The 2014 Conference on Diversity in International Affairs 

Below is a description of all sessions for Saturday, April 5.  

PLENARIES

PLENARY 1:    Development: Women and Youth

 This plenary will focus on development issues affecting women and youth around the globe.

PLENARY 2:    How Technology is Changing the World We Live In

 Leaders from varied sectors will discuss rapid technological changes and how they have disrupted tools of defense policy, international business and finance, and public participation in policy issues.

ROUND 1 BREAKOUT OPTIONS

Iran and the Middle East

Negotiations between the P5+1 and  Iran resulted in an interim agreement in November 2013. What    are the implications of the Joint Plan of Action for the U.S. and the Middle East?

Scholarships and Fellowships in International Affairs 

Participants will learn about prestigious scholarships, fellowships and other academic               opportunities to study and fund degrees in international affairs.

 Increasing Your Chances of Landing an International Job

 Breaking into an international career can be challenging if you are new to the field or a recent             graduate. Are there specific skills or experiences HR offices are looking for? What is the best way to present my experiences? The presenters will address these and other burning questions for those looking to break into the field, provide an overview of resources, and discuss strategies for presenting a strong job application.

 The Middle Way – Careers in Social Enterprise

 Social enterprise has emerged as a powerful force of change in recent years. It is known for bridging the gap between the private and non-profit sectors, adopting profit-driven models to tackle non-profit sector domestic and international development goals. It leverages mass media, crowd-sourcing, and mobile banking to scale its work and provide a viable and sustainable alternative to the public and non-profit sector. Socially minded professionals in international affairs and business are drawn to this new paradigm in international development. This session brings together leaders in the field to discuss how they broke into social enterprise and the causes that inspired them.

ROUND 2 BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Current U.S. Foreign Policy Trends

 Panelists will discuss the current and upcoming priorities of U.S. foreign policy and consider how these goals will shape America’s role in the world and the careers of young foreign policy practitioners.

Why Study Abroad and How to Fund It

 Participants will explore the rich opportunities and challenges that come with study abroad during high school and college. Panelists will also address how to fund travel experiences through scholarships and programs through a number of sources, including the Department of State. 

Writing for Professional Success

This interactive seminar will focus on identifying and strengthening crucial writing skills, critical to success in international careers.  It will include a panel of speakers who will provide tips to improve key professional writing products, including policy memos, personal statements, and applicants/resumes.  After the initial presentations, the group will break down into smaller groups to work on interactive exercises.

 How Can Men and Women of Color Lean In?

Can men and women of color “lean in?” In her hyper popular book and social movement, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg prescribes a series of strategies for today’s ambitious career woman. Readers of all stripes have praised and critiqued the book’s provocative prescriptions for modern professional women, which include (among others): be more open to career risks, be more assertive and skip the people pleasing, and allow time for developing skills for the career you want, not only the job you have. But is this advice relevant and/or helpful for those who come from under represented communities?? This session will strive to answer this and many more questions related to strategies that have and have not worked for career men and women of color.