2013
CONFERENCE
REPORT
A NEW EC ONOM IC LANDSCAPE PROMOTING WOMEN IN EMERGING MARKETS friday, april 12, 2013 | the
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Find us: saiswomenlead.org Contact us: saiswomenlead@gmail.com
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02 about the conference facts + Figures 04 snapshots: registration + breakfast 06 Opening remarks: vali nasr Introduction: sara o’rourke 08 Keynote: sylvia ann hewlett 10
panel 1: markets creating new channels: markets and institutions
12 panel 2: mindsets the mindsets panel 14
panel 3: individuals empowering individuals: networks, norms, and resources
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panel 4: solutions case studies in solution strategies
18 closing remarks: susan ness 20 snapshots: cocktail reception 22
about sais global women in leadership
23 sponsors
TEXT AND EDITS: SAMUEL LEE, SUSLI LIe, Carolyn nash, Sara O’rourke, laura sennett, elliot waldman LAYOUT: SAMUEL LEE
photography Conor Halloran, samuel lee, Kaveh Sardari
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
about the conference
A New Economic Landscape: Promoting Women in Emerging Markets
The inaugural Global Women in Leadership Conference is the first SAIS conference on women and leadership and the first conference to welcome graduate students from schools in the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) network, SAIS dual-degree programs, and other business and law programs on the East Coast, as well as industry professionals from the DC area. The conference provides a unique forum for young professionals seeking to launch successful careers in an increasingly globalized world. Through issue panels, leadership sessions, and networking opportunities, participants engage with accomplished leaders in their fields, contribute to discussions about issues facing women globally, and gain perspectives on the skills and strategies necessary to navigate demanding work environments. By bringing together professionals from various stages in their careers and diverse sectors of society, the conference aims to inspire new discussions and innovative solutions to current challenges and opportunities confronting women around the world. The 2013 conference theme, “A New Economic Landscape: Promoting Women in Emerging Markets,� addressed the economic challenges and opportunities facing women—within markets, from institutions, and as individuals. In a rapidly evolving global financial landscape, women are playing a greater role as drivers of growth. Women are entering the workforce in greater numbers, taking on positions as economic and political leaders, and increasingly pursuing the path of entrepreneurship. However, cultural norms and practical challenges still pose barriers. In order to succeed as professionals and innovators, women will need greater access to skills, networks, institutions, and resources.
2 | about the conference
A 8:15
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Registration & Breakfast
8:45 Opening Remarks & Keynote: An Update on Women in Emerging Markets 10:00 Creating New Channels: Markets and Institutions 11:30 Mindsets Panel 12:30 Lunch 1:15
Empowering Individuals: Networks, Norms, and Resources
2:45
Case Studies in Solution Strategies
4:00
Closing Remarks
5:00
Cocktail Reception hosted by the Embassy of Finland
A
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fa c t s + F i g u r e s s
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Marguerite Berger Vital Voices Global Partnership Nancy Birdsall Center for Global Development Monica Brand Frontier Investments Group, Accion
“I am confident t h at t h i s c o n f e r e n c e w i l l l e av e a n indelible mark on the discussion of t h e r o l e o f wo m e n i n g loba l l e a de r s h i p to day, a n d f o r y e a r s to c o m e . ” va l i N a s r , D e a n o f J o h n s Hopkins SAIS
Mayra Buvinic UN Foundation Carolyn Campbell Emerging Capital Partners Christina Conrad Cuenca Calvert Foundation Anne Erni Bloomberg LP Anna Falth UN Women Linda Filardi GE Capital Mary Ellen Iskenderian Women’s World Banking Carla Koppell USAID Gayle Tzemach Lemmon Council on Foreign Relations Anne Lester JPMorgan Kate Maloney KPMG Neha Misra Solar Sister Susan Ness SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations Andrée Simon Women for Women International Dorothy Sobol Johns Hopkins SAIS Genevieve Taft-Vazquez The Coca-Cola Company Kate Thompson Deloitte Monika Weber-Fahr The World Bank
2013 keynote
4 Panels and 22 Speakers
s y lv i a a n n h e w l e t t
m
Founding President, Center for Talent Innovation and author of Winning the War for Talent in Emerging Markets
m
“A m b i t i o n s a m o n g wo m e n i n t h es e markets are off the charts… They will also deliver comm i t m e n t a n d l oya l t y, o f f t h e c h a r t s . ” Sylvia Ann Hewlett
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41% Nonprofit 32% Private 27%
Public and Multilateral
220 ATTENDEES
M U LT I L AT E R A L I n t e r- A m e r i c a n D e v e l o p m e n t B a n k , W o r l d B a n k / IFC NONPROFIT Ashoka, Association of American Universities, C e n t e r f o r G l o b a l D e v e l o p m e n t , C e n t e r f o r P r i v a t e E n t e r p r i s e , C o n s e r v a t i o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l , C o u n t e rp a r t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , C S I S , G l o b a l G o o d s P a r t n e r s , I n s t i t u t e o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n , I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r R i g h t s F o r u m , O p e n S o c i e t y F o u n d a t i o n , T h e Wa s h i n g t o n C e n t e r, W o m e n f o r W o m e n I n t e rn a t i o n a l P R I VAT E A b b o t D o w n i n g / W e l l s F a r g o , A c c e n t u r e , A p p l i e d P r e d i c t i v e Te c h o n o l o g i e s , B a i n & C o m p a n y, B o o z A l l e n H a m i l t o n , D a l b e r g , E u r a s i a F o u n d a t i o n , F I C o n s u l t i n g , I n t e l F o u n d a t i o n , J F o r e s t C o n s u l t i n g , M c K i n s e y & C o m p a n y, N o r t h r u p G r u m m a n , P F C E n e r g y, T h e A v a s c e n t G r o u p , T h e W e b s t e r G r o u p P U B L I C B u r e a u o f E c o n o m i c A n a l y s i s , D e p a r t m e n t o f D e f e n s e , D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s t i c e , D e p a r t m e n t o f Tr e a s u r y, U S E x p o r t - I m p o r t B a n k , G i r l S c o u t s o f A m e r i c a , I t a l i a n C u l t u r a l I n s t i t u t e , B r u s s e l s , O f f i c e o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f D e f e n s e , O P I C , P e a c e C o r p s , S t a t e ’s A t t o r n e y ’s O f f i c e , S w e d i s h - A m e r i c a n C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e , U S A r m y, U S D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h a n d H u m a n S e r v i c e s , U S A I D A C A D E M I C A m e r i c a n U n i v e r s i t y, D u k e S a n f o r d S c h o o l o f P u b l i c P o l i c y, G e o r g e t o w n L a w, G e o r g e t o w n U n i v e r s i t y, G e o r g e t o w n U n i v e r s i t y ’s S c h o o l o f F o r e i g n S e r v i c e , T h e G e o r g e Wa s h i n g t o n U n i v e r s i t y L a w S c h o o l , H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y, J H U C a r e y B u s i n e s s S c h o o l , J H U K r i e g e r School, University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business
about the conference | 3
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
/ SNAPSHOTS / r e g i s t r a t i o n + B r e a k fa s t
Conference partici-
members set up the registration table.
pants network during
<
<
SAIS Global Women in Leadership
breakfast.
