Mallory Hytes Hagan is an American actress, model and beauty queen who won Miss America 2013 and Miss New York 2012. She was also Miss New York City 2012, Miss Manhattan 2011, Miss Brooklyn 2010, and a two-time Miss New York first runner-up.

Mina Guli is a water advocate, an environmental lawyer and a pioneer athlete.

At 22, Mina was told she would never be able to run again after breaking her back but has since completed several ironman events and the daunting Marathon Des Sables, a six-day, 251 km ultra marathon across the Sahara Desert. Mina is a leading figure in efforts to protect the world’s water supplies.

In 2010 she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic
Forum and in 2011, she was named one of Australia’s “50 for the future”.

The greater Indian Ocean region has become the epicenter of global economic growth and trade — and now is the time for India to capitalize on this fortunate geography. This will not happen on its own. More connectivity must be India’s strategy.

This is the principal lesson of my new book CONNECTOGRAPHY. The world only takes connected powers seriously. India must massively expand its trade and investment ties with Africa, Southwest Asia and Southeast Asia, both to grow its economy as well as to stabilize tense regional relations.

In Connectography, I write about the re-emergence of the Grand Trunk Road from Kabul to Kolkata, the IPI gas pipeline from Iran, the BCIM corridor to southern China, and the new Maritime Silk Road across the Indian Ocean as pillars of India’s growing infrastructural connectivity. I also highlight India’s new emerging commercial hubs from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad as examples of how cities are the crucial anchors of connecting societies to lucrative global supply chains.

The 21st century will be multipolar, multi-civilizational, and highly complex. To navigate it wisely Indians should utilize the new maps of power featured in CONNECTOGRAPHY.

I hope that you will read more about the book at the website: www.paragkhanna.com/connectography

In 2013, Mallory Hytes Hagan, was the first Miss America since Vanessa Williams to represent the state of New York before winning the coveted title of Miss America. Since then, she has taken New York City by storm through leadership, service and a thriving small business, Define, LLC.

Growing up in a small Alabama town, Mallory was raised in her mother’s dance studio where she grew up performing around the south east of the United States, and earning scholarships to New York City conventions. Earning the opportunity to explore New York, Mallory quickly fell in love with the bright lights of the Big Apple at the tender age of 12.

Mallory’s mother and grandmother were involved in the Miss America Organization, and at 13, encouraged her to compete in the Miss Teen Alabama pageant. As they say, the rest is history. Eleven years later, Mallory stood on the Planet Hollywood stage in Las Vegas Nevada and heard the words, “Miss…New York!” as they called her name as the winner.

Miss America is an organization that is primarily focused on Scholarship and Service. As such, Mallory traveled nearly 20,000 miles a month as a National Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Artistry by Amway cosmetics, Joseph Ribkoff fashions and many more. In addition to promoting several brands and the importance of Girls in S.T.E.M. with the Department of Education, the subject that Mallory was most drawn to sharing was her family history of Child Sexual Abuse. As Miss America, her platform and call to action for the public was “Stop It Now: Child Sexual Abuse.”

“Many of the women in my family were sexually abused, and when given the opportunity to champion for a cause that not only affects 1 in 6 children in the United States, but also impacts children all over the world, I just couldn’t pass up that opportunity,” she said. Working with organizations such as The International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Prevent Child Abuse America, and Child Abuse Prevention Program, Mallory opened up the conversation about child abuse, prevention, and education. With the National Children’s Alliance, she traveled to Washington, D.C. numerous times to lobby with Senators such as Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on behalf of Child Advocacy Centers all over the United States.

It is clear that Mallory’s ambitious spirit contributed to her capturing the Miss America title and that spirit holds true three years later. In 2014, she Co-Founding the Personal Branding business, Define, LLC. with her business partner, Claire Buffie. “Define’s mission is to collaboratively reveal an individual’s unique strengths, help them express those strengths in an interview room or online, and then craft a solid marketing plan for a cohesive brand image.” To date, these young entrepreneurs have serviced over 65 clients in more than 35 states.

A strong proponent of the entrepreneurial spirit, Mallory wishes to see more young women achieve whatever goal it is they set have for themselves. “As a woman entrepreneur, the most important thing to me is to be a mentor and offer a leg-up to the women around me, but it’s also important to see women become more courageous in their goals. In the workforce, we talk about needing to see more women in the CEO position, and more women championing for equal pay, but if we don’t stop competing(in an unhealthy way) and start helping one another, we’re going to stay on this hamster wheel of oppression.” She says her mission to young leaders, and specifically women, is to “start celebrating others and their accomplishments” — as Margaret Thatcher said, “The spirit of envy can destroy; it can never build and we have to start remembering that the quicker we learn that lesson, the better off we will be.”

