Mid-Career Hustlers

MISSION

Mid-Career Hustlers provide a collaborative space, relevant resources, and a robust network directly geared toward mid-career women of color professionals.

VISION

Mid-Career Hustlers seek to advance mid-career professional women of color through career transitions and into senior leadership positions in the fields of international peace, security, and conflict transformation.

GOALS

  • Uplift mid-career professional women of color

  • Serve as a partner to ensure WoC’s career transitions and progressions are successful

  • Provide a safe and collaborative space for women to share their personal and professional successes, challenges, and aspirations.

  • Develop a platform for continuous learning and growing

LEADERSHIP TEAM

 

Reyna Gilbert

CO-CHAIR

Principal Associate, Preventing Ocean Plastics, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Reyna Gilbert is a sustainable development professional. Her goal is to create solutions that address current challenges and improve conditions for people and the planet, particularly in developing countries and communities of color. Reyna has experience in environmental conservation and international trade, with passions that include poverty alleviation, racial justice, climate equity, and grassroots advocacy. Reyna received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies from Wellesley College. Reyna currently lives in the Washington, DC area

Zahida Virani

CO-CHAIR

Senior Consultant, World Health Organization

Zahida is a policy adviser with 15 years of experience across the nonprofit, public and private sectors. Driven by a deep passion for peace and development, she has worked on strengthening institutions and the rule of law in conflict and post-conflict countries in west and central Africa.  She has played an integral role in promoting reform legislation to improve access to justice for women and girls and increase support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in peacebuilding contexts. 

Zahida has held various positions with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the United Nations Office of Rule of Law and Security institutions (OROLSI) in New York, and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Mali.  Prior to this, she successfuly prosecuted war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Rwandan genocide.  Zahida holds a J.D. from The American University Washington College of Law and a B.A. in International Development & Economics from McGill University.