In this special final episode of Season One of The Women in the Arena Podcast, we are honored to feature Mahnaz Akbari, a trailblazing leader and former commander of the Afghan National Army’s Female Tactical Platoon. Born in a refugee camp in Iran to Afghan parents fleeing Soviet occupation, Mahnaz returned to Afghanistan, where she joined the Army and led 30 women on hundreds of missions alongside U.S. Special Operations forces. Beyond the battlefield, she forged strategic alliances with foreign militaries and NGOs, all while earning a degree in Political Science. Since evacuating Afghanistan in 2021, Mahnaz now resides near Washington, D.C., where she continues her advocacy for Afghan women’s rights and holds a leadership role at Sisters of Service, a nonprofit supporting Afghan women veterans during resettlement. This episode is a tribute to our sisters in arms from foreign militaries, celebrating the cross-cultural bonds that unite us in service and meaningful lives.

For more information on the contributions of women like Mahnaz, visit the Sisters of Service website: https://sistersofservice.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.