'Oreal Fund for Women and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Marshall Institute at the London School of Economics. Across her work, from advising governments, corporations, foundations and families of wealth to co-founding initiatives that centre solidarity and shared power. Swatee brings a deep commitment to creating communities rooted in trust, mutuality, and integrity.

In this episode, Julia speaks with Sheila Gujrathi about trust: why it sits at the heart of running a business, and why it becomes even more critical as responsibility, complexity, and stakes increase.Sheila reflects that trust is important for all working relationships: between founders and teams, executives and boards, leaders and investors, and why without it, progress stalls. But she is clear: trust does not begin with others. It begins with trusting yourself; your judgement, your instincts, and the signals you learn to listen to over time.The conversation explores how experience, conditioning, and past trauma shape how we trust. Whether that shows up as self-doubt, over-trusting others, or good girl syndrome in the hope of gaining approval. Sheila shares how these patterns can feel useful early in a career but become limiting as responsibility grows.She also speaks about learning to stop blanket trusting people, becoming more discerning, and intentionally building environments of trust by surrounding herself with peers who offer honesty, clarity, and reflection.This episode is a reminder that trust is not blind optimism. It is a daily practice and quiet work that makes running a business possible.About the Guest: SHEILA GUJRATHI, MD, is a biotech entrepreneur, executive, champion for under-represented leaders, and author of the bestselling book The Mirror Effect: A Transformative Approach to Growth for The Next Generation of Female Leaders. Over the past 25 years, she’s had the privilege of developing life-changing medicines for patients with serious diseases while building and running private and public biotech companies—including some exciting exits. Today she’s a founder, chairwoman, board director, strategic advisor, and consultant to start-up companies and investment funds. She co-founded the Biotech CEO Sisterhood, a group of trailblazing female CEOs—because we’re all better when we support each other.

In the first episode of our new series on Trust, Julia speaks with Samar Ali, a lifelong peacebuilder, about how leaders can build trust in environments where it feels most fragile. Drawing on years of experience leading peacebuilding efforts, Samar explains why trust isn’t created once and for all, but built step by step through curiosity, careful listening, and naming what others may hesitate to say. She reflects how leaders can acknowledge their own struggles without losing credibility, and why this honesty helps teams do the same. The conversation also explores what happens when trust is absent inside organisations. Samar outlines the practical consequences: fewer ideas, missed opportunities, reputational harm, high stress, lawsuits, and teams unable to withstand crises. She contrasts this with what becomes possible when leaders put trust at the centre more innovation, healthier workplaces, and stronger resilience in moments of crisis. Listen to this episode to learn why building trust is not just a moral choice but a practical necessity and how peacebuilding lessons can reshape the way we lead. About the Guest: Samar S. Ali is a skilled mediator, a careful listener, and a compassionate teacher. Pulling up a chair to tables around the world, Ali engages in some of the most entrenched conflicts of our time, always with the intent of finding positive resolution through common ground. In this pursuit, Ali is a Research Professor of Political Science and Law at Vanderbilt University, the founding President and CEO of Millions of Conversations, and co-chair of the Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy. This work places Ali right at the intersection of national security, human rights and economic development.

