TUESDAY
September 24, 2024
4:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta is the fourth Ambassador-at-Large for the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State and the first woman of color to hold the position. She previously served as Senior Fellow at the United Nations Foundation and Senior Advisor to Co-impact, a global collaborative philanthropy for systems change. From 2012 to 2016, Ambassador Rao Gupta served as Deputy Executive Director, Programmes at UNICEF and prior to that as a Senior Fellow at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Earlier, Gupta served as President of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) for more than a decade. Ambassador Rao Gupta has also chaired numerous boards including the Global Advisory Board of Women Lift Health, an initiative to promote women’s leadership in global health and served as a member of WHO’s Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for Health Emergencies, the Board of UBS Optimus Foundation and the Advisory Board of Merck for Mothers. She also served as a Commissioner for the Lancet-SIGHT Commission on Health, Gender Equality and Peace. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including InterAction’s Julia Taft Award for Outstanding Leadership, Harvard University’s Anne Roe Award and Washington Business Journal’s “Women Who Mean Business” Award. Ambassador Rao Gupta holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Bangalore University and an M.Phil. and M.A. from the University of Delhi in India.
Sundaram Tagore Gallery
542 West 26th Street,
NYC Chelsea
4:30 to 6:00 - Discovery & Sale
Come and discover the ZariZar's Himroo weaving technique and artisan shawls, the sale of which will fund a women's training center in India.
6:00 to 6:30 - Fireside Chat
6:30 to 8:00 - Networking and Sale of Shawls and Minerals
Featured Speaker: Annie Potts, Actress and ZariZar Fashion Ambassador (Ghostbusters, Designing Women, Young Sheldon)
Annie Potts, an Emmy-nominated actress, is known for iconic roles in "Designing Women," "Ghostbusters," "Pretty in Pink," and "Young Sheldon." Her work in "Love & War" earned her an Emmy nomination, and "Any Day Now" brought her two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Potts has appeared in recurring roles on "Chicago Med," "Law & Order: SVU," and "The Fosters," and guest-starred in "Scandal," "Grey’s Anatomy," "Major Crimes," and "Two and a Half Men." She reprised 'Janine Melnitz' in "Ghostbusters Afterlife" and voiced 'Bo Peep' in the "Toy Story" series, which won an Oscar. Her film credits include "Texasville," "Jumpin’ Jack Flash," and "Corvette Summer," for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. On Broadway, Potts appeared in "God of Carnage" and "Pippin," and off-Broadway in productions such as "The Vagina Monologues" and "Love Letters." Born in Nashville and raised in Kentucky, Potts holds a BFA in Theater from Stephens College. She is a visiting professor there and supports causes like White Pony Express and the Arijah Children’s Foundation. Potts, along with her husband, co-founded "All Are One," aiding those affected by the pandemic with anonymous donations. Potts is also founder of The Heart Channels, a nonprofit whose mission is to build and nurture channels of the heart between people who are in need and those who wish to help.
Please join us for an inspiring discussion of the impact of Womenonics on the future of the U.S.-India relationship.
And discover the ancient Himroo weaving technique that showcases sustainable artistry that empowers rural Indian women.
The discussion will focus on the common values and interests that form the foundation of the relationship. We’ll also delve into ways both nations are strengthening their roles as global leaders and enhancing cooperation opportunities.
A model walk and networking reception will follow with live Indian music and hors d'oeuvres provided by Michelin star chef Hemant Mathur from New York’s SAAR Restaurant, wine & prosecco and non-alcoholic options, and fabulous shopping.
There will also be an opportunity to discover ZariZar's luxurious Himroo hand-woven shawls and curated minerals. All proceeds from this exclusive sale will go toward funding a training center sponsored by ZariZar and Women Forward International that will empower rural women to carry this ancient weaving technique into a sustainable future.
Moderator:
Dr. Vishakha N. Desai
Dr. Vishakha N. Desai is senior Fellow at the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University and has served as the Chair of the Committee, Senior Advisor for Global Affairs to the President of Columbia University and a Senior Research Scholar for the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. From 2004 through 2012, Dr. Desai served as President and CEO of the Asia Society, a global organization dedicated to strengthening partnerships between Asia and the U.S. Under her leadership the society expanded the scope and scale of its activities with the opening of new offices in India and Korea, a new center of U.S.-China Relations, internationally recognized education programs, and inauguration of two new architecturally distinguished facilities in Hong Kong and Houston. In 2012, in recognition of Dr. Desai’s leadership in the museum field, President Barack Obama appointed her to serve on the National Museum and Library Services Board. An internationally renowned scholar of Asian art, she has published and lectured extensively on the intersection of traditional and contemporary arts and policy in diverse countries of Asia. Her most recent publication is the award-winning Memoir, "World as Family: A journey of Multi-Rooted Belongings."( Columbia University Press, 2021). Dr. Desai is a Trustee of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation in the U.S. and serves on the Board of Krea University, a new liberal arts university in India. She has served on the Boards of major international foundations, corporations and not for profit institutions, including, Teach for All; Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (one of the largest corporations in India), The Brookings Institution, the Bertelsmann Foundation, and as Chair of the Board of Trustees of AFS Intercultural Programs. Dr. Desai holds a B.A. in Political Science from Bombay University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Asian Art History from the University of Michigan, and is a recipient of five honorary degrees from American universities and colleges.
Featured Speaker: Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State