Do you ever wonder how vulnerability and power dynamics shape your work in the humanitarian sector? Are you curious about how funding practices can better support well-being? In today’s episode of Embodying Change, host Melissa Pitotti welcomes back Gemma Houldey, author of The Vulnerable Humanitarian. Gemma shares her journey from human rights adv…

Episode 42: We Are Feminist Leaders with Leila Billing and Natalie Brook Do you ever feel conflicted by traditional leadership models that don’t align with your values? Are you curious about how feminist principles can transform the way we approach leadership, especially in the humanitarian sector? In today’s episode of Embodying Change, host Melis…

This conversation with Sarah Diedro Jordão provides a deep and heartfelt exploration of what it means to embody change and foster love in the quest for a more equitable society. “Going through a painful process can very much be part of embodying change. If it's itchy, uncomfortable, messy, and hurts, change is probably on the other side of that. So…

Humanitarian women are exposed to chronic stress, which can impact their experience of peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. In this episode of Embodying Change Scotti McLaren shares her experience and insight as it relates to this under-explored and yet powerful time of a woman’s life – before, during and after actual “M day.” What are the…

In this light-hearted episode of "Embodying Change," we sit down with Lucette Quarteron, a dynamic global citizen and visionary leader. Lucette shares her unique insights on self-leadership, the proper use of power, and conflict management, drawing from her rich personal and professional journey. Discover how Lucette transforms organizational cultu…

Join us in this conversation with Helen Dunnett, Melissa’s accountability buddy. In today's episode, Helen shares her personal journey of transformation and discusses the powerful tools of nonviolent communication and assertiveness that have shaped her approach to coaching. She also shares the story of how she approached Melissa years ago to become…

Join host Melissa Pitotti as she welcomes change advocate Cindy Rocha for a morning conversation filled with insights on embracing vulnerability and stepping out of comfort zones for transformative personal and professional growth. Highlights: 1. Defining Embodying Change: Cindy explains how real change involves putting oneself in the 'growth zone'…

Annemarie Shrouder shares her personal journey with identity and discusses her work building inclusive cultures and communities. She and Melissa explore the difference between learning and BEING something (embodying change), the challenges of mixed race identity, creating safe and/or brave spaces, and the importance of representation, belonging and…

In this episode, Melissa Pitotti and Nasra Ismail have a candid conversation about navigating transitions, power dynamics, and the principles of localization in the humanitarian sector. They share personal anecdotes and insights into their professional journeys, discussing the challenges and opportunities they encountered along the way. From experi…

In this episode Melissa speaks with Joy Kolin, Executive Director and Board President of Giving Joy. Joy has 20-years of experience in the field of international development, a career that has taken her to over 60 countries. Throughout her travels, Joy found herself touched by a common trend - the immense ability of women to affect positive change …

How can we better manage our workload, as per Commitment 8 of the Core Humanitarian Standard?* In this episode Melissa speaks with Wouter Smeets, a design-thinker, about how to re-shape our work in a way that gives us energy, rather than drains it. He gives us some good questions to ask ourselves, like: How do we design our morning routine? What ma…

In this conversation, Melissa speaks with Sabrina Prioli, the author of a memoir called “Rise up, phoenix” and one of the victim/survivors of the 2016 Terrain Compound Attacks in Juba, South Sudan. Sabrina shares her insights into how to better support victim/survivors and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. She also explains the nuanc…

In this episode Melissa speaks with Dr. Aiysha Malik, a mental health specialist at the World Health Organization working for a world that supports, improves, and does not harm mental health. They discuss the WHO guidelines on mental health and work and accompanying WHO-ILO policy brief. What do the guidelines say and what can you do with them? Che…

Melissa speaks with: Dr. Chinonso Emmanuel Okorie, an MSF doctor living in Rwanda who recently completed a mission in Yemen; Lindis Hurun, the General Director of MSF Norway; and Ryan Rodrick Beiler, a multimedia producer for MSF Norway. They and several colleagues were involved in the production of a video that has made waves in the humanitarian c…

