

Smart Women, Smart Power
CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power is a speaker series on women in international business and global affairs. The biweekly podcast features leading women from the corporate, government, and national security worlds discussing top international issues.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 28, 2023 • 30min
The Pentagon Puzzle
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Kari Bingen, director of the Aerospace Security Project and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at CSIS. The pair discussed the Pentagon’s organizational design in an era of rapidly developing and complex threats.

Jun 21, 2023 • 33min
Academia vs. the Policy World
Dr. Kathleen McInnis spoke with Dr. Heather Williams, director of the Project on Nuclear Issues and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at CSIS. Together they discussed their decision to leave the academic world for the policy world. Plus, they discussed what's going on in the nuclear space!

Jun 14, 2023 • 24min
“Employee No.1” in Homeland Security
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Ashley Davis, founding Partner of West Front Strategies LLC and former Special Assistant to the Director of Homeland Security. The pair discussed Ashley’s experience in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, including her role in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

Jun 7, 2023 • 26min
How to Strike a Deal
Host Kathleen McInnis spoke with Judith Batty, former Senior Counsel at ExxonMobil and interim CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. She discussed her dynamic career as a deal lawyer, from navigating the corporate world to serving as the first Black woman leader of Girl Scouts of the USA.

May 31, 2023 • 30min
The Hollywood Episode
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with writer and producer Chris Levinson for a candid conversation on the relationship between Hollywood and Washington D.C.

May 24, 2023 • 32min
Why Male Allies Matter
We are doing something a little different on the podcast today – we are joined by our first-ever male guest! Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Ambassador Donald Steinberg, the former U.S. Ambassador to Angola, among countless other roles. Ambassador Steinberg discussed his role in the 1994 Angola Peace Accords and how the decision to exclude women ultimately led to the failure of the peace process. Additionally, Ambassador Steinberg discussed Mobilizing Men as Partners for Women, Peace, and Security (MAWS), which argues that men must be part of the solution when it comes to implementing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

May 17, 2023 • 22min
Crunching the Numbers: Mathematician to CEO
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Mollie Breen, CEO and Co-Founder of Perygee, for a discussion on how her STEM background has influenced her leadership style. Additionally, the pair discussed her former roles in creating and leading teams to strengthen military strategy and critical infrastructure at the National Security Agency and Pentagon.

May 10, 2023 • 11min
Mental Resilience: Deploying Tech for Navy SEALS
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Shannon Clark, Senior Vice President, Federal, R+D at Palantir Technologies, at the Reagan National Defense Forum. Shannon discussed her role in deploying technology to help navigate mental resilience for U.S. Navy SEALS.

May 3, 2023 • 20min
The Establishment of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council
On this episode, host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky, the former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, at the Reagan National Defense Forum. Ambassador Dobrianksy discussed the establishment of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council during the George W. Bush administration.

Apr 26, 2023 • 24min
On the Ground in Iraq
Host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Kristi Rogers, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Principal to Principal, for a conversation on her time working on the ground in Iraq from 2003 to 2004. Additionally, they discuss her experience in problem-solving and crisis communications.


