Harvard Chocolate Tasting Event (Chicago)
Harvard Holiday Chocolate Tasting Event
It is Holiday time!! Time to get together and celebrate our camaraderie. HKS Women Network and Harvard Women in Defense, Diplomacy & Development (W3D) are hosting a Chocolate tasting event with Valerie Beck, a Chocolate expert on Dec 19, 2025 from 6pm to 7.30pm at Society Cafe, 1816 N.Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60614.
Please RSVP for the Harvard Chocolate Tasting Event.
Ticket price: $15 per person. You can zelle to 224.261.0302
New Year's Networking Lunch @Spark Social
NEW YEAR'S NETWORKING LUNCH @ SPARK SOCIAL on Sat, Jan 17
Celebrate the new year and join the Stanford Alumni Association's Women's Impact Network, Stanford Young Alumni-Bay Area and Harvard W3D (Women in Defense, Diplomacy and Development) for a casual, networking lunch on Saturday, Jan. 17, 12-2pm, at Spark Social: 601 Mission Bay Boulevard North, San Francisco.
Enjoy meaningful conversations, make new connections and explore collaborations over tasty food! Spark Social has food trucks and free street parking. We'll meet at SIP, at the center of the Spark Social venue and then locate seating. Please wear red so we can find you! Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/H8bz2nBhGa3b1DUi7: and we look forward to seeing you!
Landlocked Developing Countries: Azerbaijan and South Sudan, Unlocking Geography and Navigation Without Ports
Join Harvard W3D for the second global speaker series on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), a group of 32 nations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America that lack territorial access to the sea.
The virtual program “Landlocked Developing Countries: Azerbaijan and South Sudan, Unlocking Geography and Navigation Without Ports” features financial advisor and analyst Nigar Najafli of Azerbaijan and public health and humanitarian professional Abuol Malek of South Sudan. Discussion follows.
Nigar Najafli: “Turning Geography into Opportunity: Azerbaijan and Regional Connectivity in the South Caucasus”
Abuol Malek: “Navigating Development Without Ports: South Sudan’s Connectivity and Trade Challenges as a Landlocked Nation”
· Thursday, January 29, 2025
· 9 am-10 am ET
· 6-7 pm Azerbaijan | 4-5 pm South Sudan
Register at: http://bit.ly/4np14v5
Zoom registration link will be sent upon completion of Google form.
W3D Mentorship Program for the 2025–26 cohort
W3D Mentorship Program for the 2025–26 cohort
We invite you to join the W3D Mentorship Program as a mentor for the 2025–26 cohort. This program connects experienced alumni with emerging leaders in defense, diplomacy and development.
We welcome Harvard graduates from all programs with at least seven years of relevant professional experience. The mentorship program begins with introductions in December, followed by monthly meetings and ongoing communication. A kick-off event at HKS will take place early in the new year.
Help us shape the next generation of leaders and apply to be a mentor by December 5!
ANHW Corporate Board: Former NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on Life Lessons for Getting Ahead
Alumnae-i Network for Harvard Women (ANHW)
ANHW Corporate Board: Former NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on Life Lessons for Getting Ahead
Happening Monday, November 24 via Zoom! | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Eastern
Bonnie Hammer didn’t climb to the top of NBCUniversal by playing it safe—she challenged every rule in her way. In this candid conversation, she will share the hard-earned lessons that shaped her work and her life—on ambition, leadership, and what it really takes to win without losing yourself. Raw, direct, and refreshingly human, she will offer an unconventional playbook for success and balancing work and life without clichés. … (see full bio in link below)
Women’s Leadership at the Peace Table: Lessons from Burundi and Beyond
Harvard W3D is honored to collaborate with the Center for International Development in presenting “Women’s Leadership at the Peace Table: Lessons from Burundi and Beyond”. In-person and livestream. Details follow.
🌍 CID is excited to host “Women’s Leadership at the Peace Table: Lessons from Burundi and Beyond” on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET.
Why are women so often left out of peace negotiations—despite bearing the brunt of conflict and holding the key to lasting solutions?
Bineta Diop, African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, will share first-hand insights from decades of leadership on the frontlines of international peacebuilding.
Drawing on the landmark case of Burundi’s peace process, Bineta will explore how women leaders challenged exclusion, united across ethnic divides, and pushed their way into the negotiating room—ultimately shaping a more inclusive and enduring peace agreement.