Speaking of women, Mallory is a supporter of Hillary Clinton in the upcoming election, and her continued strength in “a man’s world.” In looking to the future, she expressed a desire to see a candidate that puts environmental issues around the world at the forefront of their term in office. While she doesn’t feel that Hillary has spent enough time discussing the global ecosystem of environmental issues, she does feel that Clinton’s experience, strength and position on important issues like K-12 public education, campus sexual assault, national security and LGBT rights. “There is this push in America to remove the ‘politics’ from politics, but I think experience and a strong sense of Foreign Policy requires someone who ‘has been there and done that.”

As a young woman who has, in her own way, ‘been there and done that,’ we asked Mallory how her being Miss America 2013 and an entrepreneur have changed her…

“I would like to say that I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the journey I took while competing in the Miss America Organization, but I have been this same, driven, spunky and outspoken woman my whole life. Participating in the Miss America Organization taught me how to create relationships, network and build friendships. As I continue to travel and speak about Child Abuse Prevention and Women’s Issues, I continue to change. Every person I come in contact with, every story that I hear and every city that I visit impacts me in some way – it’s truly remarkable.”

Profile: Be Kind. Be Courageous. Be you. became Mallory’s mantra during her reign as Miss America 2013 and continues to be her philosophy on life today. Growing up in Alabama, Mallory was heavily involved in the arts through dance, theater, show choir and more. At the age of 19, she packed up and moved to New York in an attempt to figure out what she wanted to accomplish. Ultimately, she was accepted to The Fashion Institute of Technology as an Advertising, Marketing and Communications student; a path that, among other things, ultimately helped position her for success in the Miss America Organization.

Through her participation in MAO, she found her passion in advocacy, most specifically for the education of the nation in regard to Child Sexual Abuse. In an effort to share her family’s story, Mallory has been featured on national television shows such as Good Morning America!, The View and The Wendy Williams Show, as well as hundreds of local news sources. Now, she continues to work with several national and local organizations such as The New York Foundling, Child Abuse Prevention Program, Prevent Child Abuse America and Safe Horizon. Outside of her personal platform, Mallory also volunteers with several other service programs such as City Chicks 4 Charity, God’s Love We Deliver, and No Kid Hungry. While serving as Miss America, Mallory was recognized as an “Influential Woman” at the 2013 Forbes Women’s Summit. Today, she is utilizing her Miss America Scholarship and continuing her education at FIT as well as pursuing opportunities to influence others through media platforms.

Mina Guli completes epic 7 Desert marathon challenge on World Water Day

• Water advocate runs final marathon in Mojave Desert, USA, on World Water Day (Tuesday 22nd March, 2016)
• Total challenge covered 1,690 kilometres, across seven deserts, on seven continents in just seven weeks
• Water pledges from people around the world save over 100 million litres of water during the challenge

Water advocate, Mina Guli, celebrated World Water Day in style today by finishing her gruelling challenge to run 40 marathons, across seven of the world’sdriest deserts in just seven weeks to raise awareness aboutthe global water crisis.

Mina, founder and CEO of water conservation charity, Thirst, ran a total of 210 kilometres through the Mojave Desert and Death Valley in the final leg of her monstrous feat of endurance. Before this, her challenge had taken her through through blazing-heat, sub-zero conditions and 8 pairs of trainers as she ranthrough deserts in Spain, Jordan, Antarctica, Australia, South Africa and Chile.

Ranked the number one threat to global prosperity by the World Economic Forum, the extent of the global water crisis is highlighted by the challenge itself. By 2030, global demand for useable water will outstrip supply by 40 per cent, a figure that originally inspired Mina to run the 40 marathons.

Engaging with locals and documenting real stories of water scarcity in each of the countries she passed through, Mina pushed her body and mind to their limits to raise awareness of the issue of global water scarcity that exists in both developed andthird world regions.

Mina’s challengealso encouraged people to take a pledge to save water. From choosing to drink tea over coffee (saving 118 litres of water per cup ) or to eat chicken over beef (saving 2,218 litres of water per 200g of meat ), Mina’s message is that consumers can do small things to save vast amounts of water every day. In all 100 million litres of water have been pledged to be saved by members of the public over the 7-week project – that’s over 40 Olympic sized swimming pools worth of water.

On finishing her challenge, Mina Guli, said: “I don’t really know what to say at this stage! I’m delighted to have finished and know that I can finally stop running but also hopeful that it wasn’t all for nothing.

