TBT, speaking at Microsoft HQ Turkey to the inaugural meeting of Turkish Women's International Network

Watch the talk here, and all the talks by members of the network that aspires to become the most impactful network focusing on women in Turkey and abroad. TRWIN collaborates with companies, NGOs and individuals to amplify our collective impact and empower women to realize their potential.

I've been pleased to serve as a member of the Advisory Board of Turkish WIN since its inception.

TBT, panelist at Exceptional Women In Publishing Conference

Check out Exceptional Women In Publishing, a non-profit org to educate, empower and support women in publishing and to educate, empower and support women and girls through the power of publishing.

TBT, meeting the Turkish Minister of Culture, writing for National Geographic Traveler, appearing on the NBC Today Show, producing the Global Nomad Salon

TBT, behind the scenes at Wisdom 2.0

Loved this mixed media participatory identity tapestry by Mary Corey March at Google Lounge, Wisdom 2.0 conference, Concourse Exhibition Center.

TBT, the relaunch of ExpatHarem.com

Expat Harem: blooming behind closed doors

Expat Harem has a new global niche.

The Expat Harem — a concept I coined in 2004 with Jennifer Eaton Gokmen and brought to life in 2005 and 2006 in the foreign women in Turkey anthology Tales from the Expat Harem – has always been about a modern and virtual community of cultural peers.

Now the (softly) relaunched ExpatHarem.com aims to bring its community to life online as a neoculture hub for global citizens and identity adventurers as well as travelers and culturati, fans of the anthology, and Turkophiles.

Re-imagining the role Expat Harem plays in the cultural conversation, this new venture acknowledges the permanent liminality of today’s multicultural, global existence. Like the nation of Turkey itself — its struggles are both personal and universal, self-perception East yet also West, looking toward Europe or Asia, ancient empire persisting under the surface of new republic. In some small or large way, all of us are coming or going, crossing threshold after threshold but never arriving.

I’m looking forward to engaging with you about the crossroads and dichotomies of our hybrid lives….

• modern existences in historic places

• deep-rooted traditions translated in mobile times

• limiting stereotypes revisited for wider meaning

• the expat mindset as it evolves from nationalism to globalism

TBT, to the mysteries of Calexit

TBT, speaking at The Commonwealth Club & signing my book

This talk "The Rise of Turkey" was moved to a larger room (about 100 in the audience and live-streaming the podcast to Commonwealth Club members everywhere) and we ran out of books to sign right away. 

I was joined on the panel by:

• Steven West, Ph.D., Fulbright Scholar to Turkey; Professor of Turkish Studies and Cross Cultural Communication

• Bonnie Joy Kaslan, Honorary Consul General, Turkish Republic, S.F. Bay Area

• Joel Brinkley, Professor of Journalism, Stanford University; Foreign Affairs Columnist; Former Pulitzer Prize Winning Foreign Correspondent, The New York Times — Moderator

Amidst the turmoil of the Arab Spring, Turkey has arisen as a powerful force in the Middle East. The distinguished panel will discuss the nation's culture and its sometimes bitter past, the growing influence of religion in Turkey, and her frayed alliances. In addition, the panelists will discuss how Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's dynamic prime minister, is becoming one of the most powerful voices in the troubled region.
 

You can listen to the podcast here.