SAIS Global Women in Leadership

Interested in working on your negotiation skills? Come and join us as SAIS Global Women in Leadership will host a negotiation skills workshop on Thursday, November 17th at 4:30pm! Light snacks will also be provided!
Registration is required and you can do so here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gaining-strategic-tools-for-negotiation-workshop-tickets-463966746027?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

GWL statement on the SCOTUS Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision

Huge congratulations to our graduating GWL board members, and the SAIS class of 2022! 🎓🥳💐

Meet our Deputy Director of Marketing, Teena! Teena is a second year MA student concentrating in IDEV. Originally from India, Teena was raised in Saudi Arabia. She holds a Bachelors degree in chemical engineering 🧪from Manipal University and moved to the U.S to work for Dow Chemical Company. With a passion to study the intersection of gender and development Teena decided to pursue her graduate degree from SAIS in 2020. While at SAIS, she has served as a consultant to the International Republican Institute, focusing women’s political participation in Sri Lanka. Her latest work includes being a consultant at the World Bank studying legal reforms towards economic inclusion of women in India. In her free time, she enjoys photography, cooking, reading and making her own jewelry. Teena has also previously served as the Co-Director of events at GWL. Check out her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

Meet our Bologna-Nanjing Liaison, Emma! Emma is a final-year MA student from the UK 🇬🇧 studying IR with a minor in ERE, and specialization in Development Economics. She completed her BA in Modern History and Economics at the University of Manchester. Prior to SAIS, she spent 5 years working at EY, where she specialized in Emerging Markets Private Equity and Sovereign Wealth Fund clients across Europe, the Middle East, US, and Africa. She was an active member of EY’s women’s network, and also volunteered with a female-led humanitarian and legal aid organization based in Lusaka, Zambia. Last summer, Emma worked at the South African Reserve Bank, and spent the past year and a half working in the UK Treasury’s Trade and Climate Change team 🌎 Check out her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

Meet our Co-Director of Events, Emma! Originally from Paris 🇫🇷 Emma is a 2nd-year MA student concentrating in Conflict Management. Last summer, Emma worked as a research assistant at the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin. Before SAIS, she interned with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in DC. Emma was also a research assistant at the French Ministry of Defense, and a research assistant at SAIS exploring migration as an EU foreign policy issue. She holds a BA in War Studies and History from King’s College London. She is interested particularly in the role of women in peace processes. In her free time, Emma enjoys travelling, cooking, and is a real photo enthusiast 📸 Check out her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

Meet our conference coordinator, Naiqian! Nai is a 2nd-year MA student who spent her first year in Nanjing, China, and came to DC as an exchange Visiting scholar. Before coming to SAIS, she got her undergraduate in finance and English literature in Harbin, China. During undergrad, she interned in International Telecommunications Union on event organizing and logistics, where she became interested in questions of ICT implementation in gender issues. She is also doing part-time consulting for SDG-related projects in a start-up company remotely. In her free time, Nai loves exploring and trying new recipes, especially Asian ones👩🏻‍🍳 check out her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

The Conference may be over but our work is not! 🗓 Join us at 6pm on Monday April 18 for a chat with author and scholar on her book “How to be a Woman Online”. Books will be available for purchase! Register through our link in bio 🔗

💐 Thank you to our wonderful speakers, and everyone who attended today’s conference! What an honor to host such an engaging panel and continue to facilitate critical discussions about the intersection of gender and policy.

Meet one of our Conference Coordinators, Shea Wilcox! Shea is a first-year MAIR student concentrating in Development, Climate, and Sustainability. From Muskegon, Michigan, she received her Bachelor’s in International Studies & Spanish from the University of Michigan in 2016. Prior to SAIS, she worked as a Senior Program Officer at the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, supporting a global portfolio of grants on issues ranging from justice system strengthening to human rights advocacy. While at ABA ROLI, Shea’s work on the global Women and Girls Empowered Consortium deepened her interest in issues of gender and development. In her free time, Shea enjoys live music, reading, and the occasional museum visit 📚 Read her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

🚨Our Annual Conference is in 5 days! 🚨Join us on April 12 for a morning of discussion on GBV in the context of Covid-19. Swipe ➡️ to read about the amazing speakers we have lined up! Register to join us in person or via zoom, link in bio.