Anne Lester (middle left) and Anne Erni (middle right) pose with the SAIS Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke, Laura Sennett, and Dayanita Ramesh.
(Left to right) Susan Ness, Senior Fellow at the SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations, with Jessica Einhorn, former Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS, during breakfast.
<
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Global Women in Leadership executive team: Cassady Walters, Sara
sai swomen l ead.org
< (Left to right) Vali Nasr, Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS, and Jessica Einhorn, former Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS, at the Conference.
(Left to right) Amy Sennett, Nancy Sennett, and Laura Sennett, SAIS Global Women in Leadership Vice President of Programming, outside the Kenney Audi-
<
torium.
<
(Left to right) Ron Lambert, Director of Career Services, and Anne Erni, Head of Leadership, Learning, and Diversity at Bloomberg, during breakfast in the Herter Room at Johns Hopkins SAIS.
C o n f e re n c e
(Left to right) Dorothy Sobol, Senior Adjunct Pro-
participants
fessor of International Economics and Emerging
network dur-
Markets, Johns Hopkins SAIS and Moderator of
ing breakfast.
the Markets Panel, with SAIS Global Women in Walle.
<
<
Leadership committee member, Nadia Van de
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
Opening remarks
Vali Nasr, Dean, The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Welcome to the first annual SAIS women in global leadership conference. This conference is a landmark event not only for SAIS but also for the entire i n t e l l e c t u a l c o m m u n i t y o f Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . a n d b e yond. For over half a century SAIS has been at the forefront of idea generation in international affairs. Here at SAIS we break down barriers to allow for new ways of thinking and to build new paradigms for how our world is understood. Evidence of this exists across our faculty and students’ work from security and development to entrepreneurship, energy and, as today illustrates, leadership. To d a y ’s f o r u m i s m o r e t h a n a p l a t f o r m f o r y o u n g professionals seeking careers in a globalized world. It represents a shift that has long been apparent and is now being increasingly realized: the indispensable role of women in leadership. I know this from firsthand experience working for a prominent woman in global leadership, Hillary Clint o n . F r o m t h e f o r m e r- S e c r e t a r y t o h e a d s o f s t a t e , CEOs, and private and public sector elites that I have engaged with, the role of women in shaping p a t h w a y s i n p o l i t i c s , t e c h n o l o g y, o r a c a d e m i a i s rapidly changing the way we think about our world; a more globalized space. This conference, then, comes at an opportune time as it covers a theme, “A New Economic Landscape: Promoting Women in Emerging Markets,” that addresses the challenges and opportunities facing women from markets to institutions, to the individu a l l e v e l . To d a y, w e w i l l h e a r f r o m t h o u g h t l e a d ers and practitioners who have impacted our world i n s e v e r a l w a y s ; e m b o d i e d i n o u r k e y n o t e s p e a k e r, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Founding President of the Cen-
6 | opening remarks
t e r f o r Ta l e n t I n n o v a t i o n a n d a u t h o r o f W i n n i n g t h e W a r f o r Ta l e n t i n E m e r g i n g M a r k e t s : W h y W o m e n Are the Solution. As a school that has a proud history of producing some of the top female leaders of our time, I am p r o u d t h a t t h i s s t u d e n t - l e d a n d - o r g a n i z e d c o n f e rence has found its home at SAIS. I am confident that this conference will leave an indelible mark on the discussion of the role of women in global leade r s h i p t o d a y, a n d f o r y e a r s t o c o m e .
sai swomen l ead.org
welcome / Introduction sara o’rourke, Founder and President, SAIS Global Women in Leadership
One year ago, this conference was simply an idea—or rather, a cloud of words and diagrams on the whiteboard in room 507, just upstairs. My colleagues, Elliot Waldman and Carolyn Nash, and I had just committed to bringing SAIS into the conversation on women in leadership. The original thought was to organize a conference for graduate schools of international relations that would not only focus on professional development, but would also address the issues facing women around the world. We wanted to encourage participants to reflect on how they, as leaders, could empower women elsewhere to tackle the most pressing challenges they faced. Throughout our discussions, we kept returning to the importance of diversity: the importance of uniting women from different stages in their careers to share the wisdom that comes only with experience; of connecting women across industries to discuss different functional approaches; of bringing together women with diverse areas of expertise to explore cross-cutting challenges and opportunities. We believed that if we could start a conversation that both addressed personal and professional challenges, and also demonstrated the surprising ways in which disparate groups could come together to tackle common problems, we could only imagine the implications for participants and the global discussion on women in leadership. We also believed there was no better institution to host such a conference than SAIS—a school whose diverse student and alumni population and dynamic approach to international relations make it the ideal forum for this conversation. Here we are, one year later. Today, we will consider the tools, skills and awareness necessary to navigate demanding professional environments. Sylvia Ann Hewlett, our keynote speaker, once observed that “what professional women want more than anything else are narratives of success.” That desire has in large part inspired our mindsets panel, and we feel privileged to have such a distinguished group of successful SAIS alumnae here to share their insights.
