DR. FARIBA PARSA
Dr. Fariba Parsa is a speaker, author, scholar, and leadership educator whose work explores a central question: How can human dignity transform the way we lead ourselves, our organizations, and our societies?
Her personal and professional journey spans Iran, Denmark, and the United States and brings together lived experience, academic scholarship, women’s leadership, democratic movements, and compassionate leadership. She is the founder and president of Women’s E-Learning in Leadership (WELL), a nonprofit organization advancing women’s leadership through education, mentorship, and international connection. Her academic and professional journey has included research and appointments at Harvard University, the University of Maryland, and George Mason University. She is also a Vital Voices Visionaries Fellow and the author of Fighting for Change in Iran: The Women, Life, Freedom Philosophy Against Political Islam. Across these different chapters, one principle connects her work:
When people recognize their own dignity and the dignity of others, they lead differently.
What I Do
Research & Analysis
- Women’s roles in democratic movements
- Authoritarianism, political Islam, and regime change
- Civil society under repression
- U.S. and international policy toward Iran and the Middle East
Strategy & Advisory
- Leadership development and movement building
- Program design for high-risk environments
- Narrative framing and advocacy strategy
- Bridging grassroots activism with international policy spaces
Research & Analysis
- Designing leadership and civic education programs
- Providing mentorship and peer learning opportunities
- Creating safe spaces for reflection, strategy, and collective growth
Why Women’s Leadership Matters
Women are not peripheral to democratic change—they are central to it. In authoritarian contexts, women-led movements often sustain civic resistance, preserve social trust, and articulate inclusive visions of freedom and accountability. My work is grounded in the belief that democracy is built not only through institutions but also through people—especially women—who organize, lead, and imagine alternatives under conditions of repression.
Selected Roles & Affiliations
Founder
Women’s E-Learning in Leadership (WELL)
Vital Voices Fellow
Visionary Leaders Program
Harvard University
Former academic and research appointments at Harvard University
George Mason University
Former academic and research appointments at Harvard University
University of Maryland
Former academic and research appointments at Harvard University
Speaking & Collaboration
For speaking engagements, advisory work, or collaboration, please get in touch.
- Women and democracy in authoritarian systems
- Iran, political Islam, and democratic movements
- Civil society strategy under repression
- Gender, power, and leadership
Alignment with WELL Branding
WELL Core Message (Aligned)
Connecting and collaborating with women in Iran and Afghanistan to strengthen leadership and spark democratic change from within their communities.
References
Dr. Fariba Parsa is a powerful speaker blending global insight, lived experience, and strategy. Founder of WELL for Democracy, she turns scholarship and courage into action, advancing women’s leadership and democratic values. Through her book Fighting for Change in Iran, she links local challenges to global movements, helping organizations lead.
Dr. Fariba Parsa's courageous leadership reflects her deep commitment to empowering women in social impact—she understands that transformative change happens when women have both practical leadership tools, the ability to harness resources, and supportive peer networks, and she's created a global community where brilliant women can move from isolation to impact. -
