Are you just starting out a career in international affairs? Are you exploring different pathways but unsure how to get there or are you looking for tips and tricks on how to land your dream job? Join the Women’s Foreign Policy Group for our monthly Mentor Minutes! On every last Tuesday or Thursday of the month at 3:30 pm EST, WFPG Members will get a chance to speak to an experienced mentor in international affairs in a small-group setting. These intimate conversations will allow Members to interact with women leaders across various sectors.

WFPG believes that mentorship is crucial for the next generation of women leaders to develop confidence and discover the tools they need to succeed. Mentor Minutes are a unique opportunity for students and young professionals to broaden their network among mentors and colleagues alike in a small-group setting. Members will gain insight on upcoming career decisions, learn more about tailoring applications to particular organizations and sectors, and hear directly from those in the field who have unparalleled experience to share.

Not a member, but would like to join Mentor Minutes? Join today! WFPG is committed to strengthening networking connections for students and young professionals across all sectors. Beginning a career in international affairs can be incredibly difficult without support and access to resources. As a WFPG member, not only are you invited to attend Mentor Minutes, but you also receive complimentary admission to all other in-person and virtual professional development and mentoring programs, such as our Career Pathways. Additionally, you will gain access to exclusive member experiences and opportunities.

WFPG Student and Young Professional membership is $60. Other membership types are available here.
Memberships are valid for one full year.

Virtual Event - Attendees will receive the Zoom link once they have completed the registration form.

Hera Abbasi is Vice President, Global Public Policy at Mastercard. She is the international trade and economic lead in the company’s Washington, DC office.Previously, she a Government and Regulatory Affairs Executive at IBM, where she advised internal business units on risk reduction and advocates externally on global trade & market access issues on a range of priorities, such as cross border data flows, digital trade, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital services taxes, supply chain, privacy, and 5G. Prior to IBM, she was the bicameral, bipartisan Hill strategist and lobbyist for the Coalition of Services Industries—a trade association that represents U.S.  companies from the technology, financial services, express delivery and logistics, direct selling,  electronic payments services, and e-commerce sectors. 

Previously, Ms. Abbasi was a White House Appointee in the State Department’s Bureau of  Legislative Affairs, where she served as Congress’s point of contact on all Europe issues,  including TTIP, Russia, Ukraine, Brexit, Turkey, NATO, the European Union, Ambassadorial  nominations, and Congressional Delegations. Ms. Abbasi also worked on Capitol Hill for nearly  a decade, including with House leadership.  

She has served as a board member of Women in International Trade (WIIT) and a co-chair for the Africa and Middle East section. She is also a member of the U.S.-Asia Institute's Congressional Circle, a co-chair of the Coalition of Services Industries’ Digital Trade Committee, and was the chair of Information Technology Industry Council’s India Committee. In 2017, she was selected as a Fellow for the Next Generation National Security Leaders  Program at the Center for a New American Security. 

Ms. Abbasi received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and her master’s degree from  the Naval War College. Her languages include Spanish, Hindu/Urdu, Arabic, and Latin. She is  the recipient of the Secretary’s Meritorious Honor Award and the Secretary’s Superior Honor  Award; while on Capitol Hill, she was cited as a “Hill Staffer to Watch” in Foreign Policy’s blog, The Cable. She is a native of Boston, MA and lives in Northern Virginia with her son.

The Women's Foreign Policy Group is a non-partisan organization committed to promoting women's leadership and voices in international affairs through in-depth global issues programming and mentoring. Not a WFPG member? Get engaged with our programming and events:

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