Women INVESTING in Women and GIRLS

In this episode, we featured Douglas Ragan, Chief of the UN-Habitat Youth and Livelihoods Unit. Doug tells us about his work to understand the needs of the demographic comprised of 19-to-25-year-olds through the Global Youth-led Development Series research, of which he co-authored. Doug also shares with us the various initiatives UN-Habitat is leading to help youth-led organizations succeed in developing countries around the world. Through the Urban Youth Fund, he describes a few stories about youth-led organizations that received funds from this initiative and are improving the lives of women in India and Pakistan. Doug also talks about his work with the Secretary General and about the #YouthNow Campaign, which has the goal of mobilizing the youth to bring awareness and action for development issues. He encourages all of the world's youth and beyond to participate in spreading awareness about and take action to tackle the problems that both developed and developing countries face. We finish our conversation with Doug's inspiring message to the youth, encouraging them to change the world around them.

In this episode, we featured CEO of Arizona Foundation for Women Sara Presler. Sara tells us about her experiences as the first female Mayor of Flagstaff, Arizona, serving two terms within this role and initiating progress to make her city a model for change. Sara also outlines the goal of Arizona Foundation for Women to “create a better life for Arizona’s women and children.” She talks to us about the necessity for safety, health, and economic empowerment because SHE Counts!® In our discussion we address issues like domestic violence, unequal pay, and human trafficking, that not only affect the state of Arizona, but the rest of the world. Sara shares how Arizona Foundation for Women is helping to create solutions for these issues and more.

In this episode, we featured Tamar Donikyan, a member of the New York City law firm Ellenoff Grossman & Schole. Tamar talked to us about her role in helping small business owners and entrepreneurs attain the financial means they need to be successful in their businesses. Tamar also shares how her firm is working with the JOBS Act and crowdfunding platforms to help make funding more accessible to small business owners and entrepreneurs, especially those who are female. She then defines what she calls the “don’t culture” that has and continues to hold females back from unleashing their true potential. We wrap up the conversation with Tamar’s advice to our listeners and offers solutions to help break down the “don’t culture” we live in into a “do culture.”

In this episode, we featured Dr. Karen Jacobson, a chiropractor, bestselling author, wellness expert, and motivational speaker. Dr. Jacobson shares with us how growing up in America and Israel, as well as being part of the Israeli Army helped to shape her outlook on life. She also talks to us about the books she has written: Ready, Aim, Inspire!, Change Your World, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles Happen, and Success in Beauty: The Secrets to Effortless Fulfillment and Happiness. Dr. Jacobson tells us about her journey in self-healing and self-discovery that helped her tackle Systemic Lupus. We finish up the conversation by talking about Dr. Jacobson’s involvement in Women INVESTING in Women and how collaboration between women within the summit series will change the way women unlock their true potential and live a life without limits.

In this episode, we featured Ana Bermudez of TAGit™, a “social wish list” for products found in some of America’s most popular shows! Now, anyone can find where to buy clothes and accessories from Scandal, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, Pretty Little Liars, the Vampire Diaries, and more! Ana tells us how she was inspired to start TAGit™, as well as how she is becoming part of the new trend in television buying, “t-commerce”. Ana also shares about her experiences living in the supportive startup community of San Diego and how she hopes to expand her brand into movies and more. TAGit™ is available in the Apple App Store, and will be available for Android soon!

In this episode, we interviewed Saudi Arabian Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud. Princess Reema shared with us what it was like to be the daughter of a diplomat and to grow up in America with the influence of her Saudi Arabian background. She also talked to us about her efforts to spread breast cancer awareness in Saudi Arabia among both men and women through the Zahra Breast Cancer Association. Our discussion then shifted to the topic of the position of females in the Saudi Arabian workforce. Princess Reema has and continues to introduce substantial advancements to create a more equalized workforce in retail. With her development of a training academy, women have the skills necessary to attain and keep a job in her country, increasing the level of empowerment that women have. Princess Reema wraps up the conversation by offering profound advice to young women and girls around the world. Stay tuned for a follow-up interview in the next coming months to learn more about the Princess’s work!

In this episode, we feature Aurore Belfrage of Your Middle East, a global media platform focusing on improving the world we live in. Aurore discusses how she became passionate about the environment of female entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa from her entrepreneurial background in Sweden. We also delve into the topic of media coverage in the Middle East and North Africa through Your Middle East and how information is being presented within this groundbreaking, collaborative company. Aurore tells us about how this generation’s thinkers and innovators are creating solutions to global issues in the Your Middle East Start-ups. We finish off the conversation with Aurore’s incredible advice to young women and girls around the world on how to be successful.

In this episode, we featured Ursula Wynhoven of the United Nations Global Compact Initiative. Ursula shares with us the responsibility that corporations around the world have to promote equality and ensure that everyone is entitled to their human rights. She also talks about the Women’s Empowerment Principles and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles that have become the focus of the UN Global Compact Initiative. Ursula provides staggering statistics and describes the effect that the work of the UN Global Compact will have in businesses and societies around the world. We also discuss the topic of unconscious bias and how anyone can find out whether or not they hold stereotypes about women and men without realizing it.

In this episode, we featured Sanna Nilsson of Codarica, a Swedish-based startup whose goal is to teach young boys and girls how to code while having fun. Sanna and her team of entrepreneurs/tech experts set out to create an app, CodeQuest, as well as a book, My First Website, featuring the kid-friendly characters of Cody Coder and Holly Hacker. Sanna talks about the importance of teaching young children how to code in an increasingly technology-dependent society. She also presents the question to parents who may be unsure of whether or not they should have their children learn how to code: Would you rather have your child play a game, or create a game? Sanna shares with us her experiences working as a Disney Techstar team in the Disney Accelerator, and how she hopes her work in Codarica will continue to develop and spread, with more boys and girls learning the language of code.

In this episode, we featured the Former Prime Deputy Minister of Sweden, Maud Olofsson. Maud shares with us her experience as a woman in politics and how the political opinion of females has changed over the years. She tells us about the importance of increasing diversity in leadership positions by increasing the number of women in executive roles through her work with Hillary Clinton in Women Up Sweden. Maud also talks to us about the Golden Rules of Leadership how these rules can be applied in the workplace and beyond. We finish up the conversation by discussing the kind of world that Maud hopes to see in the future and what work still needs to be done to create change.