I first met Eve Ensler in a bombed-out theater in Sarajevo in 1998. She was already known by many as the playwright of the groundbreaking play "The Vagina Monologues," which she had performed off-Broadway as a one-woman show. Today, 20 years later, I reflect on Eve's work with V-Day and the incredible movement she started.
Read MoreFrom #MeToo to 'Time’s Up!' — What's Next?
At Sundance Film Festival's annual Women's Leadership Brunch this year, I had the privilege and responsibility of moderating a panel intended to highlight some of the activism and initiatives that have emerged from the #MeToo movement. I wanted to share a lightly edited version of my remarks introducing the panel and some highlights from our discussion.
Read MoreWhat’s the definition of feminism? 12 TEDWomen talks that explain it to you
Looking ahead to 2018, I hope these talks can inform how we channel the new awareness and activism of 2017 into strategic decisions for women’s rights. Could we eliminate economic, racial, cultural and gender inequities? Imagine these as goals for a newly energized and focused global feminist community.
Read MoreTEDWomen 2017: Building Bridges to a Better Future
This year's TEDWomen in New Orleans was a truly special conference, at a vital moment, and I'm sure the ripples from our meeting will be felt for a long time to come. Take a look at some highlights and videos of TED Talks already available online.
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Billie Jean King: “Bobby Riggs — he was the former number one player, he wasn’t just some hacker. He was one of my heroes and I admired him. And that’s the reason I beat him, actually, because I respected him.” She spoke with Pat Mitchell at TEDWomen2015. Photo: Marla Aufmuth/TED
How the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ influenced a generation of men: Billie Jean King’s TEDWomen update
Forty-three years ago this week, the number one tennis star in the world, 29-year-old Billie Jean King, agreed to take on 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, in a match dubbed the “Battle of the Sexes.”
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Mary Robinson speaks at TEDWomen2015 in Monterey, California, USA. Photo: Marla Aufmuth/TED
TEDWomen Updates: Mary Robinson on Hurricanes, Monsoons and the Human Rights of Climate Change
In 2015, former president of Ireland and climate justice activist Mary Robinson explained how she came to view fighting climate change as a human rights issue. In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and now Maria, and extreme monsoons in South Asia, I reached out to Mary to get an update on her work.
Read MoreTEDWomen Update: An Extraordinary Story of Understanding and Forgiveness
There is no question that the Duets sessions are often among the most popular and provocative. One such talk, given last year in San Francisco, was one that we knew was going to be controversial from the outset because it was going to take us into entirely new territory…
Read MoreTEDWomen Update: Exploring the Complex Challenges of Life-Work Partnerships
When we started TEDWomen in 2010, we felt strongly that we wanted to include a series of talks we called “Duets” in which we would forego the traditional TED Talk model and present pairs of speakers instead of solo ones.
Read MoreThe Together Tour & TEDWomen are coming together!
It’s not surprising that literary powerbroker agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and I started our first lunch talking about our shared passion for bringing people — in particular other women — together for the purpose of sharing stories and feeling the power of community. For Jennifer, this passion led her to create the Together Tour and for me, it’s been TEDWomen, now in its 7th year.
Read MoreGRAND Magazine: "Falling on your face is at least a forward movement!"
I had the pleasure of speaking with reporter Cheryl Harbour recently for a cover story in this month's GRAND Magazine. We talked about advice I received from my own grandmother growing up in Georgia and what I've learned from being a grandmother myself.
Read More10 Books For Your Summer Reading List — And Beyond
If you're looking for some inspiring, instructive and provocative books to add to your summer reading list, these recent books from 2016 TEDWomen speakers are worthy additions.
Read MoreReflections on Ground Covered at Spotlight Health, Aspen ideas Festival
From inspiring sunrise sessions at Maroon Bells to enlightening sundown conversations at the Belly Up Bar, the Aspen Institute's Spotlight Health Forum covered a lot of ground in search of common ground on the need for more accessible health care, challenges to reproductive justice and rights, and increased support for caregivers.
Read MoreTEDWomen Update: Sydney Peace Prize Goes to Black Lives Matter Movement
Last month, the Black Lives Matter movement was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize, a global prize that honors those who pursue “peace with justice.”
Read MoreTEDWomen 2017: On the Move to New Orleans
TEDWomen is on the move. 2017 marks the seventh year of this annual conference focusing on the global narratives, innovations and ideas of women. This year we go to New Orleans!
Read MoreInstructing Capitalism at the Skoll World Forum
As Bono so eloquently stated at this year's Skoll World Forum, "capitalism is not immoral, but it is amoral, and it needs instructing." The community of innovators, disruptors and entrepreneurs who gathered in Oxford last week are innovating ideas for change that are worth sharing.
Read MoreLuxure Magazine: "The Bridge Builder - Pat Mitchell"
Earlier this year I spoke with writer Emily Brooks from Luxure Magazine. We talked about the state of women and girls in the world today and what I hope to achieve in the work that I do, advocating for women and girls.
Read MoreListening and Learning at the Acumen Global Fellows Gathering in Kenya
Any excuse to travel to Africa is a good enough one for us, so with little hesitation, my husband and I accepted the invitation to participate in the first ever Acumen Global Fellows Gathering in Navaisha, Kenya, last week.
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Part of the U.S. delegation to the conference. (l-r) Nina Weissberg, Jacque Mayfield, Peggy Clark, Catalina Escobar, Pat Mitchell and Lori Ordover.
On International Women's Day, Celebrating Women Working for the World
International Women’s Day celebrates the vision and passionate commitment of women and men everywhere to continuing the work towards a more equitable world.
Read MoreSundance Film Festival: Celebrating the Power of Independent Voices and Stories
This year's Sundance Film Festival was an inspiring reminder that stories, well told, are one way to effect positive change.
Read MoreMy Resolution for 2017: Building Bridges to Connect Women of All Generations
I didn't make my usual list of resolutions this year. In 2017, I intend to listen more carefully — to friends, family, colleagues and yes, those who are outside my circle of shared values.
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