On every professional path there are roadblocks. When working in human rights and peacebuilding in a post-conflict society, these roadblocks can be particularly numerous. In the constant struggle to continue moving forward, a network of supporters and mentors is truly invaluable. On every professional path there are roadblocks. When working in human rights and peacebuilding in a post-conflict society, these roadblocks can be particularly numerous. In the constant struggle to continue moving forward, a network of supporters and mentors is truly invaluable. After over 15 years of working as a researcher, journalist and human rights defender, I found my professional support network among the women in the Vital Voices Global Partnership. This U.S.-based non-profit, grew out of the U.S. government’s successful Vital Voices Democracy Initiative. Established in 1997 by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright after the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, Vital Voices Democracy Initiative set forth with the goal of promoting the advancement of women as a U.S. foreign policy goal. For me, it all started in 2012 when I heard about the Global Ambassadors Program (GAP). GAP is a mentoring initiative established through a partnership of Vital Voices and Bank of America that connects women leaders — at a pivotal point in their professional, business and leadership paths — with established women executives for mentorship. As I worked to get my fledgling peacebuilding organization off the ground, I kept my eye on Vital Voices, hoping to participate when the time was right. After a few years, my organization grew to become one of the leading peacebuilding organizations in the Western Balkans. To date, we have reached millions with our interventions and have received global recognition for our innovative peacebuilding approaches. Throughout five years of our work in the Western Balkans, my team and I went through both difficult and exciting times, constantly faced with new challenges and opportunities. In late 2015, we hit a major roadblock. We started to lose funding. We knocked on many donors’ doors in the Balkans, but without much luck. My team was lost and tired. And so was I. At the peak of my exhaustion, I got an email from Liam Dall, former Senior Director of Development at Vital Voices and a personal friend announcing a new call for applications for Vital Voices’ Global Ambassadors Program was open. After some encouragement from Liam and my team, I sat down and filled out the application. A few weeks later, in February 2016 I’m traveling to London to become the first Global Ambassadors mentee from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before arriving in London, I was introduced to my mentor, Susan Ann Davis – a pioneering woman business owner and an icon in the public relations industry. As a lifelong advocate for social entrepreneurship, democracy building and leadership development for women, Susan is the former Chair of the Board of Vital Voices Global Partnership and was the first International President of the International Women’s Forum, now representing over 6,000 women leaders. She is also the Board Chair for the Zabuli Education Center, educating 400 girls in Afghanistan. Susan became a great supporter of my work and has, since the GAP week, helped me with her professional suggestions and advice as well as useful business connections. In addition to being my mentor, Susan became a close personal friend. She opened the door of her house to me, introducing me to her family and relatives and creating a bond much beyond a professional one. The Global Ambassadors week in London changed my life. I was given an amazing opportunity to meet and work with incredible women leaders, such as Allison Shapira, CEO and Founder of Global Public Speaking LLC, Zoë Dean-Smith, Senior Director at Vital Voices and Ahu Serter, President of Farplas Group and Founder of ARYA Women Investment Platform. Ahu later became a big supporter of my work inviting me to attend the Women Retreat 2016 – a unique event that combines leisure and business bringing together women entrepreneurs and potential investors from around the world. In addition to these introductions, during our GAP London week, Vital Voices and Bank of America Merrill Lynch organized a public forum Women, Progress and the Global Economy. The forum convened experts and thought leaders to discuss contemporary issues concerning women’s economic and social empowerment, with special emphasis on women in the Middle East/North Africa and Eastern Europe.