Washington D.C. 2016

These trailblazers are young professional women who have already achieved success and are on the fast-track to pursuing their dreams.  These rising stars will each share their framework for pursuing one’s passion with conviction and determination, as they continue on their unique journeys.

In life, there are times when we are faced with obstacles and roadblocks in trying to achieve our goals. The way we react to and surmount these obstacles is what defines and determines our path to the future. These courageous women will share how they each found strength and perseverance in spite of overwhelming obstacles in their career paths.

As veteran leaders in their respective fields, this panel of accomplished women will share with us their personal stories of how they seized the right opportunities and overcame challenges throughout their careers. They will discuss whether success is based on planning or luck, and how they remain engaged and inspired in their professions.

This panel seeks to explore the power of Art. Despite our personal, financial and educational achievements, the quality of our lives might still suffer. How can art wash the dust of daily stress and make us feel alive? How can it facilitate personal growth? Can art unify and transcend differences? Our panelists through their unique lens as women and experts tackle the importance of art from various perspectives.

These insightful and talented authors use the power of their words to illuminate the narratives of prominent women, craft impactful poetry and prose, and build globally-compassionate communities. Through biography, personal narrative, children’s literature, and poetry, our panelists will focus on how telling these impactful stories can bring truth to sheltered ears and unveil forgotten stories. Reading may be one of life’s greatest pleasures, but Dr. Nina Ansary, Azar Nafisi, Nazila Fathi, and Homa Sabet Tavangar will remind us all that this pleasure can also be a powerful tool in spreading the truth.

When faced with personal challenges that were compounded by value judgments and prejudices, these empowered women sought to own their respective paths and personal narratives.  Not only did they persevere, but they further thrived and triumphed to become a psychotherapist championing mental health, an advocate for mental health and autism, and the first ever Iranian American judge. In this presentation, you will learn how these extraordinary women have fulfilled their dreams and flourished despite the impediments of cultural traditional taboos, surrounding sexual orientation, sexual abuse and mental health

New engagement tools are making journalism more participatory and immersive. In 2017, virtual reality (VR), drones and 360 captures will continue to change the way we report. Today, crowdsourcing is also allowing indigenous communities and citizen to help interpret the social and economic effects of logging, poor air quality, and rainforest devastation one story at a time. Our panel will examine the critical role that traditional media plays as the next generation of real-time storytelling emerges. If you can't join in person, follow us on Twitter @IAWFoundation, and #IAWFDC16 on Facebook to join a live chat and watch our panel on Facebook live.

This empowering panel exhibits the leadership, determination, and diligence of four Iranian American women who have served and continue to serve devotedly in the White House administration and the State Department. Their passion and pursuit for success in their respective roles not only inspires other Iranian Americans in their attainment of the American dream but also increases pathways for all women to succeed in diverse leadership roles within our government. Their life stories serve as reminders of our capabilities as career women and the importance of contributing our voice, talent, or expertise as Iranian Americans in U.S. decision-making. Our influential panel will share their unique journeys and discuss overcoming the challenges and obstacles placed in their path to success within their government roles.