In this episode, Julia brings together ten women from across the world who each share one word from their own language that sits at the heart of how they lead. Each woman offers her word as a gift: a word that captures how she leads, shaped by where she comes from and what she has lived. As each woman explains why she chose her word, we begin to see how language shapes leading and how it influences the way trust is built, care is expressed, decisions are made, and responsibility is carried. Taken together, the words reveal a wide spectrum of how women lead: with love, joy, service, curiosity, humility, humanity, empathy, trust, integrity, and wisdom. This episode is a reminder that leading is deeply personal and that sometimes, the words we lead with say more than any framework ever could. About the Guests: Maryam Pasha is a Storytelling strategist, producer and curator. She is co-founder of XEQUALS Studio, a creative studio dedicated to telling stories that can create a just, sustainable and joyful future. Projects include TEDxLondon, the Climate Curious Podcast and THE HERDS London. Anna Kalmár is a social entrepreneur and mental health professional, the founder of the Budapest based mental health initiative, AdniJóga. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge and currently serves on the board of the Hungarian Coalition of Social Enterprises. Isata Kabia is the Founding Director of Voice of Women Africa, an organization focused on empowering women in Sierra Leone. Sheila Gujrathi, MD is a biotech entrepreneur and executive, healthcare investor, drug developer, and speaker with over 25 years of experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Dr Mai Chen (LLB(Hons)(Otago), (LLM(Harvard),HonLLD(Otago), CMInstD), is a top barrister in NZ and President of NZ Asian Lawyers. Chadia El Meouchi is the Managing Partner at Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm Sonia Adell Valen is a scientific communication and training specialist whose work sits at the intersection of medical education, evidence, and clear, human-centred communication. Manuela Algañaraz works in commercial roles within social enterprises, focused on building partnerships and revenue models that support social impact at Bemtevi Negócios Sociais. Unjela Kaleem is a communications and public affairs leader with over two decades of global experience helping organisations protect reputation, influence policy, and build trust across complex, high-stakes environments. Saki Chen is an attorney licensed to practice in both New York and China, and a certified FAA private pilot with ratings for fixed wing land and sea, instrument flying, high performance, and complex aircraft. She serves as the China Governor for The Ninety-Nines, Inc., the international organisation of women pilots. In 2016, Saki flew around the world in a small single-engine aircraft, an extraordinary journey that combined precision, perseverance, and a pioneering spirit.

In this episode, Julia speaks with Anna Kalmer, a social entrepreneur who founded a yoga-based organisation supporting refugees, children in state care, mothers raising children with disabilities, and others facing adversity.Anna shares how stepping into leading wasn’t a grand decision it happened when the organisation she created began to truly form, and people started looking to her for direction. Suddenly, she realised she wasn’t becoming the leader. She already was one, long before she felt ready for the title.She talks about seeking coaching in the early years because she couldn’t even say out loud, “I am a social entrepreneur.” She thought she needed to adopt a louder, more traditionally “masculine” style of leading to be taken seriously. But as she describes beautifully, that didn’t fit. The journey wasn’t about changing herself rather it was about authorising herself. And about discovering an approach to leading that is both caring and fierce, collaborative and boundaried.This episode is a reminder that great leading doesn’t come from reshaping yourself into someone else’s mould. It comes from being anchored in who you are and being brave enough to stand firm in it.About the Guest:Anna Kalmár is a social entrepreneur and mental health professional, the founder of the Budapest based mental health initiative, AdniJóga.She holds a Master’s degree in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge and currently serves on the board of the Hungarian Coalition of Social Enterprises.She has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Hungary and named one of the Top 100 European Women in Social Enterprise in 2023. She is passionate about understanding how systemic change happens and how we can shape more just and equitable societies.

In this episode, Julia speaks with Maryam Pasha, Executive Director & Curator of TEDxLondon, about the power of owning your narrative and why clarity about who you are changes how you lead. Maryam shares that narrative isn’t just about telling your story. It’s about deciding the foundation on which you stand. When you don’t define your narrative, she says, you end up living someone else’s. She talks about the moment she realised she had been shrinking herself; to be agreeable, to be easy, to take up less space and how everything changed when she chose to show up with certainty and self-respect. She describes the shift from being shaped by the expectations of others to shaping her own direction: a shift that gave her confidence, presence, and the ability to speak and act with conviction. When you know what you’re trying to do in the world, she says, you stop asking for permission and start owning your place in the room. This episode is a reminder that leading doesn’t begin when others believe in you. It begins when you do. About the Guest:  Maryam Pasha is a Storytelling strategist, producer and curator. She is co-founder of XEQUALS Studio, a creative studio dedicated to telling stories that can create a just, sustainable and joyful future. Projects include TEDxLondon, the Climate Curious Podcast and THE HERDS London. As a storyteller and coach she has worked with hundreds of speakers, including philanthropists, Nobel-prize-winning academics, business leaders, technical experts, activists and students. She has helped organisations to raise over a $1.5 billion to fight climate change, worked on talks that have been viewed over 25 million times and supported activists who’ve successfully changed the law in England to protect girls from child marriage. Earlier this year she joined the Palestine Comedy Club as an Exec Producer, is on the board on Climate Spring and a visiting Fellow at Oxford University.  

