Smart Women, Smart Power

SWSP is creating space for women in one of the most powerful decision-making spaces in the world: national security and foreign affairs

The Smart Women, Smart Power (SWSP) Initiative has a simple starting point: people are policy. We are committed to creating a platform for respectful and inclusive discussion of the many ways in which women influence and impact the international security, foreign policy and business agendas. The Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative launched in December 2014.

Contact Information

  • Alexis Day
  • Program Manager and Research Associate, Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative and Outreach Manager, International Security Program.
  • aday@csis.org

Featured Event

Live in 1 day
Webcast

Smart Women, Smart Power @ 10

Presented by Smart Women, Smart Power
October 15, 2024 • 3:00 – 5:15 pm EDT

Featured Podcasts

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Beating Putin’s Playbook

Marie-Doha Besancenot, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, NATO, joins to discuss the different ways NATO is prioritizing this space.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — July 12, 2024

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Featured Events

Photo: Rafael Henrique via Adobe Stock

Photo: Rafael Henrique via Adobe Stock

The Future of NATO is Female

July 10, 2024 • 10:00 – 10:30 am EDT
Video On Demand
Hosted by Smart Women, Smart Power
Photo: JACK TAYLOR/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: JACK TAYLOR/AFP/Getty Images

Lessons from Myanmar

May 1, 2024 • 10:00 – 10:30 am EDT
Video On Demand
Hosted by Smart Women, Smart Power
See all events by Smart Women, Smart Power

Featured Analysis

Photo: Paval Hadzinski/Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed)

Why Dictators are Afraid of Girls

Gender plays a powerful role in the construction and promulgation of power and identity that is particularly meaningful in authoritarian regimes.

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Photo: Jeremy/Adobe Stock

The Overturn of Roe v. Wade Raises Fundamental Questions

The overturn of Roe v. Wade will likely have significant implications for the composition, organization, and management of the U.S. armed forces—raising a number of practical questions for the U.S. military, many of which do not yet have answers.

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The Political Pressure Behind Scotland on the Ballot

Dame Louise Richardson, the president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York discusses freedom of speech, political pressure, leadership in academia, and the challenges of navigating complex debates and crises with host Dr. Kathleen McInnis.

Event — April 10, 2024

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

The Political Pressure Behind Scotland on the Ballot

Dame Louise Richardson, the president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, discusses freedom of speech, political pressure, leadership in academia, and the challenges of navigating complex debates and crises with host Dr. Kathleen McInnis.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — April 10, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power

Building Trust in Nuclear Diplomacy

Nuclear strategy remains a priority for the United States. Host Dr. Kathleen McInnis speaks with CSIS Senior Adviser (Non-resident) to the Project on Nuclear Issues and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy, Elaine Bunn.

Event — April 3, 2024

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Building Trust in Nuclear Diplomacy

Elaine Bunn joins this episode to shed light on the complexities involved in nuclear policy and defense strategy.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis and M. Elaine Bunn — April 3, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power

In a World of Inequalities, Does Democracy Matter?

Dr. Helene Gayle, President of Spelman College and CSIS Trustee joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis for a discussion on her approach to leadership after years in government, the nonprofit space, and the private sector, including CARE, the CDC, and USAID.

Event — March 27, 2024

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

In a World of Inequalities, Does Democracy Matter?

Dr. Helene Gayle, President of Spelman College and CSIS Trustee, joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis for a discussion on her approach to leadership after years in government, the nonprofit space, and the private sector, including CARE, the CDC, and USAID.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — March 27, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

The Government Clock is Ti(c)kTok-ing

Host Kathleen McInnis spoke with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) about her whirlwind past couple of weeks. The pair discussed her recent trip to the Munich Security Conference, including the moment she found out about the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and her sponsorship of the recently passed House legislation aimed at protecting Americans from Tik-Tok’s national security threats.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — March 22, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
The Truth of the Matter

The Government Clock is Ti(c)kTok-ing

In this episode of the Truth of the Matter, we feature a conversation from CSIS podcast, Smart Women Smart Power. Host Kathleen McInnis spoke with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) about her whirlwind past couple of weeks. 

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis and H. Andrew Schwartz — March 22, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter

The Weaponization of the Dollar

Kathleen McInnis sits down with Senior Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg News Saleha Mohsin for a discussion about her new book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order.

Event — March 20, 2024

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

The Weaponization of the Dollar

Senior Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg News Saleha Mohsin joins Kathleen McInnis to talk about her new book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — March 20, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power