Melanne Verveer is the executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. She served as the first U.S. ambassador for global women’s issues, a position to which she was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2009. From 2000-2008, she was the chair and co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership. During the Clinton administration, she served as assistant to the president and chief of staff to the first lady. She is the co-author of "Fast Forward: How Women Can Achieve Power and Purpose".