Leading with vision and heart: reflections on humanitarian leadership with Ali Al Mokdad

“Being a leader, especially in this sector right now - it's not clear. We are all struggling and trying to find answers to big questions…I think the main important part is to try to sit and think and reflect…it's important to keep your eyes on the North Star, on the long-term goal, but also look at the present - how to deal with what's happening now while remembering the big picture." – Ali Al Mokdad
 
What happens when traditional leadership models meet the complex realities of humanitarian action? In this first instalment of a two-part podcast, Ali Al Mokdad challenges conventional approaches to humanitarian leadership.

In this extraordinary conversation with the HLA’s Ka Man Parkinson, seasoned humanitarian leader Ali Al Mokdad invites you to both learn from his experiences and challenge his thinking.

00.00: Chapter 1: Introduction
02:00: Chapter 2: Ali’s personal journey: a candid exploration of power, identity and leadership mindset
25:17: Chapter 3: Thought leadership in the digital age: Ali on the power of authenticity and vulnerability
48:11: Chapter 4: Leading with humanity through complexity
66:05: Chapter 5: Ka Man’s closing reflections 

Unflinchingly open and candid, Ali delivers humanitarian leadership insights from extensive field and headquarters experience across multiple contexts, on a global journey from Syria to Denmark. His digital thought leadership reaches 90,000 people monthly, going beyond polished statements to offer practical guidance for leading in complex environments and making difficult decisions.

Discover Ali’s approach to ‘inviting in chaos,’ maintaining values under pressure, and leading with vulnerability in demanding professional contexts. This conversation is essential listening for humanitarian leaders in 2025.

In part two coming soon, Ali switches gears to share strategic insights and predictions based on his research and experiences.

Visit the episode webpage for speaker bios and conversation transcript:
https://www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/resources/leading-with-vision-and-heart-reflections-on-humanitarian-leadership-with-ali-al-mokdad/ 

Thanks for listening. Please help us to grow this podcast by subscribing and leaving a review on the platform you're listening from. Thank you! For more resources for the humanitarian community, visit humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/resources

The views and opinions expressed in our podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their organisations.

Chapters

• 0:00 Chapter 1: Introduction
• 2:00 Chapter 2: Ali’s personal journey: a candid exploration of power, identity and leadership mindset
• 23:17 Chapter 3: Thought leadership in the digital age: Ali on the power of authenticity and vulnerability
• 48:11 Chapter 4: Leading with humanity through complexity
• 1:06:05 Chapter 5: Ka Man’s closing reflections