In this episode Melissa Pitotti speaks with Degan Ali, the Executive Director of Adeso, about the story behind the Pledge for Change 2030. They explore the ways in which the process that led to the Pledge was informed by lessons learned from the Charter for Change and the Grand Bargain. They consider the need for brave leaders to have safe spaces t…

In this episode Melissa speaks with Faye Ekong of RavelWorks Africa about common challenges in aid organisations, particularly as they relate to decolonising aid in a “post” COVID world. Faye Ekong is the Managing Director of RavelWorks Africa. She has been in Human Resources, Learning & Personal Development for over 10 years. She is an SHRM-Senior…

Melissa speaks with Oge Chukwudozie about the Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub’s exciting pilot project accompanying 10 local Nigerian organisations as they work to change their organisational cultures. Oge emphasizes the value of cultivating a safe and supportive workplace culture and the importance of leadership “walking the talk.” Organisat…

Melissa speaks with Dr. Gaya Gamhewage about her work in the world’s premier health organisation, the World Health Organisation (WHO), to prevent and response to sexual misconduct. They talk about the importance of leaders being vocal, explicit and sincere about their commitment to living the organisation’s values. They also surface a variety of ta…

Melissa speaks with Aseem Prakash and Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken about how governing boards of aid organisations can “govern well.” They discuss the power dynamics present in any group of humans, embracing difference and true diversity, prioritising lived experience, modelling behaviours, and asking smart questions. Professor Prakash studies NGOs a…

In this conversation, Melissa asks Dr. Emilia Roig, the author of the book "Why We Matter," about how power shows up in our work, her concept of “radical solidarity” and self care. Accountability has been defined in the latest version of the CHS guidance note as "the process of using power responsibly, taking account of, and being held accountable …

Melissa talks about organisational culture with Umut Dilara Baycili, a child psychologist working for Mavi Kalem. This humanitarian NGO and CHS Alliance member supports women and children in Turkey with a team that includes doctors, psychologists, sociologists and social workers. It is not unusual for people working for NGOs like Mavi Kalem to expe…

Melissa speaks with Dr. Liza Jachens, an occupational health psychologist, lecturer and research associate who has partnered with six major humanitarian organisations looking at their staff’s experience of work-related stress and its effects on their mental health. Humanitarian work carries a “high emotional load” often exposed to trauma. Dr. Jache…

Shawna, Kristen and Rufaro tell the story of Root. Rise. Pollinate! and share learning from their experiment to shift culture through connecting inner and outer transformation. Shawna Wakefield, Kristen Zimmerman and Rufaro Gwarada tell the story of Root. Rise. Pollinate! - informed by their previous experiences in aid and development. They share l…

Melissa and Brian Stout of Building Belonging discuss how transformation happens – for individuals, groups, societies and the planet. This includes inviting others to co-create compelling visions, holding space in containers with maximal diversity, stepping into our power and agency, and embodying the change we want with accountability, compassion,…

This episode is dedicated to humanitarians around the world on World Humanitarian Day. Melissa and Torrey Peace of Aid for Aid Workers Leadership Podcast do a podcast exchange about people-centred leadership. In this conversation they cover: The importance of empowering the people closest to the problem, as they know best how to solve those problem…

Melissa talks with Paula Ramírez of Breathe International. In their conversation they cover: Her journey from focusing on peacebuilding for nations to peacebuilding from within. The political aspect of being mindful and aware The body as a source of learning How to be a living example of mindfulness in the workplace The irony that humanitarian work…

Melissa talks with Hope Chigudu, reflecting back on the 20-21 May Global Gathering entitled “Living our values: Care, culture and power in aid organisations” held by the CHS Alliance. In their conversation they cover: The connections between power, culture and care The importance of leadership, of using language that people can understand in differ…

In this conversation Mary Ann Clements explains the background and the hopes for the 20-21 May 2021 CHS Alliance virtual Global Gathering on Living our values: Care, culture and power in aid organisations. This free virtual gathering is the first of its kind in our sector which will bring together leaders and practitioners who are interested in the…

At the end of January 2021 Naser Haghamed completed his 5-year stint as the CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide. Melissa reflects back with him about leadership, staff well-being and organisational culture for the ICVA-CHS Alliance “Leading Well” project. In their conversation they consider What it’s like to be in constant “firefighting mode” as a CEO …