Together, we’ll reflect on why women’s voices matter at the peace table, how empathy and local knowledge can strengthen diplomacy, and what it takes to shift power in historically male-dominated processes.
📅 Friday, November 14, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET
📍 Rubenstein 414-AB + Virtual livestream
Event link: https://bit.ly/4nXE8n0
This event is hosted by the Center for International Development (CID) in collaboration with the Harvard Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, the Harvard University Center for African Studies, Harvard W3D: Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development, the Harvard Chan Africa Health Students Forum, the Harvard Graduate School of Education Africa Student Organization (HGSE ASO), and the Harvard African Law Associaton.
Harvard ID holders are encouraged to attend in person, while non-HUID guests are invited to join via livestream or access the event recording afterward.
Race on Exhibit: Museums, Monuments, and Names
Join us in a group discussion of shared experiences and personal opinions (with no presentations or breakouts) on Race on Exhibit: Museums, Monuments, and Names
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern
Register at https://cutt.ly/RaceExhibit
LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: Armenia and Bolivia, Transcending Geography, Security, Identity
Join Harvard Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D) for the first in a series of global perspectives on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), a group of 32 nations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America lacking territorial access to the sea.
The October 4, 2025 program “LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: Armenia and Bolivia, Transcending Geography, Security, Identity” features speakers Sossi Tatikyan of Armenia and Ana Lucía Velasco of Bolivia. Discussion follows. Moderated by Judith Ravin, Harvard W3D Board Communications Chair.
· Saturday, October 4, 2025
· 12-1 pm ET
· 12-1 pm Bolivia | 8-9 pm Armenia | 6-7 pm Paris
Register at: https://bit.ly/4pvwVfO
Following registration you will receive a confirmation email with information to join the meeting.
Untitled Event
Bay Area Stanford WIN - Harvard W3D Social Mixer
Sunday, September 21, 2025, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Menlo Park, California
Link: https://groups.stanford.edu/events/140644
Join us for a lively social mixer that brings together members of Harvard W3D and Stanford WIN for conversation, connection, and collaboration!
Race and Codeswitching: Cultural Enactments
Join us in a group discussion of shared experiences and personal opinions (with no presentations or breakouts) on Race and Codeswitching: Cultural Enactments
Thursday, September 18, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern
Register at https://cutt.ly/HDDCodeswitch
Designing Fairness to Build High-Impact Workplaces
From Values to Action: Designing Fairness to Build High-Impact Workplaces.
Featuring Siri Chilazi, senior researcher at Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy Program and international expert in advancing women and promoting gender equity in organizations.
RSVP at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3JC7PgnCS7yA1XoJw7DnmQ
Unyielding Principles: The Future of Human Rights in Foreign Policy
September 15, at 6 pm: Unyielding Principles: The Future of Human Rights in Foreign Policy
The Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights' inaugural Human Rights & Foreign Policy Fellows cohort will convene for a crucial discussion on the role of human rights in shaping American foreign policy.
Speakers:
· Jessica Stern, Former U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons at the U.S. State Department
· Desirée Cormier Smith, Inaugural U.S. Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice at the U.S. State Department
· Maggie Dougherty, Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Organizations at the National Security Council; former Senior Policy Advisor to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and former foreign policy advisor in the office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio
· Kelly Fay Rodriguez, Former Special Representative for International Labor Affairs at the U.S. State Department
· Professor Kathryn Sikkink (Moderator), Ryan Family Professor of Human Rights
This will be a Forum event, so Alumni can either join in person or watch it live or the IOP YouTube page: https://iop.harvard.edu/events/unyielding-principles-future-human-rights-foreign-policy
Carr-Ryan Conversations: Gender's Impact on Bilateral Diplomacy, with Ann Towns and Desirée Cormier Smith
September 11, at 4:30pm: Carr-Ryan Conversations: Gender's Impact on Bilateral Diplomacy, with Ann Towns and Desirée Cormier Smith. Moderated by Professor Kathryn Sikkink.
