What is this podcast about?

We often hear from people saying “I knew I could do this….” or “I always wanted to be….” etc. Some people early on discover their voice while others take years to find their core strengths.

I have never heard a less impactful story, just like no journey is less painful than the other. We all (women) are the protagonist of our stories and we are 'heroes' of our lives.

These stories are inspirational because, we all suffered from some form of discrimination, harassment, and the glass ceiling despite hard work.

Episode Summary

This episode is a professional story of Ms. Lisa Caprelli who is an author of a best-selling amazon book (Color Your Message), publishing consultant, public speaker, an entrepreneur, a fiancé and a mother of two sons. With a 25 year background in leadership, marketing, experience in FM/AM radio broadcasting shows and podcasts, Lisa is now children’s book author, hosting and singing songs for her puppet series Unicorn Jazz. She is a ‘woman with ambition’ who is passionate, optimistic, and resilient. Lisa is an epitome of ‘you dream, you work hard and you earn it.’

Contact:

Guest: Lisa Caprelli

Director and Writer of Unicorn Jazz, show for kids on Amazon TV/Prime.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacaprelli/ 

Personal website: https://lisacaprelli.com/about/ 

Unicorn Jazz: https://unicornjazz.com/author/lcaprelli/ 

Host: Sannia Abdullah Close (Ph.D.)

Founder and Host: Women with Ambition

Email: [email protected]

Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/WomenWithAmbitionOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwithambitionofficial/

What is this podcast about?

We often hear people saying, “I knew I could do this….” or “I always wanted to be…” Some people early on discover their voice while others take years to find their core strengths.

I have never heard a less impactful story, just like no journey is less painful than the other. We all (women) are the protagonist of our stories, and we are 'heroes' of our lives.

These stories are inspirational because we all suffered from some form of discrimination, harassment, and the glass ceiling despite hard work.

Episode Summary

Dr. Ayesha Ray is Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, King's College, Pennsylvania. She is the author of several publications. Her book "The Soldier and the State in India: Nuclear Weapons, Counterinsurgency, and the Transformation of Indian Civil-Military Relations" was widely covered in the Indian press.

This episode is an open conversation with Dr. Ayesha Ray on her personal and professional life. As a bold female scholar of South Asian descent also working on national security issues, Dr. Ray is an inspiration to young women who aspire to work and pursue their careers. Dr. Ray is vocal about her opinions on patriarchy and misogyny on social media. This episode takes on the opportunity to inquire about her views on the evolving debate of feminism. Her journey shares that 'woman with ambition' like Ayesha Ray can overcome professional obstacles if women are confident of their unapologetic self and stand up for themselves against the unjust treatment or environment.

Contact Information

Guest: Dr. Ayesha Ray (Ph.D)

Associate Professor

Department of Political Science, Kings College, Pennsylvania

Web: https://staff.kings.edu/sites/ayesharay/index.htm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ayesha.ray.96

Twitter: @DrAyeshaRay

Host: Sannia Abdullah Close (Ph.D.)

Founder and Host: Women with Ambition

Email: [email protected]

Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/WomenWithAmbitionOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwithambitionofficial/

What is this podcast about?

We often hear people saying, “I knew I could do this….” or “I always wanted to be…” Some people early on discover their voice while others take years to find their core strengths.

I have never heard a less impactful story, just like no journey is less painful than the other. We all (women) are the protagonist of our stories, and we are 'heroes' of our lives.

These stories are inspirational because we all suffered from some form of discrimination, harassment, and the glass ceiling despite hard work.

Episode Summary

This episode is the story of Ms. Maria Iqbal Tarana, born and raised in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Growing up to see social injustice around her, she joined activism at a very young age and is a firm supporter of human rights. She started her education campaign, aka AAM TALEEM (Education for All), focusing on girls’ education. Her ambition is to promote education as ‘it’s the best way to serve humanity.’She is a ‘woman with ambition’ who symbolizes hope, positivity, and integrity. Despite several challenges in life, she starts her day with new hopes.

Maria Tarana is a Pakistani human rights activist and a political figure. For the last ten years, she is working to promote education, denounce social injustice and violence.

Maria’s story is important because she is a self-made woman in Pakistan. She faced several hurdles, but her resilience kept her going. She is the reason for us to believe in ourselves and achieve what we wish for.

Very briefly, this episode shares:

After my father passed away, I was 14; I found that if you don't have a male heir in the  family, as per the laws, the extended family (i.e., parent's sibling) can claim your  property. I fought for social injustice and got the acquisition transferred in my name to  prove that we don't need a male in the family to continue my father's legacy.

I started AAM TALEEM because I realized that girls' education is very important. They  should see the world through books, learn from their surroundings, and know the  difference between right and wrong. If we want to make the world a better place, we need  more humans, not people.

Contact INFO

Guest: Ms. Maria Iqbal Tarana.

General Secretary Human Rights Wing PPP AJK

Former Chairperson Commission on the Status Women (AJK)

Web: www.aamtaleem.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarana1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariatarana/

Host: Sannia Abdullah Close (Ph.D.)

Founder and Host: Women with Ambition

Email: [email protected]

Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/WomenWithAmbitionOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwithambitionofficial/

This episode is the story of Ms. Farhat Asif who was born in Kashmir, raised in Pakistan, and now leads a think-tank in Islamabad (Pakistan). She is a ‘woman with ambition’ who is passionate, optimistic, and resilient. She faced difficulties, but her determination held her up.

