WIIS Brussels Voices

In keeping with our fast moving times and events in Ukraine, the first episode of the 2022 Women and Leadership podcast is a conversation with two NATO Ambassadors, past and present: Veronika Wand-Danielsson, Head of the Americas Department at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and formerly Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sweden to NATO, and Muriel Domenach, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to NATO.

In an animated discussion with Ilana Bet-El, the two Ambassadors explore perceptions of defence and security within foreign affairs and how they apply with regard to current tensions between Russia, Ukraine and NATO — and the position of the EU. They also explain how and why they chose the world of defence and security world, their reflections on being a woman NATO Ambassador both now and in previous years, and the question of whether the EU is perceived as feminine on matters of defence.

This episode features:

• Ilana Bet-El  
• Muriel Domenach Twitter
• Veronika Wand-Danielsson LinkedIn & twitter

Want to learn more? Explore the links and resources mentioned in the podcast: 

• Elif Shafak, the novelist mentioned by Muriel Domenach (Twitter)
• « NATO Engages with partners to help shape the Next Strategic Concept » 

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts 
• Deezer 
• Spotify 
• Google Podcasts 

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

WIIS Brussels

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Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

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

In this episode, Sabrine Dao invites new WIIS Campus member and climate security expert Jordan Koop as well as Annika Vollmer, Program Coordinator at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and Marion Russ, Program Officer at Search for Common Ground, to discuss COP26 and why it is important to talk about climate change now. Each share their own point of view on the place of women, the younger generation and underrepresented groups around the table and how the future of climate change high-level discussions should be shaped differently.

This episode features: 

• Sabrine Dao
• Jordan Koop
• Marion Russ
• Annika Vollmer

Useful links:

WIIS Campus

• Find out more on WIIS Campus
• WIIS Campus LinkTree
• WIIS Campus Instagram

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Deezer
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts

Want to be a member of WIIS Brussels?

Credits

Music : Scott Holmes Music - We Were Dreamers - Carefree Music 2020

Production : Sabrine Dao 

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

For her last episode in 2021, Ilana Bet-El talks to Rosa Balfour, Director of Carnegie Europe, and Corinna Hörst, Guido Goldman Director of Leadership Programs at the German Marshall Fund (GMF). 

This conversation covers a wide arc, from the personal to the professional. Starting from their evolution in academe and European affairs to becoming working mothers, these senior women reflect upon the daily realities of working in the Think Tank segment of the Brussels Bubble. 

Looking back on 2021, the focus moves to the highlights (and lowlights) of European security, defence and foreign affairs and the many aspects of this ongoing period of change — from relations with the (nearly) new US administration to the impact of generational changes within the EU. 

Looking ahead to 2022, the conversation ended with cautious optimism and a hope for a more personal world of meetings beyond screens. 

With thanks to all our audience at the end of our first year, the Women & Leadership team wish you all a secure, healthy and happy 2022!

This episode features:

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Rosa Balfour
• Corinna Hörst

Want to learn more? Explore the links and resources mentioned in the podcast: 

• The Brussels Blinder website
• Carnegie Europe website
• GMF website

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Deezer
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

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

In this new episode Ilana Bet-El welcomes Dr. Hannah Neumann, member of the European Parliament for the Greens and member of its subcommittee on security and defence, and Joanneke Balfoort, Director of Security and Defence Policy at the European External Action Service (EEAS).

This discussion takes us behind the scenes of EU institutions and their debates on defence and security, the realities of women in senior positions in European organisations, and the role of the EU in defence and security. Lots of ideas and insights, and reflections on how women could bring their voices to these debates on a broader basis.

This episode features:

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Hannah Neumann
• Joanneke Balfoort 

Want to learn more? Explore the links and resources mentioned in the podcast: 

• Hannah Neumann website
• EEAS website
• The European Union’s Strategic Compass process
• EU Agenda : Towards a Strategic Compass 
• Euractiv article « What the EU’s future military strategy could look like »

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Deezer
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

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

In this new episode Ilana Bet-El welcomes Ingrid Gonnissen, Board Member of both European Women on Board and Women on Board Belgium, and Annabelle McLaren-Thomson, Senior Research Associate at headhunting firm Perret-Laver. 

Listen to their discussion exploring the realities and challenges of getting women into senior leadership positions, learn from their professional and personal experiences and get useful tips for women at every level: from ensuring entry level networks to reaching the very top! 

