Parisa is a keynote speaker, a strategic adviser and a multi-award-winning veteran journalist and news executive. With over three decades of experience on the global stage, Parisa has first-hand experience dealing with world leaders, dignitaries and high-ranking officials across the globe in order to open doors to difficult and dangerous parts of the world where freedom of speech is in no way guaranteed. Throughout her career as CNN’s senior vice president for international news gathering, domestic news-gathering and first ever global ambassador with editorial, operational and administrative oversight of CNN’s bureaus and assignment desks, Parisa led the network’s global coverage. Parisa directed CNN’s award-winning coverage of the most significant stories including Tienanmen Square, both Iraq Wars, the Fall of the East Bloc, the end of Apartheid, the genocide in Rwanda, 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina. She directed CNN’s coverage of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and the award-winning news coverage of the devastating earthquake in Haiti; and the DuPont-winning coverage of the tsunami disaster in South Asia. Parisa led the network’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning coverage of the Arab Spring. In addition, Parisa oversaw The CNN Freedom Project, an award-winning, multi-platform initiative that aimed to expose the horrors of modern-day slavery and push for change, as well as numerous other CNN global initiatives such as girls’ education. Parisa directed CNN’s largest investment in international news-gathering in its history. She strategically increased the number of bureaus around the world, placing new operations in emerging global centers. Parisa left CNN IN 2015. CNN lauded Parisa in its farewell to her by stating: “No one has played a greater role in emergence and then dominance of CNN international news gathering than Parisa.” Parisa’s joy and passion both in her career as a journalist and as a mother to her special son is to help give voice to the voiceless. She leads with empathy, compassion and integrity earning her the nickname of “Mother Parisa”. Parisa is an advocate for individuals with autism and has focused her efforts in helping ensure the “silent champions” have their voices heard. Parisa has spoken about compassionate leadership at NASA, United Nations, Delta Airlines and numerous other private and public organizations and companies.