About
WIIS members cans access recordings of all events and the key takeaways here.
Past Events
May 20th at 1 PM EDT | Virtual Networking and Video Interviews - How Has the Job Hunt Changed?
How can you job hunt and network from your living room? Join us for a virtual conversation with international affairs and human resources professionals on preparing for video interviews, informational interviews and how to tailor your job search. While open to everyone, this discussion is designed for recent graduates and young professionals.
Clarissa Balatan, Senior Human Resources Manager at World Resources Institute, has over 13 years of human resources and leadership experiences with the National Labor Relations Board, Owens Corning, and Lockheed Martin. She has held roles of increasing responsibility supporting talent management, diversity and inclusion, compensation, talent acquisition, HR information systems, workforce strategy, and labor relations. Clarissa holds a BA in human resources management from Michigan State University, and MBA and MS degrees in finance from Indiana University. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources and recently completed Georgetown’s Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate program. She speaks Mandarin and Spanish and volunteers at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC.
Alyssa Best is an independent career coach and a part-time career advisor at American University. She opened her practice in 2009 to support non-profit professionals. Since then, she has expanded her focus to serve clients undergoing career transitions in diverse industries and sectors, including foreign policy. At AU, she advises students and alumni and offers guidance on resume writing and interviewing. Previously, Alyssa worked in non-profit program management and advocacy at The OpEd Project, Wider Opportunities for Women, Center for Progressive Leadership, and Rutgers Institute for Women's Leadership. She is passionate about helping individuals identify their dream careers and providing them with the tools to achieve their goals. She has a certificate in personal development coaching and an MA in Women’s and Gender Studies from Rutgers.
Nadia Crevecoeur is a Government & Public Services Analyst at Deloitte Consulting. She currently supports USAID’s Workforce Transformation project, and consults pro-bono for non-profits in the DC area. Previously, Nadia served as the Senior Program Assistant at Women In International Security (WIIS), worked in the special victim's unit of the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office, and researched measuring UN peacekeeping success with the Global Governance Institute in Brussels. Nadia received a BA from the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs with a concentration in Conflict Resolution.
Kim Kahnhauser Freeman is the executive director of the Women's Foreign Policy Group, a non-profit organization which promotes women’s leadership and amplifies their voices in international affairs. Since joining the WFPG team in 2006, she has held roles of increasing responsibility supporting the organization’s global issues programs, membership outreach, mentoring initiatives, and strategic development. Previously, Kim was a Fulbright teaching fellow in Tirol, Austria, and researched public housing for the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service in DC. Kim was a 2011 State Department Young Turkey/Young America Fellow, and holds a BS in International Politics from Georgetown and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy.
June 16th | Job-Search Toolkit: Interviews, Salary Negotiation, and Getting Your Foot in the Door
Either virtually or in person, how can you shine in your next interview? Learn how to prep, put your best foot forward, and negotiate your compensation for your next international affairs job. Join us for a panel discussion followed by interactive breakout sessions with our speakers.
Sarah Bruno, Public Leadership Education Network Executive Director
Min Kyriannis, Jaros, Baum & Bolles Cybersecurity/Technology Business Development Lead
Nancy Lubin, JNA Associates President
Chantal de Jonge Oudraat, Women In International Security President (Moderator)




Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | 1 to 2:15 PM EDT
Panel Discussion: 1:00 to 1:45 PM EDT
Breakout Sessions: 1:45 to 2:15 PM EDT
Registration is free for WFPG and WIIS members and $10 for nonmembers. WIIS members can access the code for free registration on the member homepage.
Space is limited and advance registration is required.
July 16th | Federal Service: Navigating Applications and Landing your First Job
Our third webinar event entitled Federal Service: Navigating applications and landing your first job will be held on July 16th. There will be a panel from 1:00 - 1:45 PM EDT followed by breakout sessions from 1:45 - 2:15 PM EDT. What does a career in federal international affairs look like and what does the application process entail? Learn about different pathways to government service, how to decipher usajob.gov, and what opportunities exist both in Washington and overseas in a variety of government agencies.
This event is co-sponsored with Women's Foreign Policy Group (WFPG) and the Robertson Foundation for Government. Registration is free for WIIS and WFPG members. WIIS members can access the code for free registration on the member homepage. If you have any questions, please contact info@wiisglobal.org.
Jennifer Hawkins is a Senior Women, Peace, and Security Advisor in USAID's Bureau of Conflict, Prevention, and Stabilization (CPS). She joined USAID in 2014 as a Democracy Fellow. Prior to joining USAID, Jennifer served as a Gender and Policy Advisor at the State Department's Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations, where she led the implementation of the Bureau's Gender Policy and the National Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. In 2013, she served as the first US secondee to Justice Rapid Response, an intergovernmental organization in Geneva, where she worked to increase multilateral diplomacy on atrocity prevention and develop a global "rapid response" capacity within Rule of Law and Sexual Gender-Based Violence. During her five years at the State Department, she also served in the Bureau of West African Affairs as Desk Officer for Burkina Faso and Niger, and as the Special Assistant in the Bureau of African Affairs. Jennifer holds a BS from Syracuse and a MSW, with a concentration in children and policy, from Howard, and is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California.