This is an in-person event. More information here: https://hub.hks.harvard.edu/event/a4oPp000001SFGTIA4/carrryan-conversations-genders-impact-on-bilateral-diplomacy
Race and Colorism: Preferences and Products
Join us for alumni-led, community-building W3D's Harvard Diversity Discussions for a group discussion of lived experiences and personal opinions (with no presentations or breakouts) on:
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern, Race and Colorism: Preferences and Products, register at https://cutt.ly/HDDColorism
Thursday, September 18, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern, Race and Codeswitching: Cultural Enactments, register at https://cutt.ly/HDDCodeswitch
Thursday, October 9, 5-6 pm Eastern, Race on Exhibit: Museums, Monuments, and Names, register at https://cutt.ly/RaceExhibit
Thursday, October 30, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern, Race and Personal Branding: Culture and Visibility, register at https://cutt.ly/HDDBranding
Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern, Race and Unpaid Labor: Why/Not?, register at https://cutt.ly/UnpaidLabor
Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern, Race and Mental Health: Cultural Conceptions, register at https://cutt.ly/HDDMentalHealth
If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for topics for future Harvard Diversity Discussions, please contact digital@haaaa.net.
Race and Colorism: Preferences and Products
Join us in a group discussion of shared experiences and personal opinions (with no presentations or breakouts) on Race and Colorism: Preferences and Products
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern
Register at https://cutt.ly/HDDColorism
Race and the Job Search: Strategies and Advice
Join us in a group discussion of shared experiences and personal opinions (with no presentations or breakouts) on Race and the Job Search: Strategies and Advice
Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern
Register at https://cutt.ly/SeekJob
Race and Disability: Intersections and Identities
Join us in a group discussion of shared experiences and personal opinions (with no presentations or breakouts) on Race and Disability: Intersections and Identities
Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern
Register at https://cutt.ly/RaceAndDisability
Harvard W3D <> Penn Club SF Summer Happy Hour
Cheers to summer time and stunning views! Join the Harvard W3D and The Penn Club SF for a vibrant evening of networking and socializing with fellow alumni. We’ll be gathering at Atwater Tavern in San Francisco, where sweeping waterfront views set the perfect backdrop for great conversations and new connections. Come as you are and enjoy a lively, welcoming atmosphere with grads from across the region.
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: 3:00-5:00 PM PT
RSVP: https://lu.ma/ktccvbrm
Race and Sexuality: Queering Color,
Join us in a group discussion of shared experiences and personal opinions (with no presentations or breakouts) on Race and Sexuality: Queering Color
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern
Register at https://cutt.ly/Pride25
Race and Appropriation/Appreciation: Cultural Interrogations
Join us in a group discussion of shared experiences and personal opinions (with no presentations or breakouts) on Race and Appropriation/Appreciation: Cultural Interrogation
Thursday, May 15, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern
Register at https://cutt.ly/Apropos
Race and Leadership: Leveraging Lived Experience
Join us in a group discussion of shared experiences and personal opinions (with no presentations or breakouts) on:
Race and Leadership: Leveraging Lived Experience
Organized by Jenny Korn (MPP '98), Jacqueline Mourot (EDM '06), Lisa Khan (EDM '06), Roland Tan (AB '97), and Darold Cuba (MPA '21)
Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 5-6 pm Eastern, register at https://cutt.ly/HDDLeader
This Harvard Diversity Discussion is hosted by the Harvard Asian American Alumni Alliance (H4A), Harvard South Asian Alumni Alliance (HSAAA), Harvard Latino Alumni Alliance (HLAA), Native American Alumni of Harvard University (NAAHU), Harvard Kennedy School Black Alumni Association (HKS BAA), Harvard Kennedy School Women's Alumni Network (HKSWAN), Harvard Kennedy School New England Alumni Association (HKSNEAA), Harvard Business School Asian American Alumni Association (HBS AAAA), Alumnae-i Network for Harvard Women (ANHW), Harvard Business School African-American Alumni Association (HBSAAA), Harvard Kennedy School Chicago Area Alumni (HKS-Chicago), Harvard Alumni for Black Advancement (HABA), Harvard Kennedy School New York Alumni Network (HKS-NY), Harvard Alumni for Education (HAEd), Harvard Law School Association Asian Pacific American Alumni Network (HLSA APAA Network), Harvard Alumni Anti-Racism Network, and Harvard Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development (W3D).
If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for topics for future Harvard Diversity Discussions, please contact digital@haaaa.net.
This event is open to alumni and non-alumni.