In this episode, Julia speaks with Varsha, a WE Explorer, about discovering that her Essence of motherness is a powerful anchor for how she leads. She was part of the Women Emerging expedition for women leading in India, in partnership with Buzz Women.   Varsha shares how she had never thought intentionally about leading until she realised the models she had been exposed to didn’t match who she was. Growing up in a matrilineal family, she saw a form of leading that was shared, facilitative, caring but also clear and confident. The Expedition helped her name this Essence and understand that motherness is not a limitation, it is leadership.  She talks about Energy; how leaders generate it by checking in on teammates, reminding teams of purpose, celebrating small and big wins, and at times stepping in with her own raw Energy when everyone else is depleted. And she is honest about the boundaries needed to protect that Energy, including saying no and switching off.  Varsha also speaks of India’s many feminine archetypes- nurturing, fierce, strategic - and how dismissing motherness at work dismisses the very source of strength and Energy that she brings. Her leadership, she’s learned, lingers in the people she supports, the belief she builds, and the care she normalises.  This episode reminds us that when women lead from who they truly are, they sustain not just themselves, but everyone around them. About the Guest:  Dr Varsha Pillai leads Gender Diversity and Advocacy for Women in Manufacturing at Tata Electronics, working to strengthen workplace cultures and progression pathways for women. With over two decades in communications, her passion for exploring how media shapes gender and social change led to a PhD in Gender Advocacy in Digital Media from Symbiosis International University. Recognised with fellowships in India, the Netherlands, and Geneva, and named a Changemaker by Change.org India, Varsha brings both lived insight and analytical rigour to advancing equality in organisations and beyond.  

In this episode, Julia speaks with Vijaya, a WE Explorer about her powerful reframing of vulnerability from weakness to strength.  She was part of the Women Emerging expedition for women leading in India, in partnership with Buzz Women. Vijaya begins by reflecting on how she grew up believing that showing vulnerability made you unreliable, less capable, and easier to dismiss. As a founder and leader, this belief pushed her into toughness, especially during the crisis year of 2020, when her organisation hit zero revenue and she carried the weight of answers she didn’t have. Through the Expedition’s conversations, she realised that vulnerability is not the opposite of strength it is a form of strength. But it comes with boundaries. Her biggest insight:  vulnerability should build trust, not become confession. She talks about how leaders can reveal enough to be relatable, human, and accessible without destabilising teams or exposing themselves in ways that create long-lasting, unhelpful impressions. She also shares what she’s learned about leading across generations, and how every age group brings its own version of vulnerability to the workplace. This episode is a reminder that leading is not about having all the answers. It’s about creating the space where honest conversations grounded, thoughtful, and human can happen. About the Guest: Vijaya Balaji – CEO and Managing Director, Toolbox India Foundation and Principal Founder at Social Lens Consulting is amongst the pioneers in advising Nonprofit organizations on organization development and strengthening requirements. In her diverse experience working in the Social Impact Sector, Vijaya has worked as an Impact and Capacity building and Organization development practitioner, she has coached organizations over 750 + organizations, designed diagnostic and assessment tools and toolkits, and technology enabled platforms for organizations. Her experience built over the last 14 years includes the conceptualization of the capacity enhancement and organization development at The GROW fund, The Better World Initiative, Parivartan, the Social Impact Optimization Program, Forbes Fellowship and the Value Circle at toolbox INDIA. Vijaya serves on the boards of 2 nonprofit organizations as part of steering them in the fulfillment of their strategic vision and goals. She is an evaluator at the Echoing Green fellowship, a past Advisory member of the India @75 – a CII Initiative and her podcast ‘covering ground ‘spotlights ground realities of social change making organizations. The Founder’s Table hosted by her brings the stories and journeys of founders and their motivations and challenges in navigating driving social impact.

