#14 Women leaders for planetary health with Nicole De Paula

“How can mindsets play a role in the way we advance sustainability ? How do we become more diverse ? “

In this episode of let’s talk, Nicole and I discuss these pivotal questions. COVID has highlighted the success of female leadership and this should be fostered to encourage positive change for both the planet and humanity. We discuss the power of connections and the need for different models, as well as the importance of collectively developing the necessary skills for women to be 'at the top table' and have a positive impact on policy- and decision-making in the future.

Nicole shares her story, research and experience from institutions and networks across the globe. 

The main insights you will get from this episode :

• Women Leaders for Planetary Health (WLPH) seeks to bring the innate and unique skills of women to bear on major problems facing our planet
• globally connecting policy-makers and researchers for the good of public health and sustainability on a multi-cultural and multi-institutional basis - embodying the power of community and personal relationships
• COVID has highlighted the success of female leadership and this should be fostered to encourage positive change for both the planet and humanity, capitalising on it currently being high on the public's agenda to take care of each other as well as the planet (BLM, climate change, womens' rights); this should be engendered from an early age through formal teaching on e.g. biodiversity, ecology, etc.
• the skills of negotiating, sharing knowledge, garnering results and applying them collectively are vital in the struggle for women to be 'at the top table' and have a positive impact on policy- and decision-making
• a collective and collaborative approach is essential, as is the diversity of participants and their attendant experience, knowledge and cultural background
• WLPH has UN backing and offers mentoring for young professional women, attracting female mentors from all over the world willing to share their expertise and create change agents, thereby growing a powerful and highly respected network
• the 'global self' movement is conceived to inspire and bring about positive change in health and sustainability across the world and tackle root and branch reform of women's place in the world to empower them for the greater good
• harnessing technology to have a wide reach and offer a platform for connection, which is particularly pertinent in times when travel is not possible, e.g. during a global pandemic