What does leadership look like in a world shaped by polarization, institutional distrust, rapid technological change, and evolving identities?
In this special Bylines & Frontlines episode, hosts Brook Morrison and Isabela Rittinger sit down with WIIS-Canada award recipients Dr. Lynne Gouliquer and Nicole Wei-Tung Ling for an intergenerational conversation on leadership, mentorship, identity, and navigating institutions not built with everyone in mind.
Drawing from experiences spanning the military, academia, international governance, and youth advocacy, the conversation explores what leadership means beyond titles and hierarchy. Dr. Gouliquer reflects on leadership as the courage to challenge institutions and create space for change, while Nicole Ling discusses the realities young women face navigating security and international policy spaces often marked by tokenism and rigid power structures.
Together, they unpack:
● how identity shapes leadership and belonging
● the tensions and opportunities between generations
● the difference between mentorship, sponsorship, and meaningful guidance
● and why future leadership must prioritize adaptability, inclusion, and dialogue over hierarchy and gatekeeping.
This episode is a candid and deeply human conversation about resilience, institutional change, and the responsibility leaders have not only to lead—but to make space for others to lead too.
