SASHA HORNE:
Hi, I'm Sasha Horne.
I'm here at the DC Summit
of Wonder Woman Tech.
I'm super excited about
our guest Jameela Akbari.
She's with the State
Department and we were
so excited that she was able
to come and share her ideas
on inclusion and diversity
and tech and the workforce.
Thank you so much
for being here.
JAMEELA AKBARI: Thank you
so much for having me.
SASHA HORNE:
So tell me a little bit
about your background.
How did you get
into public service?
JAMEELA AKBARI: So I actually
got into public service
through the Presidential 
Management Fellowship.
It's an internship that
attracts graduate students
to the federal service.
You apply, and it's a
competitive process, and then,
in return, the federal
government allows you to do
rotations through
different agencies.
They provide you with
management training and the
idea is they're setting you
up for taking on leadership
positions as you move - as
you move through your career.
SASHA HORNE: I really
enjoyed, during your talk,
how you shared little
tidbits about your career
progression in your life and
dealing with things as a woman.
What are the some of the
tips, I suppose, you could
offer some of the people
watching today and going up
for a position that may seem
like it's not inclusive
because there's no one
like you that's ever sat
in that position before?
JAMEELA AKBARI:
Yeah, you know,
I've had that
situation a few times.
I think what's been
important for me is to
understand what my strengths
are and that takes a lot of
soul searching - putting
yourselves into situations
that seem uncomfortable
so that way you can see
if you can do it before the
opportunity comes to you.
I've also been really
fortunate in that I've had
so many people support
me through the way;
mentors and even sponsors
- folks that I wouldn't
necessarily think would go
for bat for me that have.
And I think, lastly, what's
really helped me is that
having a sense of humility
as I come to the position.
I have a lot to learn in
this position as well
from people who are more
junior to me and also people
who are more senior.
And I think it's important
to come to any job
with knowing that there's
more that you can learn.
SASHA HORNE: So tell us what a
typical day is like for you.
I know you touch so many
different areas and so many
different things.
JAMEELA AKBARI: Yeah.
Well, I think it will be
surprising to some folks,
but my day usually starts
at 4:30 in the morning.
SASHA HORNE: Wow!
JAMEELA AKBARI: I think it's
really important to take
care of your health
and for me that means
that's when I exercise.
SASHA HORNE: Oh, wonderful!
JAMEELA AKBARI: Yeah.
So I exercise early in
the morning and then I'll
head off to work.
My husband - I have a really
supportive spouse - is the one
who will do the morning
routines with our three kids.
And during the day no
day is ever the same.
I'm really, really fortunate in
that I have a fantastic team.
So we really play off each
other's strength and then
try to fill in the gaps when
we know we're not - where
we know we need the help.
So a lot of my day involves
just kind of strategizing
about what we can
do to attract more
underrepresented people
into the Foreign Service
- the IT track.
But then also thinking about
what we need to do for the
future in terms of
our IT workforce.
So it's - no day is ever the
same and it's pretty exciting.
I'm really - I feel
so fortunate to be
in this position.
SASHA HORNE: Well, I know many
people who came here today
came here seeking employment.
We had that wonderful
career fair setup and I saw
the State Department did
have a presence there.
What are some things that
you look for if someone's
watching and they might be
curious about Foreign Service,
what are some of the things
that you - the traits
or characteristics
that would suit -
be suited well
in that position?
JAMEELA AKBARI: Yeah, thanks
for asking because actually
we will be going out with a
vacancy announcement in the
next few weeks trying to
attract more people into the
IT track of the
Foreign Service.
You know, what we look
for right now is to have
some sort of IT background,
whether it's the experience
or it's the degree, and
we're gonna be doing
a lot of outreach
through social media;
so Facebook live sessions,
things where you can
ask questions.
For anyone that's
interested,
I always tell them
to go to the website.
It's careers.state.gov/IRM
- it's a shameless plug,
but I had to do it.
