Podcasts · Government · Business
Smart Women, Smart Power
CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
247 episodes
CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power is a speaker series on women in international business and global affairs. The biweekly podcast features leading women from the corporate, government, and national security worlds discussing top international issues.
Episodes page 1 of 5
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The Global Leadership Reset: AI, Allies, and a Transforming World
Mishal Husain is known as one of Britain’s best interviewers who commands the attention of powerhouse figures. SWSP guest host, Emily Harding, sat down with Mishal to unpack her approach to high-stakes interviews and…
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Humans in Low Orbit: A Conversation with Astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson
Dr. Peggy Whitson holds the record for the longest cumulative time in space by an American astronaut and any woman astronaut in the world. In this episode, guest host Emily Harding, Vice President of the CSIS Defense…
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A Fresh Perspective on National Security Policy
Dr. Kathleen McInnis joins Nina Easton, Co-CEO of SellersEaston Media and Co-Founder of Journey to Lead, for a thoughtful discussion reflecting on her time leading SWSP and shaping a research agenda that explores how…
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Inside the CIA: Confronting China’s Digital Strategy
When Jennifer Ewbank was chosen to lead the CIA’s digital innovation team, she quickly made the strategic decision to center its digital mission around countering China’s comprehensive national digital strategy — a…
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An Icelandic Perspective Inside NATO
Iceland has no standing military—so how did Brynja Huld Óskarsdóttir, an Icelandic civilian, find herself working for NATO in Afghanistan and now holding a key role at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly? Host Kathleen…
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Inside Modern Defense Tech
Vannevar Labs at its core has a bold mission: bring the best technology American innovation can offer into close partnership with the U.S. government to equip public servants with the tools they need to keep the…
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Putin's Next Soldiers: Ukrainian Children
In this episode, host Kathleen McInnis speaks with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Oleksandra Matviichuk, for a detailed discussion on the devastating Russian war crimes being…
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Why We Need Women in Special Forces
A newly released documentary, Guerrera, tells the stories of trailblazing women who served in U.S. Special Operations in Afghanistan. Dr. Kathleen McInnis sits down with Jessica Yahn, executive producer and U.S.…
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Trust the Work, Trust Yourself
The Gates Foundation has become synonymous with leading global change on some of the world’s hardest issues – like advancing global health to expanding economic opportunity for the world’s most vulnerable. In this…
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Whole of Society Resilience Lessons from Russia-Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of resiliency and using the total strength of society to ensure the survival of a state. As a part of the CSIS Conflict in Focus series, Dr. Kathleen McInnis sits down…
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The Weaponization of Data
On this episode, host Kathleen McInnis spoke with Pavlina Pavlova, a #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellow at New America and Cybercrime Expert at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Pavlina shares insights from…
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To Infinity and Beyond: Open AI to the New Space Race
Before OpenAI was the household name it is today, the leading artificial intelligence company began as a non-profit organization with an uncertain future. In 2018, Ashley Pilipiszyn had a decision to make: take a risk…
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Beyond the Spin: Truth, Media, and Democracy
Nina Jankowicz knows what it’s like to be attacked for defending the truth, and she is now on a mission to increase the cost of lies that undermine our democracy. On this episode, Dr. Kathleen McInnis dives into Nina’s…
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Countering China and Russia: The Hidden Advantages of Women, Peace, and Security
How can Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) be better utilized to accomplish U.S. strategic objectives? Recently, the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative released their latest brief: Countering China and Russia: The…
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Decoding the Pentagon Bureaucracy
In this episode, Dr. Kathleen McInnis is joined by Dr. Janine Davidson, who currently serves as president of Metropolitan State University of Denver and the chair of the Defense Policy Board. The pair discusses Dr.…
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Building Comprehensive Approaches to Wicked Problems: The Ukraine War
As a part of the tenth-anniversary celebration of Smart Women, Smart Power, Dr. Kathleen McInnis hosted a panel discussion that explored women’s leadership during Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and…
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Pentagon Priorities Amid Polycrises with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks
On October 15, Smart Women, Smart Power celebrated its tenth anniversary! The celebration kicked off with a discussion with HON Kathleen H. Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense, who sat down with Beverly Kirk, Director…
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The State of Election Security in 2024
Suzanne Spaulding, Director of the CSIS Defending Democratic Institutions Project, joins a special crossover episode with the CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power podcast to discuss election security, the role of election…
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A Conversation with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi
Dr. Kathleen McInnis sat down with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for a conversation on her new memoir, where she reflects on her time in Congress. Additionally, the pair discusses the current and future U.S.…
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Take a Chance on Mentorship
An off-chance encounter as an intern transformed Funmi’s life several years later when someone she networked with early in her career thought of her down the line and offered her a job. Funmi Oludaiye, Managing…
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Solving the World’s Hardest Problems with Mellody Hobson: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments — created Ariel Alternatives, the first private equity subsidiary of the 40-year-old investment firm, alongside its current CEO Les Brun. On this Smart Women,…
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Secrets and Sacrifices: CIA, Benghazi, and Motherhood
After 25 years working for the CIA, the Honorable Sue Gordon has served the United States across administrations. She joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis and Lauren Bedula, the Managing Director at Beacon Global Strategies, for…
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What Does Infant Formula Have to do with National Security?