“Since we started planning the challenge we always knew it would be unbelievably tough but I was always motivated by the fact that my actions would create much needed awareness of water scarcity and hopefully influence people around the world to take action.

“Seven weeks of constant running is bad enough, let alone doing so through seven of the world’s harshest deserts where every day you need to fight against the elements to survive. Having broken my back when I was 22 and being told I would never run again I have had to overcome adversity in my life. I have never let this hold me back and it has only ever helped to drive me forwards – this determination was at its most prevalent during my desert challenge.

“Global water scarcity is the biggest problem facing humanity and it’s not something we should start to remedy in years to come, we need to take action now. During my run I wanted people to make small changes to their everyday lives that could save billions of litres of water – hopefully I was able to influence others by what I put myself through.

“I’m not quite sure what I’ll do now, I’ve got so used to running, sleeping in tents and life on the road that it will be strange adjusting back into normality. I’m hoping I’ll be able to get home, put my feet up and sleep for at least a week but I know that this is only the beginning of what needs to be achieved.”

More on Water Scarcity

By 2025, 1.8 billion people, almost a third of the world’s population, will experience absolute water scarcity. Even during Mina’s run, the World Economic Forum reiterated its stance on water scarcity, identifying it as the number one risk facing humanity over the next decade.

Water usage has had devastating effects across the globe as 650 million people live without water . Only 0.007 per cent of the planet’s water is available to fuel and feed its 6.8 billion people as almost all water is unsafe or unavailable for use . By 2025, 1.8 billion people, almost a third of the world’s population, will experience absolute water scarcity.

On average, 92 per cent of total global water consumption is nearly all used in food production, while only 8 per cent is accounted for by domestic water use, such as drinking, cleaning, washing, and for the production of industrial products such as steel, paper and clothing .

For more information on Mina’s challenge and to pledge your support, visit the Thirst website www.thirstforwater.com/pledge to join the Water Pledge. Follow Thirst on Twitter (@Thirst4Water) and Facebook (Thirst) for unique content from the campaign, or use #Run4Water to join the conversation.

Mina Guli will be available for interviews following the completion of her run (phone and face-to-face in America). If you are interested in securing interview time, please contact the 7 Deserts media team at Thirst@Frankpr.it

The Route:

Run 1 – Tabernas Desert (Spain)|1st– 6th February (240 kilometres)
Run 2 – Arabian Desert (Jordan) | 8th – 14th February (270 kilometres)
Run 3 – Antarctica Polar Desert (Antarctica) | 18th – 23rd February (190 kilometres)
Run 4 – Simpson Desert (Australia) | 26th February – 1st March (270 kilometres)
Run 5 – Richtersveld Desert (South Africa) | 4th – 9th March (270 kilometres)
Run 6 – Atacama Desert (Chile)| 12th – 17th March (240 kilometres)
Run 7 – Mojave Desert (Unites States of America)| 18th – 22nd March (210 kilometres)

For more information and any media enquiries, please contact the team at Frank PR on Thirst@Frankpr.it / 020 7693 6999

Profile:

About Mina Guli:
Mina Guli is a water advocate, an environmental lawyer and a pioneer athlete. At 22, Mina was told she would never be able to run again after breaking her back but has since completed several ironman events and the daunting Marathon Des Sables, a six-day, 251 km ultra marathon across the Sahara Desert. Mina is a leading figure in efforts to protect the world’s water supplies. In 2010 she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and in 2011, she was named one of Australia’s “50 for the future”.

About Thirst:
Thirst is a group that promotes saving water by educating young people, dedicated to changing the way the world thinks about, uses & consumes water. Launched on World Water Day in 2012 by Mina Guli, the charity looks to arm companies and individuals with knowledge of the water crisis through education initiatives, unique outreach projects and a large engagement network.

Thirst’s vision is to build a grassroots community of Water Heroes – companies and individuals working together to create a shift in purchasing behaviour, with consumers favouring water-sustainable products.

We would like to thank the following partners for making these runs possible: Thirst, IWC Schaffhausen, 5100 Tibet Spring, ZXU.

So this book was produced by Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences and represents the Academies of Sciences of all of the Americas, from Canada all the way down to Chile, including the Caribbean. This publication was produced in the hope that the careers profiled will encourage more young women to consider a career in science.

Some may feel that it is an impossible dream, that the obstacles are too overwhelming and that too much must be sacrificed to achieve a career in science. But consider the stories of the bright and vital women profiled here. They have blazed a path that you too can follow. The ultimate reward is a rich and fulfilling life.

