2023 CSW Career Girls Session
Career Girls NGO CSW67 Forum virtual session on March 8 explore how Career Girls virtual programming uses technology to give girls direct access to diverse and accomplished women role models worldwide in critical STEM areas like climate change, AI, and Machine Learning. The program objectives are to improve girls’ future economic opportunities, foster digital literacy, provide a safe and educational environment, close the gender gap in STEM, and provide direct access to accomplished women role models. Career Girls’ virtual programming aligns with four of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Aisha Ali
Aisha Ali serves as Executive Director of Career Girls. Aisha studied business at New York University and is currently based in Washington, DC. Throughout her career she has created and implemented programs fostering equal access and empowerment of young people. As a professional equestrian, Aisha fostered collaboration among her students and developed inclusive opportunities to break long-standing boundaries and allow children from all backgrounds to participate and successfully compete. As a businesswoman Aisha created and implemented national and international events for industry leaders such as Vespa, Nike, Fox Entertainment and NASA. She demonstrated her leadership and commitment to social justice as a founding member of the NAACP in Central Oregon and a Board member of a local BIPOC organization. She continues to donate her time to help BIPOC organizations fund and produce successful events.
Beth Brown
Beth is SVP Global Client Solutions at Media Futures Group, a bespoke agency solution for Google. As a global team powered by EssenceMediacom and GroupM, Media Futures Group delivers strategic, creative and data-driven media to drive brand and business outcomes. Beth’s team is responsible for managing Business Operations across North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific.
Beth previously led Operations and Client Services for Essence Global’s Experience practice, delivering custom media, creative solutions, and innovation projects for clients.
Prior to joining EssenceMediacom, Beth worked at the creative agency R/GA in New York and London, and Scholastic Books.
Teresiah Warui
I am a professional gender and development expert with 6 years of working experience in Kenya and the United Kingdom. I hold a master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies from the number one world-ranked Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. Voted as the most influential female leader of the year at the university and currently awarded the prestigious Chevening scholarship, I continue to be a passionate advocate for meaningful engagement of women and young people who are excluded and marginalized in development. I believe equality, inclusion and diversity are key to meaningful social change.
I have a specific interest and experience in social inclusion, gender equality, economic and social empowerment, climate change, learning and impact coordination, research-based advocacy, project planning and management. Currently, i am engaged in a research that is inspired by my masters thesis. In my previous work and consultancies, I have worked with University of Portsmouth, University of Sussex, British Redcross, ActionAid Kenya, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and German Doctors.
Dr. Beverly Thompson
Dr. Thompson is a Senior Scientist at Leidos (formerly SAIC) in Washington, D.C., and has over 19 years’ experience in research, prototype development and transition of image exploitation tools in the areas of optical microscopy, motion imagery analysis, and IR spectroscopy for defense and agricultural remote sensing. As an accomplished scientist, Dr. Thompson brings real-world wisdom to support our efforts to encourage girls to consider careers in STEM. She’s also one of our very first and favorite Career Girls Role Models.
Sara Golshahr
Sara Golshahr, Vice President at BlackRock, is a member of the US Private Credit team within the Global Credit Platform. Sara helped launch BlackRock’s Investment Grade Private Placement business, an investment strategy which directly lends to both private and public companies on behalf of insurance mandates. Prior to joining Private Credit, Sara previously worked on the Portfolio Management team supporting BlackRock’s High Yield strategies.
Sara received BlackRock’s 2021 Heart of BlackRock Award, given to individuals who best embody BlackRock’s culture holistically and demonstrate inclusive behaviors. She serves as a leader on the Global Credit Human Capital Committee, BlackRock’s Women in Investments and Women’s Initiative and Allies Network (WIN), and Credit’s Alliance for Racial Equity & Sensitivity (CARES).
Prior to joining BlackRock full time, Sara co-oped with BlackRock’s Alpha Strategies Group where she supported the Global Opportunities team in equity research. Sara earned a B.S. degree, summa cum laude, in Business Administration with a major in Finance from Drexel University, where she swam on Drexel’s NCAA Division I Varsity Swim Team.