We will also explore new strategies for promoting women as business leaders and entrepreneurs in emerging markets, both from the top down—by leveraging evolving financial markets and institutions—and from the bottom up—by equipping individuals with the tools and networks they need to compete as economic actors. Finally, we will conclude with case studies that cut across sectors and geographical boundaries. We are honored to have such an illustrious group of experts to share their experiences and to propose innovative solutions. We hope that you—over two hundred women and men from law, business and international relations schools, as well as a variety of public, private, and non-profit institutions—will inspire a new type of discussion on women in leadership—one that is both self-reflective and outward-focused. My hope is that together we can bring the conversations we begin today to the broader Washington—and even global—community.
welcome/introduction | 7
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
keynote
sylvia ann hewet t, President & CEO of the Center for Talent Innovation
Dr. Hewlett led off the conference with insights on the current discourse around women in leadership. Women, she noted, often play the role of passive victims in coverage of emerging markets by the mainstream media and in popular books, or in some cases are left out of the picture entirely. This promotes an imbalance in which the bulk of the work to support women occurs at the bottom of the pyramid, with comparatively little attention paid to women leaders in emerging markets. Citing a recent study by the Center for Talent Innovation, she noted that, contrary to the dominant narrative of women as victims,
S O U N D B I T E S “Ambitions among women in these markets are off the charts...They will also deliver commitment and loyalty, off the charts.” “We are so hungry for tales of impact, agency and joy” Sylvia Ann Hewlett
they are in fact a major driver of growth and progress, “not behind but lighting the way” in a manner entirely dif-
ambitious and talented women in emerging markets. Dr.
ferent from women in Wester n developed countries.
Hewlett outlined a number of push factors that hinder more women from moving higher up the corporate hier-
Indeed, “ambitions among women in these [emerging]
archy in these countries. She noted the onerous burdens
markets are off the charts,” and so too is their loyalty
shouldered by women who work full-time, as long work
and their commitments to deliver results. Already, the ex-
weeks, often more than 60 hours per week in countries
traordinary talents of women are reaping results in major
such as Russia and China, detract from other aspects
developing economies. Eleven percent of CEOs at the top
of life. Further, women in the rich and sticky “marzipan
250 Indian companies are women, and in Brazil the figure
layer” just below the highest rung on the ladder are often
is thirteen percent. Fortune 500 companies lag behind,
seen as unlikeable, too passive, or lacking in executive
as only 4.2 percent of top positions are held by women.
presence. Women are also hindered by unique barriers to mobility, which in tur n prevent them from acquiring
These numbers belie the unique set of challenges facing
8 | keynote
valuable inter national experience. In many societies it is
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extremely difficult or even impossible for women to travel alone, and in other cases the older generation may be less willing to give overseas assignments to women. The picture is not uniquely one of hardship, however, for
sy lv i a a n n h e w l e t t about the keynote
many women in emerging markets are also subject to what Hewlett calls a “complex web of pull factors.” For instance, kinship ties and familial networks in the devel-
Sylvia Ann Hewlett is an economist and the Found-
oping world tend to be thicker and denser than in the
i n g P r e s i d e n t a n d C E O o f t h e C e n t e r f o r Ta l e n t I n -
West, which means that working women often live in
novation (formerly the Center for Work-Life Policy),
close proximity to extended families and relations. They
a Manhattan-based think tank where she chairs the
have immediate access to affordable daycare and/or do-
“ Ta s k F o r c e f o r Ta l e n t I n n o v a t i o n , ” a g r o u p o f s e v -
mestic help, and mater nal guilt is low compared to the
enty five global companies focused on fully realizing
US. The flipside of this is that women are generally more
the new streams of talent in the global marketplace.
encumbered by eldercare, as daughterly guilt tends to be
She also directs the Gender and Policy Program at
rather high in these countries.
the School of Inter national and Public Affairs, Col u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y. S h e i s a m e m b e r o f t h e C o u n c i l o n
Dr. Hewlett then highlighted a selection of cutting edge
Foreign Relations, the Century Association and the
global initiatives to promote inclusion and cultivation of
W o r l d E c o n o m i c F o r u m C o u n c i l o n W o m e n ’s E m p o w -
female talent. Bloomberg’s Women Moving Markets and
erment.
Er nst & Young’s Inclusive Recruiting Strategy serve as channels for recruitment of high-caliber women, while
Hewlett has authored a number of critically acclaimed
Cisco’s Extended Flex Program allows women to suc-
b o o k s , m o s t r e c e n t l y W i n n i n g t h e Wa r f o r Ta l e n t i n
cessfully navigate the push factors that might otherwise
Emerging Markets (Harvard Business Press, 2011)
hinder them from reaching their full potential. One par-
a n d F o r g e t a M e n t o r, F i n d a S p o n s o r ( H a r v a r d B u s i -
ticularly notable example is GE’s RESTART program in
ness Review Press, forthcoming September 2013).
Bangalore, India, a recruitment initiative, which focused
She is ranked #11 on the “Thinkers 50” listing of the
exclusively on women engineers who have taken a ca-
w o r l d ’s t o p b u s i n e s s t h i n k e r s , a n d w a s f e a t u r e d b y
reer hiatus and are looking to retur n to the work place.
Forbes in “Women Changing the World.” Her writings
RESTART’s first three-day session attracted 800 women
h a v e a p p e a r e d i n T h e N e w Yo r k T i m e s , t h e F i n a n c i a l
and resulted in 77 hires – “the least expensive and most
T imes, Foreign Affairs, and the Inter national Herald
effective lateral hiring program the company had ever put
Tr i b u n e a n d s h e i s a f e a t u r e d b l o g g e r o n H a r v a r d
in place,” according to the director of the program.
Business Online.
These initiatives are providing global best practices for
Hewlett has taught at Cambridge, Columbia, and
women in leadership, but they cannot occur in a vacuum.
