She responded to the Boxing Day tsunami, built cash systems in the BVI after back-to-back hurricanes, and represented 3,500 UN staff through one of the most turbulent years in UNICEF's history. What Zehra Rizvi learned about resilience, accountability, and why "leading with love and kindness" can be a winning strategy.

In this episode of The Resilient Edge, Charlie Peschardt speaks with Zehra Rizvi - humanitarian veteran, cash programming pioneer, and self-described "dogmatic" believer in personal growth. Zehra has worked with the Red Cross, the UN, governments, and independent consultancies across conflict zones, natural disasters, and institutional crises.

In this conversation we get into:

• How Zehra became the accidental aid worker — and what a filmmaking and anthropology degree has to do with disaster response
• The real difference between being a consultant and a staff member, and why moving between the two is harder than most people expect
• How cash systems built after Hurricane Irma quietly became the backbone of the BVI's COVID response years later
• Why resilience depends as much on the right person in the right chair as it does on systems and structures
• What chairing the UNICEF New York Staff Association during mass layoffs taught her about trust, transparency, and psychological safety

From the conversation:

"Don't let somebody else's insecurity make you shine any less than you do." - Zehra

"Before you anything, centre yourself in love and kindness, and then see where that goes." - Zehra

"I want to fail fast forward. That is going to be my mantra - let's see what happens." - Zehra

"I've never felt that helpless in my whole entire life. I had a front-row seat to what was happening, and I don't know how you keep doing what you're doing without completely losing your mind." - Zehra, on working in Jerusalem

----------------

If this conversation resonated, it's probably because you're navigating something similar - pressure, complexity, a decision that matters, or a transition you haven't quite figured out yet.

That's exactly what I created The Resilient Edge for. I work with individuals, leaders, founders, and organisations who need clarity in complexity, order from uncertainty, and direction under pressure. If that's you - or someone you know - I'd love to talk.

Find out more at https://theresilientedge.com/

Or connect with Charlie directly

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliepeschardt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresilientedgecoaching/

The Resilient Edge is hosted by Charlie Peschardt. New episodes every two weeks. Follow or subscribe so you don't miss one. If this episode was useful, a review on makes a real difference and helps more people find the show. Sharpen your resilient edge.

Connect with Zehra Rizvi https://www.linkedin.com/in/zehra-rizvi-2623b527/

Zehra’s Humanitarian Cash Programme https://cash-hub.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/BVI-JCP-RCRCM-Case-study_BRC18-289_A4_WIP7_AW_Final.pdf