Fires We Choose to Carry

Welcome back, dear colleague!

When health systems crumble under heatwaves, floods, and political paralysis, what kind of leadership does the world actually need?

In our latest edition of Courageous Conversations, we shifted gears a bit as Shweta Narayan, international climate and health campaigner, advocate, and community organizer sat down with Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, clinician, humanitarian leader, and planetary health pioneer, for an unforgettable conversation.

From delivering food in monsoon drains at age nine to standing firm when speaking to Prime Ministers, Dr. Jemilah offers a lesson in what it means to lead with authentic courage and optimism.

Here are key takeaways from our deep dive:

1. Address Root Drivers, Not Just Symptoms

Dr. Jemilah vividly remembers seeing a news photo of a woman giving birth in a tree during catastrophic floods in Mozambique. Arriving in Mozambique 19 years later, she learned that women are still giving birth in trees during climate disasters. This made one thing clear: emergency relief is just putting band-aids on gaping wounds. Effective health leadership requires addressing the planetary drivers of crisis.

2. Courage Means Doing the Right Thing

"If you want to be popular, sell ice cream." Doing the right thing isn’t a popularity contest; it’s about taking the tough road. Whether personally transporting vaccines to undocumented migrants or handing a Prime Minister a new pandemic strategy alongside her resignation letter, Dr. Jemilah proves that true leadership requires challenging power to save lives.

3. Build Your Exit Strategy from Day One

Good leaders don't build empires around themselves. They surround themselves with people who challenge them, throw young team members into the deep end to build confidence, and design institutions that thrive long after they step away.

Listen to the complete episode for Dr. Jemilah’s insights on navigating institutional barriers, and why saving the planet requires working on the basis of love.

Watch the full conversation below.