Ms. Asif is a Pakistani writer and human rights and peace activist. For the last 15 years, Farhat is working to promote peace, development, and dialogue. In 2017, she won an N-Peace award, the UNDP’s initiative for ’Engage for Equality, Access, Community and Empowerment.’

Farhat’s story is important because she is a self-made woman in Pakistan. She faced several hurdles, but her dreams kept her going. She is a reason for us to believe in ourselves and achieve what we wish for.

Very briefly, this episode shares Ms. Farhat Asif’s:

We were facing many challenges at home. I wanted to give back to our parents who supported us through family crises. I put all my energies into education.

My mom said learn how to deal with people, if you learn this then you will transform yourself into a professional woman.

We need to scratch dirt off our abilities and build on them. Every woman has unique qualities, she just needs to explore them. Polish your abilities through technology and learn through these podcasts.

Farhat’s Take Away Quotes

“We (women) are priceless…because we are the ones who create and nurture the generations…We are born leaders…We only need to build our skills.”

Farhat’s key to success: The best way to avoid negative opinions is to “Keep your eyes open and ears closed.”

Contact Information

Guest: Ms. Farhat Asif.

President: Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS)

Contact Info: www.ipd.org.pk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/globalwomeninsightfarhatasif

Host: Sannia Abdullah Close (Ph.D.)

Founder and Host: Women with Ambition

Email: [email protected]

Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/WomenWithAmbitionOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwithambitionofficial/

Whether you had the best childhood or one of nightmares todays episode is a must listen for all of us. Join us as we listen to this powerful story of an American woman, who suffered from childhood abuse to ultimately become an accomplished author of several books and a well-renowned political scientist. She is bold, brilliant, and benevolent, who is also obsessed with animals. Dr. Fair shares her dark days and how she learned to embrace the past that has made her the intelligent fighter she is today. We have all at one time or another faced chaos. Many of us feel we need to “chill out” or escape to regroup and collect our thoughts. Dr. Fair shares her perspective on fixing the plane while trying to fly it at the same time.

DR. CHRISTINE FAIR’S BIO

Dr. C. Christine Fair is an accomplished writer, an undeterred researcher, a humble human being, and a woman with heroic spirit. She is bold, brilliant, and benevolent. She is a professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University who also served at RAND Corporation, United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan in Kabul, and USIP - a leading think-tank in D.C. Her research focuses on political and military affairs in South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka). Dr. Fair is author of several books. Her most recent book is In Their Own Words: Understanding the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (Oxford University Press, 2019). She is a frequent commentator at leading newspapers/magazines including (New York Times and Foreign Affairs) made several appearances as an expert on television and radio programs on BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, and Voice of America). She resigned her membership with the International Institute of Strategic Studies and the Council on Foreign Relations to protest its consistent failure to address diversity issues. She speaks and reads Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi.

Social Media/Contact Info:

http://www.christinefair.net/html_pages/home.html

@CChristineFair

https://www.instagram.com/cchristinefair/

This episode briefly outlines my story...

Born and raised in Pakistan (Islamabad) in a modern family, I received doctorate in 2015 in Defense and Strategic Studies.

My parents never appreciated divide. Whether its Sunni, Shia, or Ahmedi, or Christian or non-Muslims. I never my parents telling us not to be friends with a Shia girl or Ahmedi or Christian etc., which was/is unfortunately very common home teachings in Pakistan.

In 2017, I met my husband David Close, who exposed me to a new perspective in life. I won’t say it was something I did not know, but he was certainly the first person I met who was living that perspective.

But now I believe that Love in marriages is not obsolete. Barriers of faith, race, and culture are social constructs that carry absolutely no weight in everyday life. It’s hard to imagine this unless you live it. And, I am living it everyday.

We have been married for over two years now, David practices Christianity (Methodist) and I follow Islam. We learn and grow everyday from our differences. My husband knows how to value woman because he was raised by strong woman. He valued me as ‘me’ and not an ‘acceptable’ version of myself.

I share with you a very interesting story of my childhood. I was around 3 years old and use to play with our neighbor’s son name ADIL. we are of the same age. ADIL was a pampered kid, he was the first born and his granny pampered him a lot. ADIL loved okras.

One day my mom bought me an acoustic guitar. I loved playing it and like a kid, I was happy to share with ADIL my new guitar.

ADIL wanted the same guitar so bad that he forced his mom to get him just like this. Next morning, his mother came to see my mom to ask where did she buy it for me. My mom obviously told her the toy place and the next day, he was playing the same guitar with me.

I don’t remember anything much except this episode of ADIL and this bothered me even when I was a child. What bothered me was not that he bought the same toy as I had, instead, what bothered me was that he refused to play for two days until he got that toy. And, as little as I was then, I decided to stop playing with him later.

This story struck me recently and I realized few things about myself that I was always looking for people with depth in them, that I valued relationships. I was independent and strong even in that little age. I did not settle for less even then.

So why it was easy to then and why so hard to do it later when I compromised for 4 years in miserable relationship. The answer is FREEDOM. I was free when I was a child.

FREEDOM - one word with immense power in it. FREEDOM has a unique relationship with our lives, the older we get, the less we have…

For details, listen to the whole episode and don't forget to subscribe/download for more episodes.

If you think you have a story to share to empower other women, write me at [email protected]

In this brief introduction, you will listen to a Pakistani immigrant in America - Sannia Abdullah Close, who strongly feels that women need to empower each other particularly those living in patriarchal societies.