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Truth, activism and entrepreneurship with Leyla Hussein

“We were these broken people trying to change the system.” Dr Leyla Hussein OBE is best known as an FGM activist. She is also an entrepreneur, a psychotherapist, and a ‘changemaker’.

Listen to the Episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast platform. 

About Episode

TRIGGER WARNING: Please be aware that this episode contains a detailed account of what Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) involves, which some listeners may find distressing. For more information on FGM, visit Dahlia Project.

What is an activist entrepreneur?
How does a traumatic experience impact your life and how do you deal with it 20 years on?
Why is it so important to surround yourself with people that are honest, rather than just say what you want to hear?

“We were these broken people trying to change the system.” Dr Leyla Hussein OBE wears many hats. She is best known as an activist around female genital mutilation; she is also an entrepreneur, a psychotherapist, and to use her own words, a ‘changemaker’.

Leyla’s conversation with Vladi and Nektarios explores how she has dealt with her emotional and psychological wellbeing at different points in her life. Leyla is incredibly honest and raw when she talks about the trauma she went through as a child (not knowing that what she had experienced was a form of abuse, until she was an adult), the stress and anxiety she has experienced and a lack of emotional support. We discuss the similarities between being an activist and a business builder and so much more. Leyla vocalises the importance of pleasure as a support mechanism, and affectionately talks about her ‘Support Bra’ - the network of people she surrounds herself with, who will always speak the truth.

You can find out more about Leyla’s work by following her on Instagram @leylahusseinuk and @leylatherector, on Twitter @LeylaHussein @dahliaproject1 @SafeSpaces4BW @MagoolEndFGM or via her website.