Dr. Nesreen Barwari Opens the President’s Lecture Series on Women in Leadership

At the American University of Kurdistan (AUK), the first session of the President’s Lecture Series on Women in Leadership took place on April 30. The speaker was Dr. Nesreen Barwari. The University President, Dr. Randall Rhodes, introduced the Women’s Leadership initiative. He explained that the series aims to inspire the next generation of students, both male and female, to become change agents for Kurdistan and Iraq. In acknowledging the United States Department of State Grant titled “Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq” for making the series possible, President Rhodes spoke of the shared mission of the Department of State and the University in promoting female empowerment and respect for human rights.

Dr. Barwari, an academic with a background in architectural engineering, opened by stating her pride at being in the Mustafa Barzani Building. She cited the building’s namesake as an example of the “adaptable leadership” she champions. It was her sense of “responsibility,” even more than her “courage,” that drove her to leadership, first as a Minister in Baghdad and Kurdistan, then as a Ph.D., despite her fairly humble origins. She noted that female leaders all exhibit optimism, commitment, and industriousness, and she pointed out that they can succeed even when they do not possess explicit “authority.” Nor does leadership have to be “from the front”; she claimed she is content nowadays “leading from the middle and the back,” doing her best to inspire and push forward those around her. She settled on four qualities essential to “adaptive leadership”: emotional intelligence, organizational justice, self-development, and character.

After her speech, Dr. Barwari participated in a Q & A moderated by President Rhodes. He asked the opening question, about the role of universities in fostering leadership. Dr. Barwari answered that universities should prepare students for what the job market requires, through networking and a general emphasis on “real-world problem-solving” in instruction. A member of the audience asked how to increase the representation of women in Parliament and government in general. Dr. Barwari advocated the building of institutions and grassroots efforts to encourage females of all ages. A female student asked how best to empower women despite current cultural obstacles. Dr. Barwari declared: “Respect culture, but don’t let it stop you from doing what is needed.” An AUK alumna asked about Dr. Barwari’s choice to study architecture and job-seeking tips. Dr. Barwari replied that a person should pursue personal passions and find new ones along the way, avoiding discouragement if given opportunities in a field not fully aligned with one’s academic training: “Any job will teach you something.” The final question was from an AUK alumnus now working at the University, on how Dr. Barwari dealt with Duhok’s conservative environment at the outset of her career in the early 1990s. She firstly credited her supportive family, secondly saying that she did what all others should: enthusiastically pursue her passion.