Princeton, and held fellowships at the Institute for
Dr. Hewlett concluded her remarks by stressing the im-
Public Policy Research in London and the Center for
portance of economic growth, noting that an expanding
t h e S t u d y o f Va l u e s i n P u b l i c L i f e a t H a r v a r d . I n t h e
pie creates demand for leadership and innovation, while
1980s she became the first woman to head up the
stagnancy breeds conservatism and atavistic thinking. It
Economic Policy Council, a think tank composed of
should then come as no surprise that today’s dynamic
125 business and labor leaders. A Kennedy Schol-
engines of growth are also those with powerful female
a r a n d g r a d u a t e o f C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y, H e w l e t t
role models. Dr. Hewlett’s keynote remarks vividly illus-
e a r n e d h e r P h . D . i n E c o n o m i c s a t L o n d o n U n i v e r s i t y.
trated a key theme of this conference: that promoting women in leadership sets into motion virtuous cycles of growth and innovation at all levels of society.
keynote | 9
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
creating new channels markets and institutions
Moderator
Moderated by Dorothy Sobol, Senior Adjunct Professor of In-
Dorothy Sobol Senior Adjunct Professor of International Economics and Emerging Markets, Johns Hopkins SAIS, and Former Vice President, Research Department, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
SAIS and Former Vice President in the Research Department
ternational Economics and Emerging Markets at Johns Hopkins at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Markets and Institutions panel focused on the key issue of access. How are women seizing the new economic opportunities being created in emerging economies? How are they entering the new political spaces that are opening all over the world, particularly in
panelists
the Middle East and North Africa? What are the extant barriers that must be lifted for women to take advantage of economic
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon Best-Selling Author, The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, Deputy Director, Women and Foreign Policy Program, Council on Foreign Relations Carolyn Campbell Managing Director, Founding Partner and General Counsel, Emerging Capital Partners (ECP) Nancy Birdsall (’69) Founding President, Center for Global Development
growth, and what are the roles of financial and regulatory policies in this process? First to tackle these questions was celebrated author and journalist Gayle Tzemach-Lemmon, New York Times best-selling author of The Dressmaker of Khair Khana and Deputy Director of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Women and Foreign Policy program, whose work has focused on women entrepreneurs in developing and transition countries. Echoing Dr. Hewlett’s keynote remarks, she noted that women are too often perceived as passive victims, leaving female entrepreneurs “unnoticed, unin-
Anna Falth Manager of Knowledge Gateway on Women’s Economic Empowerment, UN Women
vested, and unheard from.” This oversight must be corrected in order to make the critical leap from the rhetoric of championing women entrepreneurs to actively channeling the resources necessary for them to reach their full potential. Empowering
10 | markets
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women entrepreneurs thus requires overcoming our own innate biases and predispositions – alleviating our “poverty of imagination.”
S O U N D B I T E S “we are all on an escal ator moving up.” DOROTHY SOBOL
Anna Falth, manager of the Knowledge Gateway on Women’s Economic Empowerment at UN Women, offered a perspective on how a variety of stakeholders can come together to create new solutions and manage the knowledge base on gender issues. The UN is leveraging its mandate to create a knowledge portal composed of corporate executives, policymakers, academics, and civil society groups who share a passion for the economic empowerment of women. One of the key obstacles women face in this regard
“Half the p opul ation can’t be a special interest group, mathematically.” “We need to put resources behind the rhetoric and start supporting women entrepreneurs.”
is the difficulty of achieving scale, and Ms. Falth noted that
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
if stakeholders are willing to collaborate, such scale can be reached with a basic level of energy supply, infrastructure, and capital. She cited the example of women workers in rural Mali who pooled their resources to purchase a communal mill, which enabled them to save money and take on
“There is something dynamic and positive to think about women in these emerging markets”
other enterprises on the side.
Nancy Birdsall
Carolyn Campbell, a Founding Partner at Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), took a broad look at prevalent issues facing women across ECP’s portfolio companies. She noted
have on global growth and poverty alleviation. This as-
that while societal structures do seem to hinder women
sertion is borne out in the development literature, which
entrepreneurs, the strong family-centered orientation of
highlights the myriad benefits of empowering women. For
many emerging market economies means that in family
example, women tend to be more trustworthy and family-
businesses, we often see women as CEOs. Women also
oriented, and are thus more likely to use cash transfers
seem to have natural advantages in certain sectors; for
productively. As Adam Grant notes in his new book Give
example, workers in the seafood processing industry are
and Take, givers tend to do well, and women are givers.
predominantly female, which allows them to rise up in the leadership ranks. Campbell wrapped up her insights by ar-
During the discussion that followed the panelists’ general
guing that on the policy front, there is great potential for
remarks, Ms. Lemmon made the important point that while
emerging African countries to follow the positive model of
women’s empowerment is indeed an issue of fundamental
the EU in creating space for women leaders.
rights, in order to win converts it must also be framed as an economic boon. The insightful analysis that emerged from
Nancy Birdsall, Founding President of the Center for Global
this session showed not only why women’s economic em-
Development, reinforced the importance of understanding
powerment is so important, but also how to overcome the
markets and institutions, especially in an era characterized
obstacles they face. Policies and partnerships that shape
by rapid declines in the costs of transportation and com-
institutions are critical, as are the norms and behaviors
munication, and where individual norms and behaviors can
that make up the global marketplace. In general, the atmo-
have a potentially larger impact. Birdsall also stressed the
sphere of this panel was one of optimism, aptly summed
need to keep up with rapid geopolitical change, as 60-70
up by Dr. Sobol’s remark that “we are all on an escalator
percent of the bottom of the pyramid now resides in large
moving up.”
emerging market economies. It is thus imperative that we think about the dynamic and positive impacts women can
markets | 11
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
mindsets Moderator
As part of the conference mission to allow participants the
Linda Filardi (’93) Senior Counsel, Sponsor Finance Group, GE Capital, and Co-Chair, GE Women’s Network NYC
essary to navigate demanding professional environments, the
chance to gain perspectives on the skills and strategies necMindsets Panel featured women leaders who are making a difference in a variety of employment sectors. Panelists reflected on their diverse career pathways and offered advice on setting priorities, taking risks, and managing professional ups and downs.
panelists Moderator Linda Filardi (SAIS ‘93), Senior Counsel, Sponsor Anne Erni (’86) Head of Leadership, Learning and Diversity, Bloomberg LP Anne Lester (’91) Managing Director, Global Multi-Asset Group, J.P. Morgan Katherine Maloney (’02) Director, International Development Assistance Services (IDAS), KPMG LLP
Finance Group GE Capital & Co-Chair GE Women’s Network, kicked off the discussion by using her own experience in a Fortune 500 and speaking about what she perceived to be a changing corporate landscape.
Ms. Filardi argued that while
many large for-profit corporations have superficially endorsed the advancement of women for years, they have just now begun to internalize the idea that the inclusion of women in leadership positions and strategic plans makes good economic sense. Ms. Filardi expressed the view that there are opportunities for women to lead and to make a difference but noted that women need to take responsibility for their careers. She advised par-
Genevieve Taft-Vazquez (’08) Manager of Global Workplace Rights, The Coca-Cola Company
ticipants to prioritize finding a “sponsor,” a superior willing to evaluate their performance critically, help them navigate difficult situations, and champion their advancement. She made it clear, however, that sponsorship is earned.
