Women's Foreign Policy Group

The Women's Foreign Policy Group is excited to announce our 2024 Celebrating Women Leaders Annual Benefit Luncheon, this year hosted by the Embassy of Italy on Friday, November 15th, from 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM ET. The theme of this year's benefit is AI, security, and innovation.

We are honored to be celebrating the accomplishments of two awardees: Irene Fellin, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security; and Amna Nawaz, Co-Anchor of PBS NewsHour. We are delighted to welcome Jennifer Ewbank, Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for Digital Innovation, 2019-2024, who will deliver a keynote addressing the rise of AI and its impact on security.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to Ambassador of Italy Mariangela Zappia for your valued support of WFPG!

We encourage you to register soon, as last year's event sold out early. Purchase your tickets at the link in our bio to secure your spot at this highly anticipated annual event! If you are interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at [email protected].

The Women’s Foreign Policy Group is thrilled to welcome The Cohen Group as our newest Corporate Council member! Our organization thrives thanks to the support and engagement of our Corporate Council, and we are excited to partner with The Cohen Group to advance women’s involvement and leadership in foreign policy. We extend our sincere gratitude for their support, and look forward to an impactful collaboration.

Please join us virtually on Thursday, September 19th at 3:30 pm to meet accomplished professionals in international affairs specializing in the Middle East & North Africa region.

Our discussion will feature both Anne W. Patterson, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and former United States Ambassador to Egypt and Pakistan, and Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and lecturer in international affairs at George Washington University.

Register today to secure your spot!

Looking for a way to make your resume stand out in today’s crowded job market? Join the Women’s Foreign Policy Group and George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs for a peer mentorship session and Rapid Fire Resume Review on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM ET.

Come prepared with your resume and get ready to practice your elevator pitch skills in a “speed dating” format, allowing you to prepare for the job market in the form of peer-to-peer mentorship. Participants will also have the opportunity to have a free professional headshot taken. This will be followed by an informal networking hour, giving attendees a chance to speak about their experiences and form interpersonal connections. Reserve your spot today at wfpg.org!

New York City Event Announcement: Women’s Foreign Policy Group and Women Forward International (WFI) invite you to The Power of Womenomics: A New Foreign Policy for the Next Generation.

Our esteemed speakers include Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Department of State: Office of Global Women's Issues, and Annie Potts, actress and ZariZar Global Fashion Ambassador. This invigorating discussion will explore the role of women’s economic empowerment in shaping global policy, particularly as it pertains to the future of U.S.-India relations.

Following the panel discussion, attendees will take part in a networking reception with live Indian music, hors d’oeuvres, and the opportunity to purchase handmade ZariZar shawls.

We’re thrilled to announce Lindsay Sharman as our new Program Associate! Lindsay’s fresh energy and experience are a fantastic addition to our group.

Learn more about Lindsay by reading her full bio on our website!

Please join us on Thursday, September 12th at 3:30 PM ET for the September installment of our monthly Mentor Minutes. This month we are joined by Lila Abed, Acting Director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute. Lila brings a wealth of professional experience and knowledge to our discussion. Attendance is capped at 50, so register today to secure your spot!

Please join the Women's Foreign Policy Group and Johns Hopkins SAIS' Defense & Intelligence club to discuss "The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA" for the Fall installment of WFPG's Author Talk series. The program will take place at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center on Thursday, September 5th, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM EST. New York Times bestselling author Liza Mundy will discuss her newest book, which details the long history of women's integral involvement in the CIA from the time it was founded to present day. This engaging conversation will be moderated by Dr. Deborah Wituski, Vice President of Global Intelligence at Google and Adjunct Lecturer at SAIS, and will include time to discuss the book during an audience Q&A and networking reception. Books will be available for purchase and signing. We look forward to seeing you there! Register today at wfpg.org.

"On this day, let us remember that Indigenous peoples are actors of change, guardians of natural resources and carriers of unique worldviews, knowledge and skills. We must protect their traditions and ways of life – while respecting their rights." –– Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

Today, in commemoration of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Women's Foreign Policy Group celebrates indigenous women activists and politicians who have made powerful contributions to foreign affairs. In line with our organization's mission to promote diverse voices in global discussions, we will continue to foster spaces where all cultures are respected and valued.

Happy National Intern Day! Today we would like to thank our interns, who are a valued, integral part of WFPG. Mentorship is a core value for us, and we love seeing them develop and thrive! Through their passion and dedication to expanding the role of women in foreign affairs, they have strengthened the WFPG mission and have made incredible contributions to our programming and communication initiatives. We asked them some questions about their time interning at WFPG.
Take a look at their responses!

Please join the Women's Foreign Policy Group virtually on July 30th at 3:30 PM ET for the July installment of our monthly Career Pathways seminar.

