In this episode, Shahin Ashraf, Mayor of Solihull, UK, shares her remarkable journey from humanitarian fieldwork and advocacy to becoming the borough’s first minority female mayor. The conversation explores how lived experience shapes inclusive leadership, highlighting the importance of empathy, visibility, and grassroots engagement in public service. Shaheen discusses the challenges of confronting hate and misinformation, the urgency of climate action at the local level, and the role of education, compassion, and systemic disruption in building truly smart, equitable communities.

Episode Overview:

[00:01:01] Teaser Question: “What’s one little known or surprising fact about Solihull that you think more people should know?”
[00:03:16] Our guest’s background
[00:09:40] How international humanitarian work shaped her local leadership
[00:10:58] Goals as mayor and reflections on her term
[00:13:58] Challenges faced and systems she wishes she’d pushed harder on
[00:16:51] The role of education in addressing misinformation and promoting inclusion
[00:19:55] Facing criticism and using it as a catalyst for change
[00:23:07] Bridging climate goals with community engagement
[00:28:56] Vision for the future of Solihull and embedding kindness in leadership
[00:32:14] Podcast Segment: “Inspire Us” – shares a quote and reflections on urgency
[00:34:09] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

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