12 | mindsets
Anyone seeking such
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support must do his or her work, master the necessary skills, and demonstrate commitment to the organization. Kate Maloney (SAIS ‘02), Director, International Development Assistance Services, KPMG LLP, described her path to her current position with a multinational accounting firm as unlikely but rewarding. She noted that while she was
S O U N D B I T E S “If you are passionate about something and you’re good at it, the doors will stay open.” anne lester
at SAIS, there was a debate on whether SAIS prepares its graduates for a career in the public or the private sector. Ms. Maloney has successfully navigated both sectors and encouraged young leaders to explore both through the varied SAIS network. Now doing “exactly what she wants” she encouraged participants to prioritize making professional connections not only when taking their first career steps, but also throughout their careers. Anne Erni (SAIS ‘86), Head of Leadership, Learning and Diversity, Bloomberg LP, described her early start at Lehman as relatively unexpected. She followed the advice of a SAIS professor to go to the private sector and understand how it functions before moving to the public sector. Recognizing that her “people and relationship skills” were among her best, she soon became a star on the Lehman trading desk. Ms. Erni also shared a memo that she wrote to herself at one particularly difficult stage in her career, in which she outlined her priorities in order: family, fun, meaningful career, money. The memo eventually made it to the President of Lehman and led to her move from the trading desk to the role of Chair of Diversity, a position that fit her needs exactly. Ms. Erni is now leading the Diversity programs at Bloomberg. Genevieve Taft-Vazquez (SAIS ‘08), Manager of Global Workplace Rights, The Coca-Cola Company, described her first position following graduation from SAIS as underwhelming, but said she did what she was assigned with enthusiasm and meticulousness — and was promoted quickly as a result. Her rise through the Coca-Cola organization has been satisfying and allowed her to develop a good balance between her professional and family obligations. Ms. Taft-Vazquez highlighted flexibility, cheerfulness and passion as components that are necessary for professional success.
on and refine their priorities constantly throughout their professional lives, but to be open to unforeseen opportunities—as linear career progression is the exception, not the rule. Following an early position on Capitol Hill, Ms. Lester moved to JP Morgan while temporarily living abroad, where she began her rise to the position of Managing Director of JP Morgan’s Global Multi-Asset Group. She believes that mentors and sponsors are important, but suggested that formal mentor programs are often not as successful as relationships that develop organically.
Ms. Lester described
her current priorities as including work/life balance, fun, skill development, and money, but admits that those priorities have shifted throughout her career. She strongly emphasized the need to be flexible, cheerful and willing to take on reasonable challenges and risks. Dr. Hewlett added her thoughts to the discussion, referencing data that the Center for Talent Innovation has collected on how to achieve executive presence. She stated that the critical question is one of gravitas — how you signal to the world that you have intellectual horsepower. Dr. Hewlett mentioned the power of strong communication and the ability to command a room. As an example, she explained that to have immense impact, one should surround his or her thoughts with space, using silence as a weapon. Finally, Dr. Hewlett discussed the roadmap of how one can earn sponsorship by grabbing fantastic opportunities and investing in delivering high performance.
On a personal
note, she added that she has learned that you are never too old to need to develop more sponsorship in your life, because we all need and want more influence and agency. She highlighted the importance of having deep pockets, referring to a posse of people who think you are exceptional and would help you if you were to need assistance or professional advice.
Anne Lester (SAIS ‘91), Managing Director, Global MultiAsset Group, J.P. Morgan, advised participants to reflect
mindsets | 13
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
empowering individuals networks, norms, and resources
Moderator
Recognizing the reality that cultural norms and practical chal-
Monica Brand Principal Director, Frontier Investments Group, Accion,
women, this panel discussed the potential for progressive at-
—Adjunct Professor in International Development,
of great access to networks and resources, to help women suc-
Johns Hopkins SAIS
ceed as business leaders and innovators.
lenges still create barriers to the professional advancement of titudes toward women in the workplace, as well as the provision
Moderator Monica Brand, Principal Director, Frontier Invest-
panelists
ments Group at Accion, and Adjunct Professor in International Development at SAIS, reiterated the popular but necessary ob-
Marguerite Berger Vice President for Impact Evaluation and Research, Vital Voices Global Partnership Mary Ellen Iskenderian President and CEO, Women’s World Banking (WWB) Andrée Simon COO, FINCA International Former President and COO, Women for Women International
servation that women and men operate very differently within the business world. The physical presence of women in a business setting is new to the traditional notions of corporate life, as is the way in which women manage people and operate within group environments. The goal today is to get the business world to acknowledge the differences between the sexes and to embrace them as positive forces. Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, focused on the challenges within the world of microfinance. She highlighted the fact that many of the founders of
Monika Weber-Fahr (’91) Director of Knowledge, Learning and Results, Sustainable Development Network, The World Bank
the microfinance movement were women, as are many of the direct beneficiaries of microfinance opportunities. Despite this focus on women, however, Ms. Iskenderian stated that microfinance has imposed a “glass ceiling” on women and has become
14 | individuals
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a victim of its own success.
As microfinance successes
have been observed and the community has grown, micro-
S O U N D B I T E S
finance activities broadened, and the business shifted— with larger institutions lending to larger businesses, both of which are primarily run by men. Reverting to traditional norms, microfinance has become challenged because of the expense of processing and managing small loans. Often this expense factor has been used to limit loans to
“The moment when you create a space for women’s voices... that’s when leadership grows.” Monika Weber-Fahr
women even when the repayment success for women far exceeds that of men.
