March 2026 | Vol 31

Message from the Vice President... 

Dear GlobalWE Community,

There are communities you belong to, and then there are communities that begin to feel like home. For me, GlobalWE has always been the latter.

In a world that often feels louder and more divided by the day, I find myself returning to this community with a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the people who show up with curiosity, with care, and with a shared belief that the advancement of women and girls is not a niche cause but a cornerstone of a more just and equitable world.

That spirit was on full display at our recent Discussion Circle on the impact of global aid cuts on women and girls. What struck me most was not only the depth of knowledge in the room, but the quality of listening. In a climate where these conversations can easily become polarized, our community held the complexity with grace. We asked difficult questions, acknowledged uncomfortable realities, and left more informed and more connected than before. That is GlobalWE at its best.

Looking ahead, I encourage you to join us for our upcoming Expo in April, which will take place both on the Harvard campus in Cambridge and virtually. It is one of the moments each year when the GlobalWE community comes fully to life, bringing together organizations working in the women’s empowerment space with students and alumni eager to learn, collaborate, and engage.

I would also like to thank the volunteers and board members who make this community possible. Their contributions are not measured simply in hours or outputs. They give their time when life is already full, their energy when the world is already demanding, and their commitment to a mission that asks us to care deeply about opportunities for others. It is their quiet, consistent dedication that keeps GlobalWE not only running, but thriving. And to our President, Barbara, a special note of appreciation. Her thoughtful leadership, warmth, and steady belief in what this community can become continue to guide and inspire us all.

To help our community stay connected between programs and events, we have also launched a GlobalWE WhatsApp group. If you have not yet joined, I strongly encourage you to do so. It is another way for us to share ideas, updates, and opportunities across our global network.

What we are building together is more than a network. It is a space where people across borders, disciplines, and experiences choose conversation over division and collaboration over distance. In today’s world, that may be one of the most meaningful contributions any community can make.

Warmly,

Dr. Aarti Gupta
Vice President
Harvard Alumni for Global Women’s Empowerment

World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland

Late January 2026, Dr. Gupta spoke on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on the role of women in shaping geopolitics and capital allocation in an increasingly complex global environment. Her remarks highlighted the importance of women leaders bringing systems thinking, long-term perspective, and responsible capital stewardship to conversations at the intersection of policy, finance, and global influence.

We are so proud of Dr. Aarti Gupta!

Join us to engage with over 50 organizations that are passionate about advancing women’s empowerment and global impact.

Meet organizations, leaders, and innovators who are advancing opportunities for women and girls around the world. The Expo creates meaningful connections between organizations and the Harvard community, fostering collaboration in areas such as mentorship, internships, volunteering, career exploration, and charitable engagement.

We look forward to welcoming you to this inspiring gathering of leaders committed to empowering women and girls worldwide.

Date: Saturday, April 18th, 2025
Time: 9 AM - 3 PM ET
Location: Emerson Hall, Room 305, Harvard University

Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2025
Time: 9 AM - 12 PM ET
Location: via Zoom

Call for Artistic Submissions | Women as Agents of Change

Women as Agents of Change began as a spoken word piece delivered at the United Nations, highlighting women’s leadership, resilience, and global impact. What began as poetry has grown into a movement, one that elevates voice as a vehicle for transformation.

We are seeking original artistic submissions that reflect the theme: 
Women as Agents of Change

Submissions may include:
• A poem
• A spoken word piece
• A short story
• A reflective narrative
• Creative prose or artistic expression

We are looking for pieces that illustrate how women lead, heal, disrupt injustice, build systems, transform communities, shape the future, and love the world. Your submission may be personal, global, academic, faith-based, policy-driven, or artistic; what matters most is authenticity and vision.

Selected pieces may be:
• Featured at the Women’s Empowerment Expo
• Highlighted on GlobalWE platforms
• Shared as part of our creative engagement series

This initiative reflects our belief that change is not only built in boardrooms and policy rooms, it is born in lived experience, voice, courage, and creative expression.

Submission Deadline: April 7, 2026 

We invite you to use your voice.

Because when women speak, systems shift.
When women create, cultures transform.
When women rise, the world changes.

GlobalWE's Annual Women's Empowerment Expo exists to bring women-led organizations directly into the Harvard community, where they can build the relationships that transform their funding, talent, and reach.

We are asking you to support GlobalWE and other women-serving, and women-centered organizations to make this Expo a success.  Please click below to see how different levels of giving will help the Expo and its participating organizations. 

GlobalWE SIG Showcase
February 25, 2026 

On February 25th, GlobalWE President Barbara Barreno-Paschall welcomed over 40 attendees worldwide to the 2026 SIG Showcase for GlobalWE.

This year’s Showcase offered a dynamic and engaging introduction to the mission, people, and growing impact of GlobalWE and provided prospective members and volunteers an inside look at GlobalWE’s initiatives and the many ways alumni can get involved. 

Barbara and various other board members in attendance highlighted the organization’s core programming—including the GlobalWE Student Essay Contest, the Women’s Empowerment Expo, and opportunities for alumni-student engagement through its new mentoring program.

10 Years of the GlobalWE Student Essay Contest: Presented and Celebrated
March 7, 2026 

On March 7 - just in time for International Women's Day - GlobalWE spotlighted our own flagship initiative in “10 Years of the GlobalWE Student Essay Contest: Presented and Celebrated.”  For over a decade, high school students from over 20 countries have been answering the question, “What is the biggest challenge facing women and girls in your country today?”  After a brief summary of the contest’s origins and processes from Advisory Council member Farzeen Tariq and Essay Contest Co-Chairs Julie Palmer, Recep Bildik and Cami Tchoi, our youthful volunteer data analyst Hugh Kramer presented his new interactive website and his process for developing this tool that examines the data contained in our collected essays for trends across themes and countries over time. Moderated mini panels followed, featuring past contest winners, contest judges and managers, and a teacher from a participating school in the Philippines. 

 If you haven't yet filled out our feedback form sent in the follow-up email, please do so to be entered in a raffle to win one of three of our hardbound collection of 99 essay contest submissions!

If you have any questions, please contact info@hglobalwe.org

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