Erin McGown joined the Department of Justice in March as a Program Analyst on the Africa team in the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT). Before joining DoJ, Erin served in the Peace Corps in the Republic of Georgia, where she advised a small NGO focused on local democracy development; authored, implemented, and closed out a Let Girls Learn grant for a Peace Corps-led camp for youth; and designed and implemented trainings related to gender equality. Erin also served as a Communications and Outreach Program Specialist at USAID, which she joined as an intern. She also interned at the Department of State's Office of UN Political Affairs, the German Marshall Fund and the Women's Foreign Policy Group. Prior to moving to DC, she worked for the City of Boise Mayor’s Office and South Sound YMCA in Olympia, Washington. Erin holds a Masters in International Affairs at the George Washington University’s Elliott School and a BA from the University of Idaho in International Studies and German.
Lindsay Rodman is Executive Director of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS). She began her career as an associate at Arnold & Porter LLP. Lindsay then joined the Marine Corps and served as a judge advocate for eight years, including deployment to Afghanistan, serving as Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and as a White House Fellow at the National Security Council. After transitioning into the Reserves, Lindsay was a political appointee in the Pentagon, serving first as the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness and then as the Senior Advisor, International Humanitarian Policy in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Prior to joining LCWINS, Lindsay was a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in Canada and worked at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Lindsay remains an officer in the Marine Corps Reserve. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School, the Kennedy School, and Duke.
Sharon Swabb is a Career Coach at George Washington University’s Elliott School, where she manages GW's mentorship program with USIP and the Elliott School's graduate-level, cross-cultural exchange program with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to arriving at GW, Sharon served as an Associate Director in the White House Presidential Personnel Office, where she contributed to the recruitment, placement, and retention of political appointees at national security agencies. Previously, she was a Press Assistant in the Office of Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. Before her work in the Federal Government, she was a research fellow at GovLoop, served as a program assistant for the DC semester programs of the University of Georgia and NYU, was a volunteer staff member for Young Professionals in Foreign Policy. Sharon is a member of the Robertson Foundation for Government. She holds a BA in International Affairs and Spanish from the University of Georgia and a Master’s in Pacific International Affairs from UC San Diego.
Kim Kahnhauser Freeman is the executive director of the Women's Foreign Policy Group, a non-profit organization which promotes women’s leadership and amplifies their voices in international affairs. Since joining the WFPG team in 2006, she has held roles of increasing responsibility supporting the organization’s global issues programs, membership outreach, mentoring initiatives, and strategic development. Previously, Kim was a Fulbright teaching fellow in Tirol, Austria, and researched public housing for the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service in DC. Kim was a 2011 State Department Young Turkey/Young America Fellow, and holds a BS in International Politics from Georgetown and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy.
August 10th | Transitions and Taking a Leap: Switching Sectors and Leveraging your Contacts
Thinking about switching sectors or finding a new career path? What should you consider before you jump? How do you leverage your connections and network to find your next position? Join us for a conversation on mid-career transitions and advancing your career in international affairs.
This event is co-sponsored with Women's Foreign Policy Group (WFPG) and the Robertson Foundation for Government. Registration is free for WIIS and WFPG members. If you have any questions, please contact info@wiisglobal.org.
Monday, August 10th, 2020 | 1 to 2:15 PM EDT
Panel Discussion: 1:00 to 1:45 PM EDT
Breakout Sessions: 1:45 to 2:15 PM EDT





September 30th | Mindful Connections and Virtual Communication
Join us for our next Professional Development Series event: Mindful Connections and Virtual Communication. This online event will be held on September 30th, 1:00-2:00 pm ET.
What makes for a compelling and engaging virtual presentation? How can you use your screen time effectively and develop meaningful professional relationships through remote interaction? Join us for a conversation with communications expert Scott Morgan on the do’s and don’t of giving virtual presentations and leading meetings.
Scott Morgan has been teaching leadership and communication skills for over 30 years. His clients include scientists, policy makers, graduate students and global corporations. Scott also teaches media and communication strategy to many think tanks and research organizations around the world. He is a Senior Associate at the Leadership Academy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), graduated with honors from the University of California Davis, and holds a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University. He authored the book Speaking about Science published by Cambridge University Press (2006) and launched a mindfulness app for young adults called 3rdi in 2014. www.MorganGp.com
This event is free to WIIS and WFPG members and $10 for non-members. WIIS members can access the on the member homepage.
November 10th at 1 PM EDT |Diplomatic Toolbox: Multilateral Negotiations
As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, we are facing a myriad of global challenges from pandemics and proxy wars to climate change and humanitarian disasters--all of which require cross-border, multilateral solutions. What makes for a successful multilateral negotiation? What role do diplomats play, and what are their responsibilities? How has diplomacy changed during the pandemic? Join us for a conversation with seasoned negotiators and authors Rebecca Webber Gaudiosi of the US, Jimena Leiva-Roesch of Guatemala, and Ye-Min Wu of Singapore as they walk us through their lessons learned.