With such institutional challenges
in the system, Ms. Iskenderian made clear that women’s empowerment depends on leadership by other women. It requires that women “own their leadership” and use their power to advocate for other women who are in environments where, because of cultural norms, opportunities are
“the most important asset is yourself... for women, it has been a long struggle to be the one who controls one’s own self.” Marguerite Berger
limited. Andrée Simon (SAIS ‘97), Former President and COO Women of Women International and current COO of FINCA International, became involved in work to support women just as recognition of the importance of women’s empowerment was emerging on women in the marketplace. With
There is an explicit bias against women... from both a legal and a cultural perspective...women simply do not have the same access and rights as men.” Andrée Simon
an imbalance in the number of women leaders in marginal communities, she believes it is important for all women with resources to use those resources to help move women
specific metrics to measure the impact of the Bank’s gender
into positions of influence.
related work. Findings suggest that women entrepreneurs in emerging markets perform better than their male coun-
Marguerite Berger, Vice President for Impact, Evaluation,
terparts, although today men make up a much larger per-
and Research at Vital Voices Global Partnership, focuses
centage of entrepreneurs. Interestingly, the Bank has ob-
her work on changing attitudes and norms in order to em-
served that women leaders in emerging markets have some
power women in emerging markets. Ms. Berger believes
advantages; for example, childcare is more readily avail-
the main barrier confronting women is lack of ownership
able and maternity leave is often well respected. In con-
or control of assets.
While assets are typically defined
trast, many emerging markets have legal restrictions that
as money and property, Ms. Berger suggested a broader
preclude women from economic activities. Such laws have
interpretation that includes skills and networks. Building
restricted the number of women on boards and limited
control over one’s self means having control over fertil-
leadership positions to those women who have important
ity and safety.
Until women are assured of these basic
family ties. In the end, Ms. Weber-Fahr believes that taking
rights, their development will be halted. Similarly, women’s
advantage of family ties is fine as long as women who do
networks, she has found, tend to be small and typically
so then promote other women. Ms. Weber-Fahr’s message
isolated, so women have relatively fewer connections than
was clear: create a space where women can congregate
do men. She emphasized the need to help women build
and give women a voice, and women will thrive as leaders.
networks that are larger and more diverse. Monika Weber-Fahr (SAIS ‘91), Director of Knowledge, Learning and Results in the Sustainable Development Network at the World Bank, has worked to introduce gender-
individuals | 15
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
case studies in solutions strategies Moderator
Moderated by Mayra Buvinic, Senior Fellow at the UN Founda-
Mayra Buvinic UN Foundation, and former Director for Gender and
World Bank, the Case Studies in Solutions panel focused on
Development, World Bank
sectors, approaches, and regions. The case studies included
tion and former Director for Gender and Development at the strategies that have proven to be effective within a variety of lessons learned in the private sector, among entrepreneurs, and within the international development community.
panelists
To begin the conversation, Christina Conrad Cuenca (SAIS â&#x20AC;&#x2122;99), Senior Director, Risk Management at the Calvert Foundation,
Christina Conrad Cuenca (â&#x20AC;&#x2122;99) Senior Director, Risk Management, Calvert Foundation Carla Koppell Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Empowerment, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Neha Misra Chief Collaboration Officer, Solar Sister
introduced the Calvert Foundation model, which allows retail investors to participate in providing investment capital to empower women. Cuenca then went on to describe WIN-WIN, a Women Investing in Women Initiative, which is the first and only gender-lensed investment product available to retail investors. Cuenca highlighted the need to create opportunities for women, not just by improving access to capital, but also by supporting women in management and other key roles. The initiative engages female brokers and investors, and employs metrics that are explicitly targeted at measuring the success of the gender-
Kate Thompson Principal in Emerging Markets, Deloitte
lensed approach. Cuenca hopes that the initiative will address the capital gap facing women entrepreneurs, where the starting capital required for women in the domestic market is typically two-thirds of that in male-led firms.
16 | solutions
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Kate Thompson, Principal in Emerging Markets at Deloitte, spoke to the importance of women in the economy. Thomp-
S O U N D B I T E S
son cited research by the OECD which indicates that women make 80 percent of all consumer decisions globally. This is equivalent to a $21 trillion market, making women the single largest emerging market. Moreover, firms with three or more women on their board outperform competi-
“Ignoring women is ignoring a market opportunity, and when it comes to borrowing, a lower risk opportunity.”
tors by a staggering 53 percent. The need for women to
Carla Koppell
influence product design and to occupy senior leadership roles is thus paramount. Thompson also highlighted the need to involve men. Deloitte found that in Afghanistan, for example, women’s participation in the recruiting process for law enforcement officers is substantially improved when men (fathers, husbands, and brothers) are also engaged.
“Women own 40% of the businesses [in the united states] and their businesses grow two times the rate... yet they start with less than two-thirds of the capital that businesses with men start.”
Neha Misra, Chief Collaboration Officer at Solar Sister, of-
Christina Conrad Cuenca
fered three stories from her experience with Solar Sister, a social enterprise which empowers women as business leaders through energy solutions. Today, approximately 1.6 billion people have not seen a single light bulb, and 70 percent of them are women and girls. Solar Sister aims to address this poverty through the Avon model of using a women-to-women network of distributors and consum-
“worldwide women make 85% of the consumer decisions... equivalent to about a $21 trillion market, which means that women are the single largest emerging market.”
ers. In the first story, which Misra described as a story of
Marguerite Berger
“light,” she talked about how one light bulb in a chicken coop changed a woman and her family’s livelihood for the better. The second story, of “hope,” was about a Solar Sis-
such as “Don’t you think you are missing a market opportu-
ter entrepreneur in central Uganda, Florence, who sold a
nity here?” triggered a series of conversations which even-
light to a tailor who was then able to move her tailoring
tually led to a project to determine how this market could
business home and started a chapati business on the side
be developed. In Pakistan, Koppell highlighted an interest-
to earn extra income for her family. The third story, of “op-
ing example of the impact of norms versus resources in the
portunity,” celebrated the 400+ Solar Sisters to-date, with
case of female animal nurses. USAID found that the main
Misra concluding that, “women count for building a green
obstacle in the way of female nurses performing artificial
economy, not just out of the goodness of our hearts, but
insemination was not societal belief, but rather their lack
because if we don’t, that’s just plain bad business.”
of access to cellphones and transportation. Norms might have held women back in the past, but these patterns are
Carla Koppell, Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and
increasingly shifting in favor of empowering women.
