Sanam Anderlini on "Don’t become a gender expert, always bring a gender lens"

Nov 8, 2018

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One of the main leaders behind Resolution 1325 and other groundbreaking U.N. Resolutions that changed the way women and gender issues are integrated in the global architecture for peace making. Equal parts scholar and activist and a thought leader who is responsible in part for the huge advancement of women, peace and negotiations in the last decade. Listen to Episode 4 of Season 3 to learn about the life and incredible professional trajectory of Sanam Anderlini.

In this episode we discuss:

How she grew up in Iran until the age of 11
Growing up during the Iranian revolution and she was sent abroad
10 days turned 7 years
The experience of the Iranian revolution shaped her life to pursue a career in conflict transformation
Her BA is in English Literature and a MA in Social Anthropology
How she got her job at International Alert as assistant to speechwriter and later a ghostwriter
How at International Alert Sanam worked with some of the earlier work on gender and peacebuilding with Hutu and Tutsis women
In 1998, IA organized an event in Queens College bringing one of the first meetings of women working in conflict areas, and that inspired Sanam to continue the work on women and peacemaking
Sanam speaks about how WRITING well has been the key skill to her career
Sanam participated and was behind the campaign Women Building Peace from the Village Council to the Negotiation Table: an advocacy campaign with grassroots activism, peace prize and an advocacy arm to seek UN Council Resolutions
The importance of building partnerships and the power of collaboration
How Sanam was able to live on a modest salary in order to pursue her calling of organizing the global campaign for women
How her work on peace and conflict prevention is also her calling, her way of life and how she exercises self-care
Sanam talks about how she moved to the US when her children were small and started working at Hunt Alternatives
Sanam reflects on being a UN consultant which drove her to the idea to start her own NGO ICAN
Sanam shares a story of how she back-chanelled with the UN Security Council as she took care of her sick child in her living room
The story of how she incorporated and grow her NGO, ICAN
Advice from Sanam about starting your NGO and reflects on the issues of NGO funding
Sanam reflects on working for various UN agencies
Why NGOs give you the best experience and best skills possible to take on any job
The importance of having field experience
Sanam shares the best career advice she has received in her life
Sanam reflects on the benefits of having multiple skills
Sanam reflects on failure as a source of adaptation and creativity
Sanam’s top three things to pursue a career of impact