[LAUGHTER]
SASHA HORNE: Well, I know
that so many people are
looking for work - looking
to either break into the
field with just little
expertise or maybe recent
graduates, so I'm sure
everyone is very happy to
gain that information.
Now, talking a little bit more
about your talk earlier.
You know,
the room was filled,
everyone was very excited
to have you and you talked
a little bit about the
strength in coming together
and not just as women but
as a team, as colleagues,
as family.
Tell me a little bit about
how those values were
instilled into you and how
you allowed that to - how
that got you to where you
are now - the wonder woman
that you are now?
JAMEELA AKBARI: Thank you.
You know, it's really
telling just - my best
friend is in town and she's
actually been my best friend
for four decades.
SASHA HORNE: Oh, wow!
JAMEELA AKBARI: So I think -
SASHA HORNE: - you don't
even seem like you've been
alive for four decades -
[INAUDIBLE CROSS TALK]
JAMEELA AKBARI: So I mean
for me I've really valued
the relationships I have,
whether it's with my family
or my friends or
my colleagues,
that really drives me
in the sense of purpose.
I'm in federal service
because of service.
That is really
important to me;
the serving my
fellow American.
And I know to some
people it sounds cheesy,
but for me I really feel it.
And I think about it every
day when we think about like
what choices we're making
with the resources that we
have at hand, it's like
what's the best decision
for the American taxpayer.
So again, I'm really excited
to be in this position
and I hope that together we'll
be able to make the kinds of
change that we're hoping to.
SASHA HORNE: And I've
noticed, you know,
it's nothing new of course,
but I've noticed in recent,
you know, the
past year I'd say,
a lot of people have been
talking more so about
inclusion, and a lot of
companies have been stepping
up and saying, okay,
we're gonna do this,
we're gonna do that.
How does that feel as a
woman who started back when
this was not something
everyone talked about,
it was not something that
was at the forefront of
companies' minds now being
sort of like this leader and
this champion and making
sure that in the hiring
decisions that you make and
that your team makes that
they're thinking
of these things?
JAMEELA AKBARI:
Yeah, I mean,
I think that's why it's
important for us to be at
the table and also to make
sure that there's people
behind us that see us and we
make room for them at the
table, because I remember
there was a girlfriend that
was saying like, "If
you're not at the table,
you're likely on the menu."
SASHA HORNE: Oh, wow!
JAMEELA AKBARI: You know?
SASHA HORNE: I love that.
[LAUGHTER]
It's so good.
[LAUGHTER]
JAMEELA AKBARI: So - yeah,
so it's not just about me
being at the table, but
making sure we're making
room for other
people as well.
But then also the - it's
also bringing in the talents
to the forefront, right?
It's like - it's that
cognitive diversity that
makes teams do so well,
especially in the
knowledge economy.
Right?
So I want people to look beyond
what are the demographics.
I understand those demographics
and those experiences.
That impacts the way we
think about things in the
way we approach things.
And for me that's more
important - even more
important than just checking
the box that we have
diverse people.
SASHA HORNE: Absolutely.
Earlier, a speaker said
something to the effect of,
you know, the number, it's
the demographics - that's
the diversity, but the
inclusion is how we treat
each other -
JAMEELA AKBARI: - Yes. Yes. -
SASHA HORNE: - It's how we
communicate with each other
and that really resonated
in your talk just in your
personal experiences
moving up the ranks.
JAMEELA AKBARI: Thank you.
It's been such a pleasure.
It's been a career that I
never really thought I would
have and I'm really excited.
SASHA HORNE: Well, we are
thankful for your service -
JAMEELA AKBARI: - Thank you. -
SASHA HORNE: - And that you
take the time to come out to
events like this and talk to
young people who are trying
to figure out what is it
that they're gonna do with
their lives; how are they
gonna best apply their skills?
And if you guys are
looking to get into IT,
you heard it here that the
State Department is gonna be
posting some
stuff very soon,
so be sure to check it out.
And thank you so
much for joining us.
JAMEELA AKBARI:
Thank you for having me.