Women’s Empowerment at USAID, spoke about the in-
creasing USAID’s attention to using on women’s empower-
On this note, Mayra Buvinic shrewdly pointed out that in
ment as a way to promote economic development. In Haiti,
the developed world, we often hear, “We can’t do this in
USAID supports an agriculture micro lending enterprise
emerging countries because of norms,” but we do not real-
which has experienced tremendous growth in borrower
ize that norms are changing faster in these markets than
count and loan expansion. In her conversation with her
we might perceive. Buvinic also highlighted the importance
Haitian counterpart, Koppell found that women comprise
of sharing successful solutions because they help us to
a minority of borrowers even though their repayment rate
determine the channels through which certain interventions
is much higher than that of most men. A simple question
work, as well as where they don’t.
solutions | 17
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
closing remarks
susan ness, Senior Fellow, SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations
[ Th e SAIS G lob a l Wo m e n i n L e a d e r sh i p Co n f e re nc e ] is
So, it giv e s me gre a t hope t o se e y oung wom en and
n ot ju s t a c on fe ren c e t o e xp l o re c a re e r o p p o r t unit ie s in
y oung me n t oda y c a r ing de e ply a bout t he econom i c em -
in ter n at ion a l relat ion s o r t o t a l k a b o u t wo m e n ’s le a de r-
pow e r me nt of w ome n a nd gir ls a round t he worl d.
sh ip . R at h e r it w as d e si g n e d t o b e a mo re f u nda me nt a l con ver s a tion th a n th o s e su b j e c t s c o mb i n e d . I t w a s de -
I t giv e s me gre a t hope t o se e y oung w omen and m en
sign ed t o ex p lore m o re p ro f o u n d l y wh e re wo me n’s le a d-
using t e c hnology a nd soc ia l me dia : t o he lp wom en get a
ersh ip c a n le a d – a s S y l v i a A n n He wi t t s a i d – t he v a lue
fa ir pr ic e for t he ir c rops, t o dist r ibut e c ook s toves that
p ro p os it ion in w om e n ’s l e a d e r sh i p – a n d wh a t t ha t might
limit ha r mful smoke e missions; a nd t o e lim i nate vi ol ence
mean for t h e fu t u re o f t h e wo r l d .
a nd huma n t r a ffic king, a nd r a pe a s a w e a pon of war.
And it w a s d e s ign ed t o e q u i p wo me n – a n d m en – w it h
I t giv e s me gre a t hope t o se e t ha t y oung wom en and
the tools an d k n ow l e d g e n e c e ssa r y t o e x c e l i n t he ir c a -
me n a re pur suing de gre e s in e ngine e r ing for devel op-
reers a n d ta c k le ch a l l e n g e s f a c i n g wo m e n g l o ba lly.
me nt a nd ot he r c ross- disc ipline int e r na t io nal rel ati ons c our se s in numbe r s fa r gre a t e r t ha n e v e r before.
I am of a gen er a tio n t h a t f o u g h t f o r wo me n ’s r ight s in the Unit e d Sta te s du r i n g t h e s e c o n d wa v e o f t he w om -
And it giv e s me gre a t hope t ha t ma jor c onferences , s uch
en ’s move m en t an d a l s o a p ro d u c t o f t h e 1 9 5 0 ’s.
a s t he SAI S G loba l Wome n’s Le a de r ship and wel l -fund e d univ e r sit y c e nt e r s on globa l w ome n’s leaders hi p, are
Back t h e n m os t of u s we re t o t a l l y u n a wa re of t he liv-
be ing la unc he d a round t he c ount r y a nd t hroughout the
in g con d ition s of our si st e r s i n ma n y p a r t s o f t he w or ld.
w or ld.
Th ere w a s n o In t e r ne t a n d v e r y l i m i t e d c o v e r a g e of int e rn atio n al is s u es e x ce p t t h e V i e t n a m Wa r – a n d c e r t a inly
The w ome n’s mov e me nt is not a re lic of the pas t -- i t
n o cov e r age of h alf t h e g l o b a l p o p u l a t i o n . A f t e r a ll, t he
ha s gone globa l.
men w e re c ov e r in g t h e st o r i e s. We c a n dr a w ma ny c onc lusions from t his conference,
18 | closing remarks
sai swomen l ead.org
b oth from t h e k e y n o t e s p e e c h e s a n d t h e p a n e l s, but le t
it se lf – but using pow e r for a highe r pur p os e (al though
me high ligh t ju s t a f e w:
w e ne e d t o do a be t t e r job of t e lling our p ower s tori es !)
•
Th e p ot e n tia l fo r wo me n l e a d e r s i n e m e r ging ma r-
G iv e n w ha t w e ha v e se e n a nd he a rd t oday, I am confi -
ke ts is s ign ificant : S y l v i a A n n He wl e t t i n h e r ke y not e
de nt t ha t t he SAI S G loba l Wome n’s Le a ders hi p Confer-
rem a r k s s aid t h a t , “wh a t we d o n ’t re a l i z e i s w ha t a
e nc e w ill c ont inue t o grow a s a n e xt r a ordi nary venue
tre a s u re t rove o f t a l e n t t h e re i s a mo n g wome n in
– for gr a dua t e st ude nt s a nd profe ssional s at vari ous
[ em e r gin g] m a r k e t s … a mb i t i o n s a m o n g wome n in
st a ge s in t he ir c a re e r s – t o e nga ge on w om en i n l eader-
the s e m ar k e ts a re o ff t h e c h a r t s … T h e y w ill a lso
ship.
d e liv e r c om m itme n t a n d l o y a l t y, o ff t h e c h ar t s. And a s w e re fle c t on our ow n profe ssiona l paths , I urge •
Stor ie s of s u c c e s s a re i m p o r t a n t .
A g a i n , He w le t t :
us t o foc us on how w e c a n le v e r a ge our ne w connecti ons
“We are s o h u ng r y f o r t a l e s o f i mp a c t , a g enc y a nd
t oda y t o for ge ne w pa t hs t o a ddre ss t he c hal l enges and
joy. ”
oppor t unit ie s fa c ing w ome n le a de r s a round the worl d.
In e m er gi n g ma r k e t s we d o n ’t h e a r w ome n
tal k in g a b ou t s tr u g g l e s; i n st e a d , we h e a r h ow “ c ool”
I n c losing – I w a nt t o quot e The Ne w Yor k T i m es col um -
the ir ex p e r ien ce s h a v e b e e n a s wo m e n o f pow e r. We
nist Nic hola s K r ist of ’s re ma r ks a t t he V it a l Voi ces Gl obal
n e e d m ore role mo d e l s, a n d t o h e a r s t o r i e s of suc-
Le a de r ship Aw a rds. He sa id t ha t “ The 19t h Century was
ce s s from th e s e wo me n .
a bout a bolishing sla v e r y ; t he 20t h c e nt ury was about a bolishing t ot a lit a r ia nism; a nd t he 21st c e ntury i s about
•
O w n y ou r lead e r s h i p a n d d o g o o d wo r k . We he a rd
a bolishing ge nde r disc r imina t ion a round t he worl d. ”
ab ou t th e im p or t a n c e o f k n o wi n g y o u r p r i o rit ie s a nd tak in g in itia tiv e i n b u i l d i n g re l a t i o n sh i p s whic h w ill
The SAI S G loba l Wome n in Le a de r ship Co nference wi l l
fo r m y ou r ow n b o a rd o f d i re c t o r s .
be se e n a s a mile st one ma r ke r in a c hie v ing that vi s i on.