UN CSW Debrief
Join W3D, ANHW, and the Harvard College Women’s Center to hear directly from UN CSW 2025 student and alumnae speakers, as they share highlights from this year’s Commission on the Status of Women and the 30 years of the Beijing Platform for Action.
Join Zoom meeting
https://harvard.zoom.us/j/95923043764?pwd=HgawLZPMYz8saVB9gGjb3VaATFYpex.1
Password: 827419
Harvard W3D - Stanford WIN Social Mixer
Join us for a vibrant and inspiring social mixer, bringing together members of Harvard W3D and Stanford WIN for an afternoon of conversation, connection, and collaboration!
Harvard W3D unites professionals in Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development, fostering global leadership for sustainable peace. Stanford Women’s Impact Network (WIN) brings together socially engaged Stanford alumni and affiliates, working to shift dialogue and drive change through a feminist lens. While our missions are distinct, our shared commitment to women’s leadership and meaningful impact makes this a unique opportunity to learn from one another, spark new ideas, and explore potential collaborations.
Whether you’re an alum, an active member, or simply curious to learn more, we invite you to mingle, exchange ideas, and leave feeling inspired. Enjoy lunch, great company, and thought-provoking discussions in a casual and welcoming atmosphere.
This event will be held in San Francisco from 12:00-2:00 PM PT. Meeting point details will be shared upon registration.
For questions or carpooling:
Antonia Fore (Stanford WIN): afore@stanford.de
Harvard W3D Contact: Tianwang Liu | tian.economics@gmail.com
Stanford WIN Contacts: Antonia Fore | afore@stanford.de & Vinutha Narayan|vinuthan@alumni.stanford.edu
Leadership & Happiness
Great leadership isn’t just about achieving results—it’s about fostering a positive work culture, inspiring others, and finding fulfillment along the way. Join U.S. Foreign Service Officer and former Una Chapman Cox Fellow Johanna Villalobos for an engaging discussion on the intersection of leadership and happiness. This session will explore the connection between effective leadership and personal well-being, strategies for creating a thriving work environment, and practical techniques to lead with confidence while maintaining balance. Whether you're a seasoned leader or aspiring to grow, this conversation will offer valuable insights and actionable takeaways.
When: Thursday, April 10 at 10 AM ET
RSVP: bit.ly/41SN5Vv
The Future of U.S. Development Assistance: Lessons from Global Aid-Diplomacy Mergers
With the impending closure of USAID and potential merger into the U.S. State Department, what is the future of U.S. development assistance? In this event, Harvard GSAS Alum '13 Dr. Rachel George will discuss her research (and forthcoming book) that examines the mergers of international aid agencies with foreign policy agencies around the world. Announcements of a merger in the U.S. follow similar mergers that have unfolded in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, cementing the move towards delivering development and diplomacy under a single agency. Considering new global developments, what is driving the race for bureaucratic reform to merge aid with foreign policy? What have been the lessons learned for the United States, and how can countries innovate their bureaucratic approaches to truly respond to complex and connected global challenges? This event will feature a discussion of experiences from the UK, Canada, and Australia, raising lessons learned from their efforts to merge foreign aid and diplomacy.
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 5-6 PM ET
Harvard W3D Women's Day Event: Innovative Financial Solutions to Advance Gender Equality
Join Harvard W3D's Women's Day Event for a dynamic online panel discussion that highlights the urgent importance of gender equality in today’s world. As we confront the challenges of the gender funding gap, innovative financial solutions have never been more necessary. This engaging event will feature speakers from three different continents, bringing together a rich tapestry of perspectives and groundbreaking strategies aimed at empowering women. Together, we will explore how finance can be transformed through a gender lens, uplifting communities and driving sustainable change. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a global conversation that celebrates diversity while paving the way for a more equitable future!
RSVP link: https://tinyurl.com/W3DWomensDay2025
This event is open to Harvard alumni only.
Harvard W3D 2025 SIG Showcase
Join Harvard W3D (Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development) for an inspiring opportunity to build meaningful connections and explore how you can champion women's leadership and drive impactful change!
Contact us: harvardw3d@gmail.com
Stay connected: Join us at https://www.harvardw3d.com/join
Support our mission: Donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-harvard-w3d-to-create-women-leaders
Let’s empower women leaders together!
Date: February 4, 2025
Time: 6:00-7:00 PM Eastern Time
Open to Harvard Alumni.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/W3D-showcase