A-MAZE-ing Women Entrepreneurs from the Middle East/North Africa

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Observing International Women’s Day at Meridian with Amb. Cathy Russell, Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues at the Department of State.

Ahlan wa sahlan, is one of what I referred to as my five Arabic expressions at the start of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women / U.S. Department of State Entrepreneurship Program for Women in the Middle East and North Africa. Welcome!

It was my honor to welcome 29 extraordinary women entrepreneurs for a two-week exchange program in which they received training, mentoring, advice, and more than a little bit of snow (February, after all). What they brought, however, was much broader, much richer, and definitely more lasting than the winter’s snow. Continue  

The Arts and Culture Scene in the United Arab Emirates, Part I: Events

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An overview of the arts and culture events happening in the United Arab Emirates.

This blog post was inspired by Past Forward: Contemporary Art from the Emirates – the first major touring exhibition of Emirati artwork abroad. The exhibition showcases core elements of life in the UAE, further informing American audiences of Emirati art, history, and tradition. Visitors who have seen Past Forward may not be aware of the wide range of cultural events the UAE organizes during its winter season, from October to the end of April. This post highlights a number of the most popular arts and cultural events in the country – many scheduled for this spring. Abu Dhabi Abu...

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12 U.S. Foreign Policy Resolutions for 2015

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In 2015, the world should focus on security, cooperation and preparing the next generation of leaders.

As we all do, I have been thinking a lot about what 2015 will bring. Here are some of my thoughts, in no particular order, on what U.S. foreign policy must focus on this year. 1) Revitalize NATO NATO is a critical body for international security, but its importance and resources have been waning. As Russia tests the limits of NATO’s resolve, aggravating Cold War mentalities, NATO must stand strong as a coalition to safeguard freedom, security, and democratic values. 2) Finalize and adopt outstanding trade deals Negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)...

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