A si d e from for-
ma l c h a n n e ls , it i s a l so i m p o r t a n t t o c re a t e a spa c e w h ere w om en c a n c o n g re g a t e a n d h a v e a v oic e , b e c a u s e th is is wh e re l e a d e r sh i p wi l l e m er ge a nd thr ive . Doin g go o d wo r k a n d b e i n g a v a l u a ble a sse t go a lon g w ay in b re a k i n g d o wn g e n d e r b a rr ie r s a nd ea r n in g s p on s or s wh o wi l l a d v o c a t e f o r y o u; a nd •
Th e im p or t a n c e o f b o t h i n d i v i d u a l s a n d i n st it ut ions “le an in g in . ” W h i l e we re c o g n i z e t h a t t h e re a re st ill p ract ic a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l o b s t a c l e s i n promot ing w om e n as em p o we re d a g e n t s, D o ro t h y S o bol not e d tha t, “ w e are a ll o n a n e s c a l a t o r m o v i n g u p.” I n ord e r to m a in ta in t h i s t r a j e c t o r y, b o t h i n d i v i dua ls a nd organ iza tion s n e e d t o – a s Andrée S i mo n put it – “Ju s t d o s om e th i n g !” wh e t h e r i t i s wo r k i ng a c ross sect or s , p u s h in g f o r b e t t e r p o l i c i e s, o r l ooking t o b u ild m e n tor s h ip s a n d sp o n s o r sh i p s .
We’ve h e a rd a lot a b o u t p a r t n e r s h i p s . P ro g re s s t oda y is b u ilt on p a r t n e r s h ip s – a n d wo me n a re e s p e c i a lly skille d in collab or a tion . And wom e n s eek p o we r – n o t f o r t h e e xe rc i s e of pow e r closing remarks | 19
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
/ SNAPSHOTS / T H E C O C K TA I L R E C E P T I O N H O S T E D
BY T H E E M BAS SY O F F I N L A N D <
The SAIS Global Women in Leadership Executive Board celebrates during the cocktail reception at the Embassy of Finland.
(Left to right) Anna Falth, Manager of Knowledge Gateway on
<
Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Economic Empowerment of UN Women, with SAIS
(Left to right) SAIS students Elliot Waldman, Jacob Berkowitz, Pablo Gonhosted by the Embassy of Finland.
<
<
zalez Alonso, Henry Hoyle, and Samuel Lee, pose at the cocktail reception
Conference participants with SAIS student and President of the SAIS Global Women in Leadership, Sara Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke, at the cocktail reception hosted by the Embassy of Finland.
students, Nadiath Adechoubou and Malikat Rufai.
sai swomen l ead.org
< The SAIS Global Women in Leadership team poses at the cocktail reception hosted by the Embassy of Finland.
(Left to right) SAIS students Priya Punatar and Sabahat Iqbal attend the coctail re-
<
ception at the Embassy of
<
(Left to right) Susan Ness, Senior Fellow at the SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations, poses with the Honorable Ritva Koukku-Ronde, Finlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ambassador to the United States.
Walters, Laura Sennett, and Anne Marie Gillman cel-
tion.
ebrate at the Embassy of Finland.
<
SAIS Global Women in Leadership members Cassady
at the cocktail recep-
<
SAIS students gather
Finland.
sai s g lobal women i n leadersh i p con fere nce
about sais global women in leadership SAIS Global Women in Leadership is a student-led career organization. The objective of the organization is to equip SAIS women leaders with the tools and knowledge necessary to excel in their careers and tackle challenges facing women globally. To that end, SAIS Global Women in Leadership:
t h e
l e a d e r s h i p
t e a m
EXECUTIVE BOARD Sara O’Rourke President and Founder Carolyn Nash Executive Vice President, Conference Elliot Waldman Executive Vice President, Conference & Luncheon Series Samuel Lee Vice President, Information & Branding
•
Sponsors a speakers’ series, which aims to provide
Dayanita Ramesh Vice President, Marketing & Communications
an intimate and open forum to discuss the challenges
Laura Sennett Vice President, Programming
and opportunities for women around the world. Re-
Cassady Walters Vice President, Operations
cent topics include “Women and Careers in Peacebuilding” and “Women and Development.” •
Hosts leadership seminars, workshops and networking events to allow students to meet women leaders in their fields. The most recent event was entitled, “Leading from the Front: Leadership Strategies for Any Situation.”
•
Committee Members Meghan Coffee Marketing & Sponsorship Michelle Cousland Marketing & Sponsorship Anne Marie Gillman Marketing & Sponsorship Sunita Kambhampati Operations Susli Lie Programming Karen Poreh Operations
Organizes the annual SAIS Global Women in Leader-
Jenny Schuch Luncheon Series
ship Conference, which provides a unique forum for
Amanda Stek Operations
young professionals preparing to launch successful
Angie Tyler Luncheon Series
careers in an increasingly globalized world.
Nadia Van de Walle Programming Jing Zhou Marketing & Sponsorship
22 | global women in leadership
sai swomen l ead.org
Sponsors This conference was made possible with the generous support of:
Kathleen M. Pike B’81, JHU’82, JHU’83 and Louis J. Forster JHU’82, ’83 Linda W. Filardi ’83 Carmen Neithammer ’97 JHU Alumni Association WE WOULD like to thank the following members of the sais administration and faculty who supported us in this exciting process: Dean Vali Nasr, Dean Lori Cwalina, Susan Ness, Professor Roger Leeds, Felisa Klubes, Ashley Rogers, Mary Evans, Julie Neill, Jill Villatoro, Bilal Baloch, Sherry Russo
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Contact: saiswomenlead@gmail.com Website: saiswomenlead.org Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies