A Woman in Leadership

Professor Deborah Jewell-Sherman, who shared tea with Farah Anwar Pandith on the Askwith Forum stage last night, couldn'’t help but say what everyone was likely thinking about the woman who has worked for two Bush administrations, the Obama administration, and traveled the world learning and educating about Muslim communities in the wake of Sept 11, 2001.

“"Truly all of these things have been done by one woman,"” Sherman said. “"We often talk about the Bond girl –-- the girl that’s on the arm of James Bond -- but you are actually the James Bond --– the woman doing the work.”"

For the audience at the Askwith Forum, “Women in Leadership: A Global Perspective,” held in conjunction with the Programs in Professional Education’s Women in Education Leadership Institute,  Pandith was a natural to discuss what it means to be a leader. Currently, a fellow at Harvard University'’s Institute of Politics, Pandith most recently held an appointment as the special representative to Muslim communities under then-Secretary of the State Hillary Clinton – a position specifically created for her.

Pandith shared her journey, which began at Smith College where she discovered a spark for leadership and a passion for fighting for diversity, inclusiveness, and justice. It was a speech she made as student body president before First Lady Barbara Bush that arguably changed her life and set the path for her future. Within a day, the White House called looking for a copy of her speech. Soon thereafter Bush began sharing Pandith’'s words. The two began corresponding through letters. At graduation, she wrote to Bush for advice, and soon enough Pandith found herself working at USAID.

“"She is absolutely responsible for my career without a doubt,"” Pandith said. “"This woman never asked me who or what party I was affiliated with. Never asked me where I was born. She never asked me who my parents were or how much money I gave to a party. She heard my words and that was an important lesson that stayed with me.”"

Bush would be one of many people --– men and women –-- who went on to open doors and advise Pandith throughout her career. Over the years, Pandith has worked in both the public and private sector but always followed her heart. “What your heart tells you to do --– that’'s what you got to do,” she said. So, when the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred, Pandith found herself dwelling on what it means to be Muslim, admitting that she hoped it wouldn’t be related to the attacks. "“I felt it very viscerally,"” she said. “"There is a diversity in Islam that’s not monolithic as Al-Qeada would have you think."

Since then, she had dedicated much of her life’'s work to traveling the world in various positions engaging in discussions with people about Muslim communities. Although Pandith is no longer formally working with the government, she remains passionate about “eradicating the poisonous ideologies” that exist in the world.

For the majority of female audience members, some of those challenges and ideologies are based in gender.  However, when asked about any hardships she faced as a woman working in the government and globally, Pandith admitted to none. “"I don’t have any horrible stories,”" she said. “"I’'ve been very lucky…. I never once felt like my voice hasn’'t been heard.”"

She hopes to see more women in global leadership. In fact, she dreams that by 2050, 50 percent of all public service jobs are held by women.

“"Leadership is not about gender but about building skills,"” Pandith said. “"We need to have men and women both at the table to solve policy issues.”"

As far as teaching young people to be leaders today, Pandith encouraged educators to open doors for them as they grow and give them a chance to be leaders and to fail.

Although there are initiatives to help students learn more about the world, Pandith thinks more needs to be done. "“I don'’t think you need a framework to do this. I think it makes it harder,” she said. “I think it’s easier as educators to make sure that every element of what we talk about has a global component so you’re not waiting for Thursday, week three, session two to talk about the world. The world is everywhere. The world is right here.”"