About Stephenie Foster
Stephenie Foster is a founding partner of Smash Strategies, which provides strategic advice to corporations, institutions and philanthropists to ensure that their investments in women and girls are effective and transformational. Stephenie is an inclusive leader, who brings together vision and pragmatism to get results and meet client needs. Based on her unique experiences, she understands the political and policy landscapes relevant to empowering women and girls, and increasing their opportunities for leadership and opportunity.
A New Book from Stephenie
A well sourced and important workbook/toolkit, Take Action: Fighting for Women and Girls covers the basics of activism and advocacy and gives the reader specific information about four issues related to girls, women and gender equality. The power and importance of education, expanding economic opportunities, eliminating gender-based violence and participating in politics and public life. This book will help would-be activists start their work and stay focused and goal-oriented. To help people get and stay engaged, an Online Tool-Kit is also available here.
SPEAKING
Stephenie is a sought-after speaker nationally and internationally on women’s leadership, gender equity, international development and women’s advocacy.
INTERVIEWS & IN THE NEWS
Stephenie is regularly interviewed on a diverse set of issues, such as investing in women and girls, foreign policy, security and women’s economic and political participation.
More Books and Articles by Stephenie
Stephenie is a frequent lecturer on why investing in women and girls is critically important. She has been a Professorial Lecturer at American University’s Women & Politics Institute. She publishes regularly on the importance of investing in women and girls to our foreign policy, women in leadership, women and economic engagement, and women and security. She writes regularly for the Huffington Post and other media outlets.
Featured Blog Posts
JUST SECURITY: Afghanistan: A Way Forward for Women and Girls
This article first appeared on Just Security, November 9, 2021. Since Afghanistan fell to the…
JUST SECURITY: Feminist Foreign Policy: One Path Forward in U.S.-China Relations
by Stephenie Foster, Susan Markham and Rachel MacKnight July 16, 2021…
Just Security: A Laser Focus on Women’s Rights Is Key to Sustainable Afghan Peace
This article first appeared on Just Security, May 24, 2021. As the U.S. withdraws troops from…
Just Security: Gender Equality is Fundamental to Promoting Democracy
by Susan Markham and Stephenie Foster The United Nations Commission on the Status…
5 Ways to Support Young Women Leaders
This article first appeared on Medium. Young women aren’t future women leaders. They are women…
JUST SECURITY: Robust Gender Analysis Will Be Key to Effective US Policy Development
As the Biden-Harris administration begins to develop and implement gender-focused policies across…
JUST SECURITY: Transforming the US Human Rights Report to Reflect Gender Rights — and Security
By Stephenie Foster and Susan Markham This article first appeared in Just Security. President Joe…
JUST SECURITY: Reviving the US Commitment to Women’s Rights and Gender Equality: The UN Commission on the Status of Women
Originally published in Just Security, December 15, 2020 By Susan Markham and Stephenie Foster…
From CFR: Gender Advisors Key to Effective Policy
The proposed revisions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Gender Equality…
Diplomatic Courier: COVID-19 DEMANDS WE RETHINK GENDER ROLES
This piece originally appeared in Diplomatic Courier; its co-authors are Stephenie Foster and…
SJ Mercury News – Opinion: Siri’s #MeToo responses show why tech needs women
My opinion piece appeared in the San Jose Mercury News on October 9, 2019. The Guardian recently…
OUR SECURE FUTURE BLOG: NOTES FROM THE FIELD: WOMEN PEACE & SECURITY EXPERTS WEIGH IN
Our Notes From The Field series has been designed to highlight the opinions and advice of Women,…