We will be joined by Christina Sevilla, Ph.D., Deputy Assistant Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for Small Business, and NEW SPEAKER Penny Naas, Allied Competitiveness Lead, The German Marshall Fund of the United States; non-resident senior fellow, Atlantic Council; Board member, TradeExperettes.

Dr. Sevilla and Ms. Naas are equipped with extensive experience in developing and coordinating trade policy and outreach, making them excellents resources and role models for all those interested in international trade.

Please join Women's Foreign Policy Group and the U.S.- Mexico Foundation this Friday, July 26, from 12 PM -1:30 PM EST at the US-Mexico Foundation, for an intimate roundtable conversation on "Presidenta: Más De 100 Mujeres Te Escriben/President More Than 100 Women Write to You."

The book is a compelling collection of letters from prominent Mexican women that examines their expectations and hopes for the country's first female president. The discussion will draw on the diverse experiences of its contributors to explore strategies for enhancing women's participation in foreign affairs and fostering cross-border collaboration on gender issues.

The roundtable will include book commentary from prominent Mexican women journalists and policymakers and will conclude with a Q&A and discussion. Event will be held in English. Space is extremely limited, and event registration will close at 2 PM this Thursday, July 25th, or until capacity is reached.

On July 19, the Women's Foreign Policy Group, in partnership with the Washington International Trade Association - WITA, hosted a networking happy hour for young professionals interested in growing their network. The event took place at the historic DACOR and DACOR Bacon House Foundation, and provided a space for dynamic exchanges on a wide array of topics including current foreign affairs, life as a young professional in D.C., and international trade. WFPG was happy to connect the event's attendees with one another and thanks WITA for their partnership!

Greetings from Aspen! At this week's annual Aspen Security Forum, the Women's Foreign Policy Group was delighted to co-host an intimate dinner event featuring change-making women in national security, with The Cohen Group and Beacon Global Strategies. WFPG's Executive Director Alexa Chopivsky attended the dinner, alongside Kristin White and Kaitlyn Garman from WFPG Corporate Council member Beacon Global Strategies, and WFPG Board Member Megan Ortiz from The Cohen Group. It was a pleasure to hear from an array of talented women from varying professional backgrounds within the field, including representatives from WFPG Corporate Council members Microsoft and Google; OpenAI; The Brookings Institution; Dcode; Ploughshares; and the National Security Council, among others. WFPG thanks all who were in attendance for their engagement, and looks forward to future collaboration!

Yesterday the Women's Foreign Policy Group held a virtual event with a leading force from Venezuela's opposition movement, María Corina Machado.

Machado has been barred from leaving the country and from running in the July 28 election by the current government. She provided her unique perspective about a range of issues, including her hope for the future, the effects of grassroots mobilization, the obstacles she has had to overcome as a woman in politics, and the importance of global peaceful democratic processes.

WFPG extends our sincere gratitude to Machado and her team, as well as our event moderator, SAIS and Wilson Center's Cynthia J. Arnson, for engaging with our members through this dynamic conversation.

The Women's Foreign Policy Group warmly welcomes our new Corporate Council member: Beacon Global Strategies! The work of WFPG would not be possible without the engagement of our valuable Corporate Council. We look forward to collaborating with Beacon Global Strategies to advance our mission of promoting women's engagement and leadership in foreign policy, and thank them for their support.

Women's Foreign Policy Group was honored to participate in the NATO Summit's Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) roundtable, hosted by Secretary Blinken, U.S. Department of State, in recognition of the release of NATO's new WPS Policy. Special thank you to two trailblazers and valued friends of WFPG for their important global leadership, and for leading the event: NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security Irene Fellin, and US Ambassador for Global Women's Issues Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Department of State: Office of Global Women's Issues. The morning brought together a host of NATO Allies and partners to share best practices and explore continued collaboration for the advancement of WPS, with a special focus on Ukraine. WFPG was honored to take part alongside US & international government officials and civil society actors. We are grateful to colleagues here and around the globe who together are moving the WPS agenda forward! Alexa Chopivsky

Please join WFPG online on Tuesday, July 16, from 11 AM -12 PM EST, for a fireside chat with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado moderated by Cynthia J. Arson, distinguished fellow at Wilson Center, ahead of the July 28th presidential election. As the face of political opposition in Venezuela, Machado will discuss what's at stake in the upcoming election. This event will be held virtually and is available to WFPG members. Register today at wfpg.org!

Please join the Women’s Foreign Policy Group and the Washington International Trade Association - WITA for a young professionals networking happy hour on Thursday, July 18th from 5-7 PM, in the DACOR Bacon House courtyard. Drinks will be available for purchase at the bar. Register at wfpg.org!