In this episode, Julia speaks with Nayonika Roy, a WE Explorer from the India Group Expedition, about discovering her Essence and how that understanding has influenced the way she leads. Nayonika shares how she initially rejected Motherness. It felt like a stereotype. But through reflection and the Expedition, she realised that Motherness captures what she naturally brings: care, emotional awareness, organisation, and creating spaces where people feel comfortable and seen. She talks about how ancestors not just family but every woman she has learned from influence her leading. She reflects on the role of her education, which gave her the tools to question, to rebel, and to bring lived experience into leadership and team-building. She also speaks about reading the body noticing cues in herself and others and how witnessing trauma in others shaped her commitment to staying in difficult conversations instead of avoiding them.  And she also opens up about what she wants to jettison- letting go of the “good girl” expectation and learning to lead from her own standards, not others’. A thoughtful, grounded conversation about Essence, identity, and the quiet transformations that change the way we lead. About the guest:  Nayonika is a development sector professional, holding an expertise in working towards girl child education, social justice, gender equality and women leadership. Her ardour and rigour towards unveiling the stories of women and girls belonging to the marginalised communities goes beyond any defined ambit. She believes in reaching to the crevices of these communities and creating safe spaces to hear the unheard voices of women and girls through her work. She continuously strives to broaden her horizons and cater to girls and women in various capacities. An alumnus of Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Indian School of Business (ISB), Nayonika has worked with various respectable institutions of the sector, including Ministry of Women and Child Development, Delhi and M.V. Foundation, Hyderabad. She is currently leading the Curriculum and Communications Team and Leadership Programs at VOICE 4 Girls. She is also a part of the founding cohort of Sehyogi Fellowship, having gained a certification to provide psycho-socio support focused on adolescents’ mental health. Over the time, she has excelled in designing programs tailored to meet the needs of adolescents and delivering effective training and mentorship. Moreover, she has a keen appreciation for art, is a professional dancer and an avid reader. 

In this episode, Julia speaks with Isata Kabia, about what it really means to be a trailblazer and why leading doesn’t always have to be loud. Isata shares that being a trailblazer often isn’t a choice. It happens when you step forward out of necessity, conviction, or courage when you realise, as she puts it, “the hero you’ve been waiting for is you.” She talks about her journey of learning to lead as a quiet storm: calm yet powerful, nurturing yet unyielding. The “quiet” stands for listening, reflection, and grace. The “storm” stands for courage, disruption, and truth. Together, they form a style of leading that combines humility and strength. This episode is a reminder that trailblazing doesn’t always look like breaking walls; sometimes it’s about holding doors open quietly, until others can walk through. About the guest:  Isata Kabia is the Founding Director of Voice of Women Africa, an organization focused on empowering women in Sierra Leone. She believes in building a strong community of women who support one another and encourages more women to take part in politics. This, she believes, will lead to better decisions that promote peace, prosperity, and rights for everyone. Isata is also behind AFRiLOSOPHY, a program that started in 2015. It offers training in manufacturing and financial management to help women start and grow their own businesses. She understands that when women are economically strong, they can lead and make a real difference in their communities.   

In this episode, Julia speaks with Ragini Das co-founder of Leap Club, a community of over 25,000 women — about how to combine ego and empathy in leading. Ragini shares why she refuses to see ego as a “dirty word.” For her, ego is self-belief — the conviction that fuels courage, creativity, and resilience. It’s what helps you dream big and keep going when the odds are against you. But she also insists that ego alone isn’t enough. Without empathy, you lose connection, trust, and perspective. The conversation explores how empathy keeps people with you — as team members, collaborators, or community members — by listening, responding, and leading with honesty. Ragini reflects on moments of building and eventually pausing Leap Club, and how trust, transparency, and care shaped every decision along the way. Together, Julia and Ragini unpack what it means to lead online communities, balance ambition with compassion, and make tough calls with integrity. Ragini leaves us with a striking reminder: “Ego pushes you forward. Empathy keeps people with you.”  And perhaps most powerfully — that real leading is about being ambitious not just for yourself, but for others too. About the guest: Ragini Das is the Head of Google for Startups in India and the co-founder of Leap.club, a women-first professional network that grew to over 25,000 members. She previously spent six years at Zomato leading growth and international market launches. Recognised as a LinkedIn Top Voice and Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, Ragini is known for building communities that balance ambition with authenticity and for championing women who do the same. 

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  

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. 

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.   

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 YouthtopiaThe 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. 

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. 

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. 

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.