Explore every episode of the podcast Smart Women, Smart Power

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, Smart Power episode, Mellody joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis for a discussion on how she strives to close the racial wealth gap and create a better public understanding of financial literacy.   This episode is made possible through general support to Smart Women, Smart Power.

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 a conversation on how she balanced it all as a mother of two—plus, she’ll get into her time in the CIA during the 2012 Benghazi attacks – where the realization came that secrets just aren’t what they used to be. 

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 this episode of Smart Women, Smart Power, Dame Louise Richardson, the president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, discusses freedom of speech, political pressure, leadership in academia, and the challenges of navigating complex debates and crises with host Dr. Kathleen McInnis.

Beverly Kirk says farewell to the Smart Women, Smart Power podcast as she departs CSIS in December after five years as the podcast's host. We are excited to announce the new interim director of Smart Women, Smart Power, Suzanne Spaulding. Suzanne is currently a senior adviser for homeland security and director of the Defending Democratic Institutions project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). We hope you'll stay tuned as we continue to bring you powerful, in-depth conversations with women leaders from around the globe.

In the ninth episode of our new Women in the Military series, host Beverly Kirk spoke with U.S. Air Force Colonel Jenise Carroll who is currently the Commander of the 75th Air Base Wing at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The pair discussed her innovative work with community leadership near the base to provide affordable housing for military families, as well as her work on diversity and inclusion.   

In the eighth episode of our new Women in the Military series, host Beverly Kirk spoke with U.S. Army Reserves Major Asha Castleberry-Hernandez who is currently a senior advisor in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department. The pair discussed defending democracy abroad, strategic competition in the Middle East, and how the United States should engage in the region.

In the seventh episode of our new Women in the Military series, host Beverly Kirk spoke with retired U.S. Marine Corps LtCol Amy McGrath, who has dedicated her life to public service, from the battlefield to running for public office.  She discussed her new book “Honor Bound,” the lessons she has learned as a military officer turned politician, and her work on leadership development for women with a military or service background.   

In the sixth episode of our new Women in the Military series, host Beverly Kirk spoke with two of CSIS’s Military Fellows – Army Colonel Danielle Ngo, who most recently served as Executive Officer for the U.S. Army Office of the Inspector General, and Marine Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Macander, former Battalion Commander of 1st Combat Engineer Battalion. They discussed breaking barriers, the need for reform to retain more women service members, and what they hope to achieve during their time at CSIS.

CSIS Senior Associate Nina Easton spoke with Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks. She is the first Senate-confirmed woman in the position. The pair discussed current global security issues, including Afghanistan and China. In addition, they discuss her prioritization of innovation in defense, where she is focusing on small businesses, climate change, tech, and DEI issues.

In the fifth episode of our new Women in the Military series, host Beverly Kirk spoke with Lauren G. Weiner, Ph.D., and Donna S. Huneycutt, J.D., the founders of WWC Global. It’s a woman-owned management consulting firm that has prioritized remote work since 2004, allowing it to hire lots of military spouses and veterans. They discussed how a remote workforce can be successful and why it’s an important option for those who serve.

In the fourth episode of our new Women in the Military series, host Beverly Kirk spoke with Brigadier General Paula Lodi, Deputy Commanding General (Support) US Army Medical Command; Colonel Kirsten Aguilar, Commander, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), and the 673d Air Base Wing; Army Reservist Major Asha Castleberry, currently Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department; and Dr. Samantha Weeks, a retired Air Force Commander, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. The group discussed how to lead during a crisis, most recently with the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as their hopes for the next generation of leaders.

In the third episode of our new Women in the Military series, host Beverly Kirk is joined by Lt Gen Mary O’Brien, the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations, and retired Marine LtGen Lori Reynolds, the former Deputy Commandant for Information and former Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command. They discussed the push to modernize intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, better known as ISR. 

In the second episode of our new Women in the Military series, host Beverly Kirk is joined by retired Air Force General Lori Robinson, former Commander USNORTHCOM and NORAD, and Major General DeAnna Burt, Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command, U.S. Space Command and Vice Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force. The group discussed the evolution of air and space operations and the warfighting domain. 

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 Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy, Elaine Bunn. Elaine's experience and perspective shed light on the complexities involved in nuclear policy and defense strategy.

CSIS Senior Associate Nina Easton spoke with Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, the UAE Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, for a Smart Women, Smart Power event. The pair discussed her historic work leading the Hope spacecraft mission to orbit Mars, which took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as international space cooperation, and her role as a leader for women working in science. This event was sponsored by Citi.

Host Beverly Kirk spoke with Dr. Diana Villiers Negroponte, the author of “Master Negotiator,” which covers the career and legacy of former Secretary of State James Baker. We discussed the role he played in maintaining international order at the end of the Cold War and the lessons in diplomacy from that era that apply to today's global issues.

