Krithiga Narayanan is the program assistant for SAIS Women Lead
On Oct. 1, 2025, SAIS Women Lead (SWL) hosted its annual welcome event at the Bloomberg Center, bringing together students, faculty, and staff for an evening of reflection, creativity, and community. The event marked the beginning of a new year for SAIS’s research and leadership initiative dedicated to amplifying women’s leadership across the globe.
Organized by Vice Dean Chiedo Nwankwor who is also the Director of the initiative, Setu Van Lare (Associate Director, Global Careers), and student program assistants Krithiga Narayanan and Efe Oboh-Idahosa (both MAIR ’26), the event invited participants from across degree programs to engage with SWL’s mission through interactive activities that encouraged dialogue and collaboration.
In her opening remarks, Vice Dean Nwankwor set the tone for the year ahead:
“When we gather as a community at events like this, we’re reminded that leadership isn’t something we wait to be handed; it’s something we build together. SAIS Women Lead was created to make space for that kind of courage and collaboration, where students don’t just study leadership but practice it in real time through research, mentorship, and action.”
Students participated in two main activities, a vision board and a leadership networking bingo. The vision board encouraged students to share their thoughts on questions like: “what does gender equity in leadership mean to you?” and “what is your vision for SAIS Women Lead 2030?” The board, filled with notes, and commitments, will serve as a living artwork featured at future SWL events where students can keep adding to it.
The Leadership Bingo added a fun and interactive networking twist. Students circulated the room to find peers who fit prompts such as “someone who has met a world leader,” “Someone who mentors other women,” or “someone who knows how to code.” The first five to complete their cards won SAIS merchandise, presented by Vice Dean Nwankwor.
The event drew a diverse crowd, including senior administrators and faculty members such as Khorey Baker, Jen Zhu, Julianna González-McLean, Tony Harvin, and Joi Morris. Their presence reflected the shared commitment across SAIS to supporting women’s leadership and inclusive excellence.
The event concluded with an announcement of upcoming opportunities, including a blog contest in collaboration with The SAIS Observer and new volunteer roles with SAIS Women Lead.
As the new academic year unfolds, SAIS Women Lead continues to offer a platform for students to connect, reflect, and lead with empathy and imagination, values that define the program’s enduring impact at SAIS.
Edited by: Blake Uhlig