Smart Women, Smart Power
The Smart Women, Smart Power (SWSP) Initiative is designed to amplify the voices of women in foreign policy, national security, international business, and development. It features a speaker series and a podcast series that Apple iTunes named one of its Best of 2015. The speaker series is made possible with support from Citi. Additional support is provided by AT&T.
For more on Smart Women, Smart PowerView all content associated with this programSue Gordon, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, discusses innovation, inclusion, and challenges facing the intelligence community in a complex global security environment at an event celebrating International Women’s Day.
The Ambassadors of Kosovo, Libya, St. Kitts and Nevis, Rwanda, Sweden, the African Union, and Finland to the United States discuss the role women play in resolving conflicts and shaping societies.
World Bank CEO Dr. Kristalina Georgieva discusses the role of women in global poverty reduction.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) discusses North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, ISIS, and other global security challenges. A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, she is the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate.
Manal Al-Sharif is the founder of the #Women2Drive movement and is best known for recording herself driving a car and posting the video to YouTube in 2011, which led to her being arrested and jailed. In this video she discusses women's rights, challenges, and opportunities in the Middle East.
Representative Martha McSally (R-AZ) describes her path to becoming the first woman fighter pilot to fly in combat and command a fighter squadron in combat in U.S. history, what she remembers about 9/11, and her take on border security.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde explains the economic and social benefits of women's empowerment.
Former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright discusses the importance of American leadership and engagement in world affairs and the refugee crisis.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker discusses free trade, innovation, technology, and jobs as well as her efforts to promote U.S. companies globally.
U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith talks about the power of technology and the importance of STEM education, particularly for women and girls.
Retired DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman talks about her battle with an activist investor, leadership challenges during the Great Recession, and why GMOs are a first-world problem.
Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, discusses her role as lead negotiator on the Iran nuclear deal.
Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard discusses critical issues in education around the world, particularly those impacting young women and girls, as well as the role education plays in fighting against radicalism and extremism. She also explains why she gave her famous misogyny speech.
The Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative hosted a panel discussion and question and answer session featuring nearly three dozen current U.S. ambassadors. They explored issues contributing to global insecurity, mass migration, refugees, war and conflict in regional hotspots, as well as tensions in the South China Sea.
Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, discusses homeland and national security in the federal government and private sector with Smart Women, Smart Power moderator Nina Easton.
Fran Townsend, former Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser to President George W. Bush discusses terrorism and fighting the spread of ISIS with Smart Women, Smart Power moderator Nina Easton.
Melinda Gates, Co-Chair & Trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, discusses the role of women and girls in international development with Smart Women, Smart Power moderator Nina Easton.
Carly Fiorina, Global Chairman of Opportunity International and former Chairman and CEO of Hewlett Packard, discusses foreign policy, business, and politics with Smart Women, Smart Power moderator Nina Easton.
Anne-Marie Slaughter, president and CEO of the New America Foundation discusses what it means to elevate a people-centered focus on food, water, health, jobs, education, and human security alongside a state-centric focus on power, war, peace, and interstate cooperation on global issues.
Afghanistan First Lady Rula Ghani discusses her country’s future, Afghan women, and the need for Afghans living abroad to come home to help rebuild the nation.
Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, helped to launch the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative on December 8, 2014. She spoke about the U.S.-Russia relationship, ISIS/ISIL, and the challenges of global diplomacy.