In the first episode of our new Women in the Military series, host Beverly Kirk is joined by retired Air Force Colonel Mo Barrett, Marine Reservist Major Lindsay Rodman, and retired Navy Commander Amanda Stahlschmidt. The group discussed their journey to belonging and thriving in the military as women and some of the challenges they faced.

Host Beverly Kirk talks to former Naval Intelligence Officer Lyla Kohistany and CSIS Senior Fellow Emily Harding about the collapse of the Afghan military, the Taliban takeover, and the impact on Afghan women and girls. 

Ms. Rachel Tecott spoke with the winners of the Kissinger Center’s Janne Nolan Prize competition, Dr. Jane Vaynman, Dr. John Emery, and Ms. Saher Naumaan at the 2021 Future Strategy Forum. The panel discussed their winning essays that covered topics ranging from emerging technology to political-military war gaming, and surveillance issues in the modern era.

CSIS Senior Associate Nina Easton spoke with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) for a Smart Women, Smart Power event. The pair discussed her role on the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. national security in the Indo-Pacific, as well as the Senator’s recent visit to the region. This event was sponsored by Citi.

Beverly Kirk was joined by Rose Gottemoeller for the closing keynote at the Future Strategy Forum 2021, where they discussed technologies and nuclear weapons. Rose Gottemoller served as the Deputy Secretary General of NATO from 2016 to 2019. Currently, Ms. Gottemoeller is a Payne Distinguished Lecturer at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute, as well as a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution.

Host Beverly Kirk is joined by Erin Kocourek, Senior Director of Requirements and Capabilities at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, for a conversation on the United States’ efforts to build up hypersonic offensive and defensive capabilities. Additionally, they discuss the shortage of hypersonic engineering talent in the U.S., and the efforts being made to strengthen the industry.  

Panel Two at the Future Strategy Forum 2021 focused on emerging technologies and statecraft. Camille Stewart, Ginny Badanes, Christie Lawrence, and Sanne Verschuren discussed the ways in which emerging technologies are shaping interstate interactions across the spectrum short of kinetic action, from statecraft and diplomacy to information operations. This panel was moderated by CSIS Senior Adviser Suzanne Spaulding.  

Host Beverly Kirk is joined by Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Rachel Levine for a conversation on the Biden Administration’s vaccine roll-out plan. They discussed vaccine hesitancy, new Covid-19 variants, and vaccine distribution and access. Additionally, they discussed Dr. Levine’s historic appointment as the first Senate-confirmed, openly transgender federal official.

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 nonprofit space, and the private sector, including CARE, the CDC, and USAID. Dr. Gayle is no stranger to leading during a crisis, and at the heart of her decisions is the notion that people are policy. Additionally, she discussed her decision to brand the international humanitarian organization CARE as an organization focused on women’s empowerment. 

Smart Women, Smart Power Director Beverly Kirk spoke with Case Impact Network CEO and National Geographic Chair Jean Case for a Smart Women, Smart Power event. The pair discussed Jean’s work on redefining capitalism and making it more inclusive as well as why she is so committed to ensuring the next generation has the tools they need to invest in good. This event was sponsored by Citi.

Panel One at the Future Strategy Forum 2021 focused on emerging technologies and warfighting. Evanna Hu, Dr. Nina Kollars, Dr. Ulrike Franke, and Julie George discussed the ways in which emerging technologies are shaping the battlespace and changing the nature of warfare. This panel was moderated by MIT PhD candidate Sara Plana.

Anne Neuberger, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, recorded opening remarks for the 2021 Future Strategy Forum, where she shared her expertise on national security and technology, as well as her outlook for the future.

Kristine Braden, Citi Europe Head and CEO Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG in Frankfurt, Germany discusses how financial companies are setting up operations around Europe following Brexit and the implications for U.S. businesses. She also talks about the European Central Bank’s potential plans for digital currencies.

CSIS Senior Associate, Nina Easton, CSIS Senior Vice President, Dan Runde, and Smart Women, Smart Power Director, Beverly Kirk joined together for a conversation with the Foreign Minister of Panama, Her Excellency Erika Mouynes. The group discussed gender equality, the Panama Canal, and sustainability in Panama. This event was sponsored by Citi.

Host Beverly Kirk is joined by Kaitlyn Johnson, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project and Fellow in the International Security Program, for a conversation about her recent reports on space threats, space as a warfighting domain, and the counterspace capabilities of countries around the world. Read “Defense Against the Dark Arts in Space: Protecting Space Systems from Counterspace Weapons” here and “Space Threat Assessment 2021” here.