The qualities and experiences of the women profiled in this book, represent the spirit of science and they summarize our hopes for the future. But women are still seriously underrepresented in science careers and society is failing to realize the full potential of our greatest resource – human talent and the creativity of women and men.

Download the IANAS book-Young-Women-Scientists – A Bright Future for the Americas

Lisa Ring,
Director – Global Recruitment
THNK School of Creative Leadership,
Amsterdam, Netherlands

“How can THNK help you change the world?” is the first question that we ask every creative leader we connect with. Our mission is to address the world’s most pressing and inspiring societal challenges by accelerating the development of the next generation of creative leaders and their ventures.

As a result, the THNK School of Creative Leadership has forged a new category in global business education by becoming a C-school. Where a B-school focuses on management, our training is centered on innovation leadership. Where a D-school focuses on product design, our training is centered on business design. As a C-school, we allow our students to explore topics such as innovation strategy, business design thinking, leadership development, entrepreneurship and the triple bottom line.

The THNK School of Creative Leadership has grown to more than 300 people since 2010. Our community is defined by its diversity, and although every THNK journey is unique, every member of THNK’s alumni have passed through our Creative Leadership Program, our flagship part-time 6 month course.

During four 8-10 day modules, participants are fully immersed in the THNK methodology, whether that is around the city, in the wilderness or on campus at our homes specially designed for experiential learning.

The Creative Leadership Program is made up of 4 elements:

At THNK, our classes bring together participants from across the globe, people from very different backgrounds. We consciously bring together leaders from big business, entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, government and public sector, participants are given unique exposure to a range of new perspectives and ideas.
THNK focuses on accelerating the next generation of creative leaders. Our guiding principles shape how we think about learning. For example, we believe learning should be short on theory and long on experience; learning should be fun yet at the same time challenging; and learning should always be linked to topics that are relevant and real for the learner.

While these guiding principles are deep in the DNA of how we engaged all participants at THNK, during our 18-month, part-time Executive Program, we support our participants to build their creative leadership skills through four program elements:

Challenge: The Challenge is the next generation of the business school staple, the business case. In the Challenge, an external sponsor brings in a topic of large societal relevance (such as food or mobility or education), which our participants explore using THNK’s innovation toolkit. Our toolkit is derived from a number of disciplines including design thinking, critical thinking and systems thinking.

Quest: In the Quest, participants explore the personal leadership dimensions of creativity and innovation. They learn to tap into their passion and purpose while maintaining an explorative mindset. They learn to envision what a better future could look like, orchestrate creative teams and drive their vision to break-through impact.

Forum: The Forum is a lecture reinvented. During the Forum, a global creative leader spends an evening engaging our
participants in a dialogue of co-creation, sparking inspiration and new insights.
Accelerator: The Accelerator is the participant’s own project that is designed to change the world. Participants use all the things they have learned during the THNK journey to launch their Accelerator.
Since the first Creative Leadership Program in 2012, THNK has grown globally and is now offering the same program in Amsterdam, Vancouver and Lisbon. The ever-growing global popularity of THNK directly results from the inspiring societal impact that previous participants are now making around the world.

Creative leaders across the globe that serves as a role model

Elon Musk for his uncompromisingly, challenging vision for the future; Steve Jobs for his ability to articulate the needs of consumers before they were able to articulate them themselves and his relentless strive for perfection; Richard Branson for his burning entrepreneurial drive; Muhammad Yunus for his brilliance in scaling a small concept into something with large societal impact.

Testimonials of leaders that have been featured in this program

Participants such as Jacob Ellenberg, Osher Gunsberg, Rym Baouendi, Wempy Dycota Koto share their experience in THNK as fulfilling, genuine, an incredible methodology to manifest business plans, spiritual by design, transformative experience, endless journey – a drive to contribute to the world, and provides functional knowledge.
Upcoming programs in 2016 therefore have limited spaces left, but we encourage all potential participants to make contact and allow us to ask the question: “How can THNK help you change the world?”

Profile: Lisa Ring
Lisa currently leads the global recruitment function on behalf of THNK Amsterdam which she considers a privilege. Passionate about discovering, engaging and developing top talent, Lisa is truly inspired to be cultivating the next breed of creative leaders on a daily basis for THNK.

Lisa has over a decade of experience working across sectors and industries, having the bulk of her experience within the education sector as Director of Recruitment & Marketing for Hult International Business School where she helped to scale-up a rapidly growing program in Asia Pacific.

She also spent time working within the Human Resources sector with organizations such as The Adidas Group and Philips International LTD.

Lisa is passionate about non-profit international work and spent a year working with HIV/AIDS orphaned children in South Africa and continues to stay active in this sector.