Looking for a way to give back and invest in young women in foreign affairs? Apply to be a mentor for our 1:1 Mentor Match program, where you can provide guidance to the next generation of women leaders! Mentor Match is a fantastic way to get more involved in WFPG, sharpen your professional mentoring abilities, and uplift other women. If you are interested in being a mentee, keep an eye out for an announcement in mid-July. If you are interested in being a mentor, click the link in our bio or go to wfpg.org/mentoring-programs to learn more.

WFPG's Fall 2024 Internship applications are officially open! WFPG offers three internship opportunities in programming, communication, and operations. Applicants are welcome to apply for one or more internships. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until July 19th at 5 PM ET, or until we reach 100 applicants. Early applications are strongly encouraged. All internships are fully in-person in Washington, D.C.

To learn more and apply, click the link in our bio or visit wfpg.org/internships.

We're pleased to introduce Eleanor Greenbaum, our acting program associate! We are fortunate to have her join us for the summer. Welcome to the team, Eleanor!

We're pleased to introduce our Summer 2024 intern cohort! Meet Mari, Vanessa, Clarisa, Lexi, Taran, Yomali, and Anastasia: our new team of interns who will be supporting WFPG throughout the summer. Welcome to the team!

On June 26th, WFPG, Dentons' Global Task Force on Ukraine Transformation, and the US-Ukraine Business Council hosted an event featuring TIME Senior correspondent Simon Shuster, and highlighting his new book, "The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky". Having just returned from the front lines, Shuster shared vital updates and fresh impressions on the War in Ukraine, which he began covering in 2014. In February 2022, he was inside the presidential administration the morning the Russian missiles first landed in Kyiv; he has covered the war ever since. The dynamic audience engaged with Shuster and the event's moderator, Voice of America's Tatiana Vorozhko, on a wide array of topics centered around the ever-changing situation in the country. WFPG thanks our featured speaker and moderator, our event partners, and all of the event's attendees for contributing to a lively conversation.

Join the Women's Foreign Policy Group virtually on Tuesday, July 9th at 3:30 PM ET for the July installment of our monthly Mentor Minutes! This month we will be joined by Lara Tennyson, Head of Federal Affairs at Booking Holdings, Booking.com. Attendance is capped at 50, reserve your spot today at wfpg.org!

On June 20th, WFPG and the International Student House, in partnership with Booking.com, co-hosted an event, "Navigating the Future of US-Mexico Relations". Through a dynamic panel discussion and Q&A, our speakers gave their valuable insights in connection with the future of a wide variety of pressing issues, among them trade, the border, and government collaboration within the context of the recent historic election of Mexico's first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum. Sincere gratitude to our speakers and moderator –– Lila Abed, Wilson Center; Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Ana Luisa Fajer; Deputy Assistant Secretary Rachel Poynter; and Kellie Meiman Hock, McLarty Associates–– for their valued time and unique perspectives; and to all of the events attendees for their participation.

On June 25th, WFPG was featured in an intimate roundtable held by the Meridian International Center, which hosted 14 women leaders from around the world with the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The discussion centered on strategies for women's leadership in politics and civil society. Here, WFPG Executive Director Alexa Chopivsky shared about WFPG's network of women leaders in international affairs and its programs, and the women shared challenges and successes as political and civil society leaders in their home countries. WFPG extends its gratitude to the Meridian International Center for inviting us to anchor this event, and to all of the incredible international women leaders who took part.

This month, the Women's Foreign Policy Group and the Embassy of Ireland in the United States hosted one of our annual keystone events, Celebrating Women Diplomats, at the Residence of Ireland. We had the pleasure of honoring over thirty women ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission for their leadership in foreign affairs. WFPG extends its gratitude to Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason for her insightful remarks and, importantly, her generous hospitality; her team for their efforts in co-organizing this event; and to all who joined us to celebrate the accomplishments of these extraordinary women.

Today, the Women's Foreign Policy Group celebrates Juneteenth. In line with our mission to promote a flourishing, equitable, and tolerant society in which women of diverse backgrounds can prosper, Juneteenth remains of core importance to WFPG.

Join the Women’s Foreign Policy Group and International Student House of Washington, DC in partnership with Booking.com on Thursday, June 20th, for "Navigating U.S.-Mexico Relations."

The panel discussion will feature Lila Abed, Acting Director, Mexico Institute, Wilson Center; Ambassador Ana Luisa Fajer, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embajada de México en Estados Unidos and Rachel Poynter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for North America.

Our panelists will analyze the current state of relations between the United States and Mexico in light of the recent Mexican presidential election which places Mexico under female leadership for the first time. We will explore the anticipated impact of this transition on pivotal issues, including border security, human rights, and trade. Our discussion will identify the shared values and interests that underpin the bilateral relationship while considering what both countries can do to bolster their positions as global leaders and facilitate greater collaboration.

Space is limited, secure your spot at wfpg.org!