Shabana Basij-Rasikh is the cofounder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), the country's first and only girls' boarding school. She’s presented twice at TEDWomen—in 2012 when she had so much hope for the girls of Afghanistan, and in 2021, to talk about her school’s harrowing evacuation after Kabul fell to the Taliban. I want to share with you an update on Shabana's vital work. She and her staff and students made it out of Kabul, but so many women and girls remain in Afghanistan, denied an education and all the opportunities that come with it.
Read MoreRemembering Barbara Walters, A Legend, An Inspiration and A Friend
The passing of Barbara Walters is such a loss. We both faced challenges in our careers as women in media. Along the way, we also learned the importance of showing up for other women.
Read MoreFavorite Books I Read in 2022
I didn't do my usual "books I'm reading" post over the summer this year so I thought an end-of-year list of the books that I read and enjoyed in 2022 might be useful — for last-minute gifts or for reading over the holidays. Here are seven books that moved me this year. I haven't seen many of them on other end-of-the-year lists, and I wanted to give them a shout-out.
Read MoreUN Commission Expels Iran For Its Treatment of Women
As I listened to the reports of this historic action, it seemed like just the right timing for a tribute to the American woman who is responsible for the fact that a global declaration of support for human rights in every country exists. I’m referring to the great Eleanor Roosevelt.
Read MoreWATCH: Sen. Raphael Warnock gives reelection victory speech
What Warnock's Victory Tells Me About My Home State of Georgia
On Tuesday, Senator Raphael Warnock won his run-off against the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate Herschel Walker and will be returning to Washington in January 2023 for six more years as Georgia's representative to the US Senate. It’s a big win for Georgia and an important win for Democracy. Here are three takeaways from the run-off that I felt were important to share with you.
Read MoreU.S. Institute of Peace Announces María Eugenia Mosquera Riascos as the 2022 Women Building Peace Award Recipient
I am so pleased to share this announcement about this year’s winner, María Eugenia Mosquera Riascos of Colombia! I am a member of the Women Building Peace Council and I am thrilled to be involved with honoring and elevating Maru’s important work.
Read MoreInternational Women’s Voices: A Fresh Perspective on Gender Equality
This week I want to share with you a recent newsletter from SES, an organization led by my friend and Connected Women Leaders (CWL) colleague, Gülseren Onanç in Istanbul, Turkey. It’s important for all of us who are engaged in the work towards greater social justice and gender equality to know what other committed women and male allies are leading around the world.
Read More‘When Gratitude Is the First Word and the Last... Everything in Between Is Enough‘
Thanksgiving is a challenge for me. On the one hand, it is my favorite holiday because it’s a rare time for family to gather without being centered on gift giving or even decoration — except, I confess, I can’t resist the cute turkey shaped napkin rings. On the other hand, I understand the importance of expressing gratitude and how beneficial that can be for one’s health and well-being.
Read MoreFive Takeaways from the "Roe Wave" Election
Like many of you, I've done a lot of reading about the election over the past week and I wanted to share five takeaways that have stuck with me.
Read MorePower Is in Our Hands. Women Can Determine This Election.
I’m counting on women and young people to show up here in Georgia and everywhere to vote in numbers that will make history and make it clear that reproductive rights must be restored everywhere and that actions must be taken to protect and preserve the planet and implement solutions for a more equitable share of the earth's resources.
Read MoreWhat Is the Future of Climate Activism?
Three ways to turn your climate concern into action. We must keep showing up, speaking out — and voting! — for the future we want to see. I talk with Jane Fonda this week about the future of climate change activism.
Read MoreBig News! Starting in 2023, TEDWomen will be at Atlanta's Woodruff Arts Center
As I write this, I am preparing to welcome the TEDWomen community to our virtual convening that begins today. This week-long gathering promises new experiences for the TEDWomen community which are described later in this posting. But first…
I’m also thrilled to share the big news that starting in 2023, TEDWomen will be convening in our new home — The Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia!
Read MoreWhy Climate Justice Is My #1 Priority — and Should Be Yours, Too
I had the pleasure of talking this past week with Amanda Hirsch on her Mighty Forces Substack about the climate justice advocacy work that Connected Women Leaders, a cohort of women leaders from around the globe that I co-founded in 2017 with Ronda Carnegie and Hafsat Abiola. The mission of Amanda’s Mighty Forces website is to inspire and support more women to tell their stories. Because, she says, when we share our stories — the power we unleash is a mighty force. Hear hear!
Read MoreThis November, governors' races are more important than ever
With a Supreme Court that is leaning conservative and moving many policy decisions back to the states, more important decisions are happening at the state level — most notably for women, the recent reversal of Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision means that states now have the power to legislate a woman's right to choose. Governors will be our last line of defense and the frontline of advocacy in protecting reproductive rights, voting rights, and perhaps other rights, in many states.
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Indigenous women must be present at decision making tables
Indigenous women are the custodians of the land and holders of traditional knowledge. By listening to Indigenous voices, and Indigenous women in particular, we can move from fear to action. But we must listen and we must act.
Read MoreUN Climate Week NYC: Women Leading a New Narrative of Hope For Solutions to the Climate Crisis
I was part of a contingent of women leaders who went to NYC last week with a proposal to shift the narrative of fear to one of hope and radical optimism. Our proposal is inspired by the audacious possibility, put forward by indigenous leader Jade Begay, who challenged us during our Connected Women Leaders forum in Bellagio last April to imagine "that our best times may be ahead of us!"
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TEDWomen Presents: Leading Women on Change, Work, Rights, the Future and JOY!
Many of you have inquired about TEDWomen and the plans for this year. I’m happy to get those inquiries and grateful for the global community of women and men who have attended before. And I'm excited to invite you to join the community again, or register for your first TEDWomen experience.
Read MoreWomen DO Indeed Have Power in the Voting Booth This November
Not only are we a majority of the population. We are also the majority of voters. This November, women must speak out, support women and men running for office who are fighting for women's equality, and most importantly, vote.
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Voters in Kansas turned out to strike down a state constitution amendment that would have allowed legislators to severely restrict abortion access in the state. (Photo: Kansas.com via Twitter)
Democracy is the Best Revenge
The Kansas vote reminds us that there is hope in action. Only 94 days stand between us and the November midterm elections. This week, I share a guide from "The Uprising" highlighting races to watch and candidates to support in the midterms.
Read MoreProfiles in Courage: The Women of the January 6th Committee Hearings
As we wait for more hearings to convene in September, I hope you'll also give some thought to the incredible service the women witnesses have shown our country over the past six weeks. They showed us what strong, brave leadership looks like.
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