Melissa talks with Julia Sánchez, the former Secretary General of ActionAid International. The conversation was part of an ICVA-CHS Alliance joint project engaging aid leaders on the issues of staff well-being and supportive organisational culture. ActionAid’s ten principles of feminist leadership include elements that explicitly link to staff well…

Melissa talks with Gozel Baltaeva and Adrien Muratet about Commitment Eight of the Core Humanitarian Standard. What are the data and the practitioners saying about people management in the humanitarian sector, especially during COVID? Gozel Baltaeva was the People Management Adviser and point of contact for tailored support on all people management…

How can we know how staff are doing during these crazy times? Ask them. Melissa talks with Roger Parry, Director of Agenda Consulting. His organisation specialises in employee and volunteer engagement surveys for non-profits. He shares his insights on how staff engagement has increased in the turbulent year of 2020, on how people are experiencing s…

Melissa and Jules Frost talk with Rachel Coghlan about what humanitarians can learn from palliative care. Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and their families who face problems associated with life-threatening illness. Like the topic of mental illness, the subject of death and dying can be difficult to discuss. Compassion is …

In this episode, Melissa talks with Brendan McDonald, co-founder and COO of Uncomfortable Revolution. They explore lessons learned from a big push to get the issue of aid worker well-being on the agenda in the run-up to the World Humanitarian Summit. To learn more about Brendan’s work, you can find him: · on Twitter at @7piliers · Uncomfortable Rev…

Melissa talks with Melly Preira, the Human Resources Director at the Jesuit Refugee Service, about how she introduced major changes to her humanitarian organisation's approach to staff support. Melly’s HR Department supports 56 countries in 10 regions and implements HR management practices, tailored to both the field and HQ. She guides senior manag…

Mary Ann catches up with Gemma Houldey. We hear Gemma's nuanced perspective on the idea of the "perfect humanitarian," the need for new ways of working that value vulnerability, and the insights gained by applying the lens of diversity and difference (particularly as they relate to race and gender). Dr. Gemma Houldey shares with Mary Ann her views …

In this episode Lana Baqaeen a Regional Staff Care Specialist for MENA Region with International Rescue Committee talks with Mary Ann about the work they are doing on their Duty of Care programme. Lana shares how International Rescue Committee (IRC) implement their Duty of Care programme, providing professional mental health support that covers all…

In this show, you'll hear Mary Ann interview Imogen Wall, an independent consultant working in the humanitarian aid sector, mental health advocate and a specialist around well being in the sector. And also Founder of the 50 shades of aid Facebook group that. They talk about the lack of attention to Mental Health in Humanitarian Settings and the hug…

In this show, you'll hear Mary Ann interview Dr. Peter Mills, Medical Director of Cigna. They talk about the mental health impacts of Covid-19 and the need for organisations to be prepared to help meet them and support their staff and about the responsibility of boards and leadership to take seriously the wellbeing of staff. Dr. Mills trained in me…

Hitendra Solanki is a senior lecturer in development studies at London South Bank University. He’s been active in the development and humanitarian sector for over 16 years. Most recently, he worked as a Mindfulness and Wellbeing Adviser in Action Against Hunger UK. He also led the 3-year Mindfulness & Wellbeing project as part of the Start Network’…

In this show, you'll hear Melissa interview Don Bosch, Director of Risk Psychology and HEAT Training at the Headington Institute. Don is a licensed clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst with 35 years of experience and understands human behaviour and brain function. Outside of Pandemic, Don is often in the field doing debriefs, working with global…

In this show, you'll hear Melissa interview Kristin Duncombe a therapist and couples counsellor, life coach, and author. She’s based her career on working with international and expatriate individuals and families following her own experience of growing up across Africa and Asia as the child of a diplomat and having lived internationally most of he…

Welcome to Embodying Change. In this introductory episode, you'll hear Melissa Pitotti talking with Tanya Wood, Executive Director of CHS Alliance. They introduce you to the initiative initially incubated by the CHS Alliance about building care and compassion in the sector and talk about wellbeing in the context of COVID-19. You can find out more a…