Women’s Rights Advocate & Feminist Foreign Policy Expert; Former Senior Advisor at the U.S. State Department; Author of "Take Action: Fighting For Women & Girls" & Coauthor of "Feminist Foreign Policy In Theory And Practice"
Stephenie Foster Biography
Stephenie Foster is a women’s rights advocate with extensive experience in government, policy and law. She is a recognized voice on the critical importance of women’s leadership and a thought leader on feminist foreign policy and transformative women’s initiatives. Foster is a founding partner of Smash Strategies, a firm dedicated to advising businesses, foundations and nonprofit organizations on how to achieve better results by focusing on women’s leadership and gender equality.
After the fall of Kabul and through early 2023, Foster returned to the U.S. Department of State, focusing on Afghan relocation with a mandate to prioritize the needs of women and girls. She previously served at the Department of State from 2012 to 2017 as senior adviser and counselor to the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, S/GWI, and at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she focused on women and civil society.
In the S/GWI office, Foster managed a wide range of key policies and programs, including the women, peace and security initiative, women’s political participation and women’s economic empowerment. As a senior official, she represented the U.S. in multilateral and bilateral forums. In Afghanistan, she traveled extensively to work with individuals and organizations advancing the role of women in Afghan society.
Foster served as chief of staff to U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Christopher Dodd (D-Conn). She was appointed general counsel of the U.S. General Services Administration, founded her own consulting firm and served in senior management positions in the nonprofit sector. She began her career as an attorney and was a litigation partner in San Francisco, California.
Foster is an author and sought-after public speaker. Her first book, "Take Action: Fighting for Women & Girls," was published in October 2021. Her second book, co-authored with Susan Markham, "Feminist Foreign Policy in Theory and Practice," was published in September 2023.
Foster serves on the board of Foreign Policy for America, where she chairs the Political Committee, and on the board of the Mead Center for Performing Arts, Arena Stage. She continues to dedicate her time to being a women’s rights advocate.
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Stephenie Foster Speaking Topics
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Feminist Foreign Policy in Theory & in Practice
This talk unpacks feminist foreign policy as both a conceptual framework and a practical approach to international relations and national security. Stephenie Foster explores how applying a gender lens reshapes policy priorities, decision-making, and outcomes—moving beyond traditional, conflict-driven models of security. Drawing on global and U.S. case studies, audiences gain a clearer understanding of what feminist foreign policy looks like in action and what is required to implement it effectively within governments and institutions.
Audience Takeaways:
- A clear definition of feminist foreign policy and how it differs from traditional approaches
- Real-world examples of implementation at national and multilateral levels
- Practical insights into how gender analysis strengthens foreign policy and security outcomes
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Women, Peace, and Security
Focusing on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, this session examines why women’s participation is essential—not optional—to sustainable peace and security. Stephenie Foster discusses the evidence behind women’s inclusion in peace processes and the gaps between policy commitments and implementation. The talk highlights lessons learned from conflict and post-conflict settings and outlines what meaningful inclusion looks like in practice.
Audience Takeaways:
- An understanding of the WPS framework and its global relevance
- Why women’s participation improves peace and security outcomes
- Strategies for moving beyond symbolic inclusion to real influence
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What are the speaker fees for Stephenie Foster
Speaking fees for Stephenie Foster, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Stephenie Foster are under $10,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Stephenie Foster, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Stephenie Foster speak about?
Stephenie Foster is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, DEI, Empowerment, Female Leadership, Feminism, Gender Equality, Government, Influential Women, Personal Growth, Social Activism, Women's Empowerment, World Affairs -
Where does Stephenie Foster travel from?
Stephenie Foster generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Stephenie Foster’s agent?
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Stephenie Foster is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Feminist Foreign Policy in Theory & in Practice, Women, Peace, and Security, Gender Equality as National Security, From Policy to Practice: Implementing Gender-Informed Approaches and Women’s Leadership in Global Affairs: Power, Participation, and Progress. The estimated speaking fee range to book Stephenie Foster for your event is available upon request. Stephenie Foster generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Christine Michel Carter, Charlene Carruthers, Rebecca Winthrop, Fawzia Koofi and Anushay Hossain. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Stephenie Foster for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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