In 2020, Laura Modi launched Bobbie, the first U.S.-based manufactured organic formula company. Laura joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis and Lauren Bedula, the Managing Director at Beacon Global Strategies, for a discussion on…
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Beating Putin’s Playbook
We’re entering a new era of warfare – where disinformation, countering disinformation, and hybrid threats are at the forefront – threats that the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) is not taking lightly. Marie-Doha…
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The Future of NATO is Female
Why should the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) care about gender? What are women, and women’s networks, doing to advance democracy – and how should a military alliance think about the strategic utility of…
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The Role of UNICEF USA in the World
Michele Walsh, Executive Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, UNICEF USA, has prioritized the value of giving more decision-making power to those closest to the communities impacted while at UNICEF USA. On…
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Humanizing Refugee Resettlement
On this episode, Heather Higginbottom, Head of Research Policy & Insights for Corporate Responsibility at JPMorgan Chase, joined Dr. Kathleen McInnis to discuss how she has anchored her work in humanizing the process…
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The Murky World of Deepfakes
In her aptly named scientific study, “As Good as A Coin Toss,” Horizon Fellow Di Cooke joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis to walk through the murky world of deepfakes and the countermeasures that should be prioritized to…
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Lessons from Myanmar
What does it actually mean when we say, “democracy is on the line?” Nisha Anand, the CEO of Dream.org, would know – she was arrested for passing out pro-democracy leaflets in Myanmar in 1998. To help us unpack the…
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Navigating the Seas with Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations of the U.S. Navy
Admiral Franchetti sits down with Dr. Kathleen McInnis, Director of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative, for a discussion on the U.S. Navy’s priorities as they operate far forward, around the world and around the…
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The Political Pressure Behind Scotland on the Ballot
In 2014, the United Kingdom almost came undone. Advocates for Scottish independence were finally granted a referendum, and the future of Scotland’s political arrangements was in the hands of the Scottish people. On…
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Building Trust in Nuclear Diplomacy
Nuclear strategy remains a priority for the United States. In this episode, host Dr. Kathleen McInnis speaks with CSIS Senior Adviser (Non-resident) to the Project on Nuclear Issues and former Deputy Assistant…
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In a World of Inequalities, Does Democracy Matter?
On this episode of Smart Women, Smart Power, Dr. Helene Gayle, President of Spelman College and CSIS Trustee, joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis for a discussion on her approach to leadership after years in government, the…
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The Government Clock is Ti(c)kTok-ing
Host Kathleen McInnis spoke with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) about her whirlwind past couple of weeks. The pair discussed her recent trip to the Munich Security Conference, including the moment she found out…
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The Weaponization of the Dollar
For decades the U.S. Treasury Department has used the American dollar as a weapon to shape U.S. policy. However, in an era of rising authoritarian actors set out to undermine democracies, can the United States, and its…
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Welcome to the U.S., EU Ambassador Neliupšienė!
On this episode of Smart Women, Smart Power, host Kathleen McInnis sat down with the new Ambassador of the European Union to the United States Jovita Neliupšienė. The pair discussed the war in Ukraine, including…
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We’re on a Winter Break!
The Smart Women, Smart Power podcast is taking a winter break to refresh and recharge. We’ll be back in March!
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All About Defense Acquisition
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Melissa A. Johnson, an Acquisition Executive in the U.S. Special Operations Command, for a briefer on the process behind acquisition, technology, and logistics in the Special…
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Montenegro’s Path to NATO
Host Dr. Kathleen McInnis sat down with Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director of the McCain Institute and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia, for a conversation on the threat…
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Making “Space”
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Maria Demaree, Vice President and General Manager of National Security Space at Lockheed Martin, for a discussion on the future of the space mission. Additionally, Maria discussed…
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Behind the Scenes: Obama and Bourdain Share a Meal
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Liz Allen. The pair discussed Under Secretary Allen’s mission to reimagine the power and purpose of American diplomacy,…
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The Will of Ukrainian Soldiers
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Colonel Sarah Heer, the special advisor to the Commander of the Canadian Army, and a Peace With Women Fellow, at the 2023 Halifax International Security Forum. The pair discussed her…
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The Digital Storm
While at the 2023 Halifax International Security Forum, Kathleen McInnis had the opportunity to sit down with Karen Courington, Vice President of Trust and Safety at Google, and Alexandra Veitch, the Director of…
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Pentagon Perspectives: Managing from Within
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Beth McGrath, Deloitte’s Global Industry Leader for Government and Public Services (GPS), at the 2023 Halifax International Security Forum. The conversation followed Beth’s 25+ years…
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Breaking the “Brass” Ceiling
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Heidi Grant, Vice President of Global Growth and Engagement for Boeing Defense, Space, and Security, at the 2023 Halifax International Security Forum. The pair discussed Heidi’s…
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Understanding the Woman Voter
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Ashley O’Connor, Managing Partner at Strategic Partners & Media, for a conversation on the evolution of political campaigning and advertising. The pair also discussed Ashley’s…
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Climate Change: A Threat Multiplier
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Sherri Goodman, a former senior defense official, for a discussion on her early work in climate security, and how climate change is impacting the national security landscape.
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A Moldovan Minute
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Natalia Gavrilița, former Prime Minister of Moldova (2021-2023), for a conversation on her leadership of Moldova during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in addition to a look at…
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Your Reputation Precedes You
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Mackenzie Eaglen, Senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), for a thoughtful conversation on the power of your reputation and credibility in Washington, DC. Eaglen…
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Let’s Talk About Gender
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Susan Markham, Director of the Peace With Women Fellowship program at the Halifax International Security Forum (HFX) for a conversation about the role of gender in foreign policy,…
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