This episode features:

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Ingrid Gonnissen 
• Annabelle McLaren-Thomson

Want to learn more? Explore the links and resources mentioned in the podcast:

• UN 2020 Gender Social Noms Index 
• European Women on Board website 
• Women on Board Belgium website
• Lauren Currie - Upfront: confidence course for women
• European Women on Board - Gender diversity index 
• Accenture & Girls who Code research report: Cracking the Gender code 

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Deezer
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

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

For this summer episode Ilana Bet-El, a founding member of WIIS Brussels and former UN official welcomes two of her WIIS friends: Pauline Massart and Florence Ferrando, both WIIS Steering Committee members and hard working members of the consultancy world.

Enjoy their discussion on how consultancy in Brussels is unique, the reality of being women in this male-dominated bubble, and reality bites on real female leadership.

Happy listening!

This episode features:

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Pauline Massart
• Florence Ferrando

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Deezer
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

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

In this episode, Ilana Bet-El, a founding member of WIIS Brussels and former UN official welcomes Arora Akanksha, a candidate to become the next UN Secretary General. Challenging all conventions, Ms Akanksha is not a state sponsored candidate — as well as being a woman, of refugee origin, and in her thirties. 

Starting with with Ms Akanksha‘s decision to take this brave step, the discussion ranges over issues of age, gender, administration and vision for a different kind of leadership of the United Nations. It also raises questions about She for She: solidarity amongst women, in leadership and far beyond.

This episode features:

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Arora Akanksha

You will find below all useful resources mentioned in this episode

• Arora Akanksha website 
• Arora Akanksha Vision Statement
• Follow Arora campaign on Twitter & Instagram

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Deezer
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

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

In this new episode, Ilana Bet-El, one of the founders of WIIS Brussels and former UN official welcomes European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography and Co-Chair of the Conference on the Future of Europe, Dubravka Šuica, and Heather Grabbe, Director of the Open Society Open Society European Policy Institute, to discuss women in leadership.

Arriving respectively from Croatia and United-Kingdom, both women discuss working in the Brussels Bubble in senior positions, from perceptions of leaderships to whether quotas for women work. Looking ahead, the discussion also covers issues of women and gender in the Conference on the Future of Europe — and also important questions on democracy, digital poverty and representation. This is a deep dive into women in Europe on Europe Day!

This episode features:

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Dubravka Šuica
• Heather Grabbe

You will find below all useful resources mentioned in this episode

• Conference on the Future of Europe platform
• Open Society European Policy Institute Twitter

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Deezer
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

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

In this new episode, Silvia Costante and Eva Ribera invite Dr. Cristiana Lavinia Badulescu, Co-Managing Director of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP) Brussels, to discuss the lessons learned after 20 years of implementing the UNSCR 1325 and the role that young people can play in being the gender-sensitive leaders of tomorrow. Featured in the podcast, Dr. Daniela Radu, independent researcher and consultant, who offers a nuanced and multi-layered understanding of the UNSCR 1325.  

This episode features: 

• Silvia Costante
• Cristiana Lavinia Badulescu
• Eva Ribera
• Daniela Radu

Useful links:

WIIS Campus

• Find out more on WIIS Campus
• WIIS Campus Instagram
• WIIS Campus LinkTree

YPFP Brussels

• Find out more on YPFP Brussels
• YPFP Brussels on Twitter
• YPFP Brussels on Facebook
• YPFP Brussels on LinkedIn  
• YPFP Brussels on Instagram
• YPFP Brussels on YouTube

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Deezer
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts

Want to be a member of WIIS Brussels?

Credits

Music : Scott Holmes Music - We Were Dreamers - Carefree Music 2020

Production : Sabrine Dao 

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

In this first new show, Ilana Bet-El, one of the founders of WIIS Brussels & former UN official welcomes Lieutenant General Frances Allen, Military Representative of Canada to the NATO Military Committee, and Dr. Nad’a Kovalčíková, Programme Manager & Fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Brussels, to discuss about women leadership. 

Is there something special about women’s leadership style? What are the differences between leadership and management? How are women perceived in leadership positions? 

This episode features:

• Ilana Bet-El 
• Nad’a Kovalcikova 
• Lieutenant-General Frances J. Allen

WIIS Brussels

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & our website

Subscribe to WIIS Brussels Voices on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Deezer
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts

Want to be member of WIIS Brussels?

Credits

Music: Free from copyright

Production: Free Range Productions, Florence Ferrando

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