What does leadership look like when the risks are real — and the margin for error is zero?
In this gripping and deeply personal conversation, former Canadian Ambassador Kathy Bunka takes us behind the scenes of her posting in Iraq during the Gaza conflict. As missiles and armed drones flew overhead, militias threatened Embassies and diplomatic staff and misinformation spread rapidly, she was responsible for keeping her team safe, her mission on course, and her values intact.
This episode is not about headlines - it’s about the human experience behind them. From crisis management to ethical decision-making, Kathy shares how she led under pressure, communicated through uncertainty, and upheld empathy in the most high-stakes environment imaginable.
We explore how women in international security navigate visible and invisible challenges, why real leadership requires emotional intelligence, and how dignity, humor, and human connection sustain us — even in a bunker.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
– The emotional weight of duty-of-care leadership
– What happens when your team doesn’t agree with your risk call
– Calm in chaos: how Kathy made decisions under threat
– Holding authority while staying human
– Solidarity among female leaders in male-dominated spaces
– Why diplomacy is never just about politics - it’s about people
Timestamps:
00:01:10 — Leading an embassy in Iraq: mission, risk, and responsibility
00:06:45 — Responding to misinformation and real-time threats
00:12:20 — Values, ethics, and decision-making under pressure
00:18:40 — When your team challenges your leadership
00:25:30 — Re-entry after crisis: personal costs and cultural shifts
00:30:00 — Gender and power in global security roles
00:36:20 — Beyond the obvious: networks, empathy, and emotional insight
Kathy’s story is a rare glimpse into the kind of leadership we rarely talk about — quiet, grounded, and resilient. It’s a call to remember that strong leadership doesn’t mean suppressing emotion or charging ahead. It means staying present, building trust, and making space for complexity.
About the guest:
Kathy Bunka is the former Canadian Ambassador to Iraq, currently located back in Canada. She has held a variety of senior assignments with Global Affairs Canada, both at headquarters and in postings across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. We first met when Kathy served as Canada’s chargé d’affaires at the Embassy in Slovakia from 2011 to 2016 — and since then, Dana had the privilege of witnessing her unique blend of fun, depth, and influence.
Kathy holds a Master of Science in International Public Health from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from McGill University. Between her extensive global experience and academic expertise, Kathy brings a wealth of knowledge and an infectious enthusiasm for making a difference in the world.
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