Journalist, author and humanitarian, Tara Kangarlou was in conversation with author, public speaker and transformational coach Brita Fernandez Schmidt. The women discussed how people’s shared humanity, culture, and aspirations are far greater and more powerful than any rift or divide and how by coming together we can unite to create change.

The conversation also covered their respective books. Tara is the author of The Heartbeat of Iran, a book that invites readers into the heart and soul of a country that’s often seen through news headlines and a political fog that blurs the reality of life for millions of Iranians inside the country. Fears to Fierce: A Woman’s Guide to Owning Her Power is Brita’s debut book and takes its readers on a journey to realise their purpose and potential, ignite their fierce to create the life they have been dreaming of.

Speakers:

 Brita Fernandez Schmidt is the author of Fears to Fierce, a public speaker and transformational coach. She works with individuals, groups and businesses, using her 25 years of experience to facilitate transformation and impact. Driven by her purpose, Brita believes that the power to achieve the change we are dreaming of, resides within us. Brita works with organisations to create working cultures that are value-led, inclusive, in-powering, innovative and sustainable. She is passionate about promoting alternative models of ‘leadership’ as a response to the urgent problems facing our society and world. Brita is an advocate and promoter of women’s power, women’s rights and equality. Over the past 25 years, she has frequently written and spoken publicly about the challenges women face all over the world.

Tara Kangarlou and humanitarian is an award-winning journalist, author, and humanitarian. She has reported, written, and produced for global news outlets such as NBC-LA, CNN, CNN International, and Al Jazeera America covering some of the most pressing issues in the United States and around the world. Tara has a strong expertise covering the MENA region, foreign affairs, and humanitarian issues worldwide. Her writing and reporting has also appeared in TIME, Vanity Fair, Al Monitor and the Huffington Post. As a result of her work in the Syrian borders regions of Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan, in 2016 Tara founded Art of Hope – the first US non-profit that focuses on providing trauma-relief and mental health support through Art Therapy for Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in Lebanon. Tara’s highly acclaimed debut book The Heartbeat of Iran was released on June 1st 2021 (IG Publishing – NY) and remains a number one bestseller on Middle Eastern books.