Host Beverly Kirk is joined by Miriam Wugmeister, Partner at Morrison & Foerster and Co-Chair of its Global Privacy and Data Security Group, for a conversation about some of the digital issues the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to light, from cyberattacks and ransomware to privacy breaches.

In the final episode of our new series, SWSP x Girl Security, host Beverly Kirk is joined by Girl Security scholar Carolina Permuy and former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence Carmen Medina. The group discusses issues of justice, mercy, and transparency in the intelligence community and why decision-makers should change the way they think about worst-case scenarios.

In the third episode of our new series, SWSP x Girl Security, host Beverly Kirk is joined by Girl Security scholar Sruthi Katakam and Johns Hopkins University health security scholar Dr. Gigi Gronvall. The group discusses the holes in U.S. biological policy revealed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the role of dual-use biotechnologies in strategy and policy.

Host Beverly Kirk spoke with author and journalist Gayle Tzemach Lemmon for a special event in honor of International Women’s Day. They discussed her new book, The Daughters of Kobani, which tells the story of the young women who served as America’s partner in the fight against ISIS. This event was sponsored by Citi.

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 about the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and her sponsorship of the recently passed House legislation aimed at protecting Americans from TikTok’s national security threats.

In the second episode of our new series, SWSP x Girl Security, host Beverly Kirk is joined by Girl Security scholar Hannah Barrett and CSIS’s Director of the Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Program Nicole Aandahl. The group discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in the national security space.

In the first episode of our new series, SWSP x Girl Security, host Beverly Kirk is joined by Girl Security scholar Meaghan Burnes and AEI’s Dr. Kori Schake. The group discuss the difference between patriotism and nationalism, and how the events of January 6, 2021 will shape this question in America.

Beverly Kirk is joined by fellow podcast hosts Nzinga Curry, AUSA’s Director of Education & Programs and LTC Brittany Lloyd, AUSA’s Army fellow, for a discussion of Army Matter’s ArmyRealTalk podcast which focuses on issues of interest to next-gen soldiers, leaders, and their families.

The next-gen women scholars of the CSIS International Security Program take over the podcast to discuss the national and international security challenges ahead for the new Biden administration. This conversation is hosted by Christine Brazeau and features Emma Bates, Suzanne Claeys, Catrina Doxsee, Grace Hwang, Devi Nair, Simone Williams, and Makena Young.

CSIS Senior Associate, Nina Easton spoke with Kathy Warden, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Northrop Grumman for a Smart Women, Smart Power event. The pair discussed defense in the 21st century, including the impact of Covid-19 on business and women in STEM and defense. This event was sponsored by Citi.

Host Beverly Kirk talks to Andrea Conner, CEO of Stevenson Conner Global Strategies and the immediate past president of ATHENA International. They discuss how the gender multiplier effect improves the lives of women globally through economic empowerment leading to healthier families, stronger communities, and a thriving economy.

Suzanne Spaulding, director of the CSIS Defending Democratic Institutions project, joined host Beverly Kirk to discuss the assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th and its impact on the future of America’s democratic institutions.

Host Beverly Kirk spoke with CSIS experts Sarah Ladislaw and Stephanie Segal along with Laura Kupe, Counsel on the House Homeland Security Committee. They discussed all of the security and foreign policy challenges facing the world in 2020 and what to expect in the upcoming year. 

Host Beverly Kirk talks to Teresa Carlson, vice president of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Worldwide Public Sector. They discuss current tech trends, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on innovation, and her efforts to support women in tech. 

Host Beverly Kirk talks to Kimberly Reed, president and chairman of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. They discuss what EXIM bank does, how it’s helping companies create jobs in America, and the impact of Covid-19 on the U.S. economy.

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 currency, survive the latest threats? With over a decade of firsthand reporting, Senior Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg News Saleha Mohsin joins Kathleen McInnis to talk about her new book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order.

Host Beverly Kirk talks to Bonnie Glick, the former Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The pair discuss USAID’s digital strategy, the future of 5G in emerging markets and the threat of Huawei, and the role USAID plays in contributing to global network security. 

Beverly Kirk spoke with Dana Perino, anchor of The Daily Briefing, co-host of The Five on FOX News Channel, and former White House Press Secretary for a Smart Women, Smart Power event. The pair discussed the outcome and aftermath of the 2020 election, its potential impact on U.S. national security, foreign, and domestic policy, and her advice for starting a career in Washington. This event was sponsored by Citi.

Host Beverly Kirk talks to Vice Admiral Linda Fagan, Pacific Area Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard, about Arctic security, the threat of illegal fishing to maritime security, and Coast Guard operations and readiness during the Covid-19 pandemic.