The speakers co-authored Negotiating at the United Nations (Routledge, 2019) after negotiating together at the UN for years. They teach courses and workshops based on their book and experiences. Read their recent blog post on virtual diplomacy here. All three are participating in their personal capacities. Rebecca E. Webber GaudiosiA scientist turned diplomat, Dr. Rebecca E. Webber Gaudiosi represented the United States at the UN from 2006 to 2014. She was responsible for US engagement with over twenty-five environment-related multilateral organizations and agreements and also led on sustainable development issues at the UN General Assembly, including Rio+20. Dr. Gaudiosi has also worked with several UN specialized agencies and on bilateral environment and science issues.
Jimena Leiva-RoeschFrom 2009 to 2015, Jimena Leiva-Roesch was at the Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the UN in New York. She was the lead negotiator on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), playing a key role in defining the SDGs. She was also part of Guatemala's Security Council team from 2012-13, when her country served as a non-permanent Council member. Ms. Leiva-Roesch is currently a Senior Fellow with the International Peace Institute where she leads a global study on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Ye-Min WuYe-Min Wu has worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore for over a decade. While at the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the UN in New York, she chaired UN negotiations and represented the Group of 77 and China in negotiations on sustainable development issues. She was also involved in climate change negotiations under the UNFCCC. Ms. Wu is currently Singapore’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization and World Intellectual Property Organization November 10, 2020 | 1:00 to 1:45 PM ET Registered participants will receive a Zoom link Tickets: $10 | REGISTER Registration is free for WFPG and WIIS members. Learn more and join WIIS. WIIS Members can access the code on the member homepage. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Women's Foreign Policy Group and Women In International Security are collaborating on monthly virtual career development events, and we are pleased to be joined for this event by our partner, the Robertson Foundation for Government. Throughout our Professional Development Series, participants can build upon important career development skills and connect with professionals in international affairs. |
December 8th at 1 PM EST | Overcoming Stress and Trauma - Build Your Resiliency in the Age of COVID-19
Are the stresses of today's reality affecting your professional life? Join us for a conversation with the creator of Mindfulness-Based Mind Fitness Training, Elizabeth Stanley. Learn how to use mindfulness skills that you can apply to your daily life and at work in order to build resilience. CARE USA Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives & Development Beth Solomon and Co-President of the NY Chapter of WIIS Min Kyriannis will also give brief opening and closing comments.
Panelist:
Elizabeth A. Stanley, PhD, is an associate professor of security studies at Georgetown University. She is the award-winning author of two books, Paths to Peace and Widen the Window: Training Your Brain and Body to Thrive during Stress and Recover from Trauma. She is also the co-editor (with Risa Brooks) of Creating Military Power. She speaks, teaches, and writes about resilience, decision-making, political psychology, civil-military relations, technology and innovation, and international security.
She’s the creator of Mindfulness-Based Mind Fitness Training (MMFT)®, which has been taught to many thousands in civilian and military high-stress environments. She has collaborated with neuroscientists and stress physiologists to test the efficacy of MMFT® in four studies with U.S. troops preparing for combat deployment. This peer-reviewed scientific research has been featured on 60 Minutes, ABC Evening News, and NPR, as well as in Time magazine and many other media outlets.
Earlier in her career, she served as a U.S. Army intelligence officer in South Korea, Germany, and on two peacekeeping deployments in the Balkans. She has served on several advisory boards, including the National Security Advisory Board of Sandia National Laboratories, the U.S. Army Science Board, the Advisory Board for the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, and the executive board of Women in International Security. She holds degrees from Yale, Harvard, and MIT. She’s also a certified practitioner of Somatic Experiencing, a body-based trauma therapy. (www.elizabeth-stanley.com)
Remarks:
Min Kyriannis has 25+ years in converged, global, information technology, cybersecurity, physical security, as well as risk management across the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia. She has been cited in many professional publications and is widely recognized as a leader in the Security Technology industry. She currently serves as the cybersecurity and business development lead at Jaros, Baum & Bolles where she focuses on promoting cybersecurity, physical security, and technology as an integral part of all building technology systems. She currently serves as Chair of SIA’s Cybersecurity Advisory Board and Vice-Chair of SIA’s New Product Showcase Committee, the Advisory Board for SecuritySpecifiers, as well as Co-President of Women In International Security – NY Chapter.
Beth Solomon serves as Managing Director of External Affairs and Development for CARE USA, a global humanitarian and development organization dedicated to defeating poverty and fighting for women and girls. Before joining CARE, she worked on the staff of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, as Vice President of the Government Practice of US Bank Global Corporate Trust, and spearheaded strategic initiatives at the International Franchise Association and the National Association of Manufacturers. Beth began her career as a reporter for the Voice of America, based in Nairobi, Kenya. She reported for ABC News and Radio France International on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the first free elections in post-Soviet East Europe. She holds a BA from Yale and pursued graduate studies in the National Security Studies at Georgetown.