Meet Takako, our Treasurer! Takako is a 2nd year concentrating in IDEV. She earned her Bachelors degree in Economics, with a focus on Development Economics, from Soka University in Japan in 2016. She also studied at the University of Delaware, and experienced a month-long field trip to India where she became interested in gender issues and women’s rights. Prior to SAIS, Takako worked at an investment banking firm for 4.5 years. This past summer, she worked at Women’s World Banking as a quantitative research intern 🧮 Her work includes conducting gender assessment methodology analysis on customer data from financial institutions in India and Mexico and quantitative data analysis on Islamic finance in Indonesia. Read her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

Join us next Tuesday April 5 for this conversation on non-traditional careers in national security. HH to follow! Register via our link in bio

📣 Join us on April 12 for our Annual Conference! Register in person or on Zoom through our link in bio 🔗

Meet Anna, our Co-Director or External Communications. Anna is pursuing her MIPP at SAIS with a focus in Sustainable Finance and Economic Development. She focused her undergrad studies on entrepreneurship and public policy, and prior to SAIS worked at a venture studio focused on solutions for a regenerative world. After SAIS, she aims to focus on impact investment and private sector innovation in emerging markets. In her free time, Anna is an avid cyclist 🚴🏼‍♀️ and passionate about women’s issues, and community involvement. Read her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

Join us Wednesday 3/16 for a First Aid Training ⛑ with none other than Wendy Dunaway! No registration needed. Just drop by BOB 500 at 6pm. Happy hour to follow!

Meet our Co-Director of Events, Megan! Megan is a first-year MAIR student focusing on Conflict and Peacebuilding. Originally from Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Megan graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas with a BA in International Studies, Political Science, and Spanish in 2021. Prior to SAIS, she served on the managing committee of STAND (the youth-led movement to end genocide and mass atrocity) and worked with Canopy NWA, the only refugee resettlement agency in Arkansas. In her free time, Megan enjoys hiking, horseback riding, and following the latest episodes of the Bachelor franchise 🌹 Read her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

Excited to partner with for this event. Register at our link in bio

For today’s meet our Vice President, Ainur! Ainur is a first-year MAIR student from Pavlodar city, Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 concentrating in States, Markets, and Institutions in Eurasia. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan. Ainur is interested in policy-making related to the protection of women’s rights. She also currently assists SAISers at the Russian Language Department. In her free time, Ainur enjoys spending time outdoors, practicing yoga, baking, and trying new pescatarian recipes 👩🏻‍🍳 Read her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

📢 Join and for the 4th Annual Security Challenges in Latin America Forum. This year‘s theme is Security, Defense, and Gender! Register to attend in person or via zoom at our link in bio 🔗

Welcome to our new weekly series,
Meet our President! Varda is a second-year MAIR student concentrating in IPE, originally from Yangjiang, Guangdong, China. Varda holds a B.S. in Marketing and International Business from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington. In her free time, Varda enjoys reading, writing poetry and short stories, and putting her bartending license to good use by concocting cocktails 🍹 read her full bio on our website, linked in bio 🔗

We have a new website and logo❕We’re so excited to keep growing GWL and continue to offer relevant events and opportunities for leadership. Stay tuned for many exciting events this semester 🤍 check out our new website through our link in bio 🔗

Thank you so much to Dr. Yacoobi for taking the time to speak to us, and to everyone who joined! We will continue to raise awareness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and advocate for the women and girls of Afghanistan. Head to and for more resources 🕊

Join us this Wednesday for a conversation about Violence Against Women in Afghanistan with Dr. Sakena Yacoobi from the Afghan Institute of Learning. Register to attend via Zoom at our Link in Bio!

Thank you to Wendy Dunaway, SAIS class of 2019 (and GWL alum!) for this comprehensive, hands-on self defense workshop, and to everyone who participated! 💪🏼

Can’t stop won’t stop with these great events 🥊 join us NEXT THURSDAY for a self defense workshop! Details and registration at our link in bio. Nearby happy hour to follow 🤸🏻‍♀️

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in today’s negotiation workshops! And especially to our panelists Marshall Millsap, Nancy Adams, and Alexis-Clair Roehrich 🤝📑🖋

In honor of Diversity Week, take a look at where our team is from 🌎Incorporating a rich variety of backgrounds and experiences is what makes SAIS and GWL so special ✨