This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Julia Gillard, the 27th Prime Minister of Australia and the first woman to hold this office. Her groundbreaking tenure (2010–2013) paved the way for a deeper dialogue on women’s leadership, gender equality, and the role of education and politics in societal transformation. Currently, she serves as the inaugural Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Chair of the Wellcome Trust, and Patron of CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education), among other significant roles.

In this engaging episode, Ms Gillard shares her journey navigating the challenges of being a trailblazer in high-profile leadership. She reflects on the double-edged nature of her historic appointment, where her gender was both a novelty and a target. She candidly discusses the intensifying gendered attacks she faced, offering invaluable advice to aspiring women leaders on how to confront sexism and misogyny, build networks of allies, and remain focused on their vision for change.

Drawing from her book, Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons, co-authored with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ms Gillard delves into global patterns of gender bias in leadership and practical strategies for women to overcome these barriers. With insights from women leaders like Jacinda Ardern and Erna Solberg, the books shares lessons for women who are either in or are embarking their leadership journey.

In 2012, Ms Gillard delivered a powerful speech on misogyny, Not Now, Not Ever… and reflecting on changes since then she highlights how some societal attitudes towards women leaders are evolving, particularly within traditional media, while acknowledging the persistent hostility on social media platforms. She underscores the importance of engaging men and boys in the gender equality movement, advocating for inclusivity to achieve lasting change.

This episode also sheds light on Ms Gillard’s advocacy for education as a powerful tool for societal transformation. As Patron of CAMFED, she shares inspiring stories of how educating girls creates ripple effects that uplift entire communities. She emphasizes the critical role of law enforcement, community support structures, and sustained education in addressing gender-based violence and fostering equality.

Through her work with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Ms Gillard is advancing research to accelerate progress toward gender equality in politics, business, and beyond. She shares practical advice for women in leadership, from preparing for inevitable gendered attacks to leveraging clarity of purpose and mentorship to stay the course.

As an optimist, Ms Gillard firmly believes in the collective power of individuals to create a fairer, more inclusive world. Tune in to this inspiring episode to hear her vision for a gender-equal future and her unwavering commitment to empowering women through education, leadership, and action.

Tune in for more…