Zainab Salbi
Zainab Salbi

About Zainab

Zainab Salbi is the co-founder of Daughters for Earth and Women for Women International, as well as a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics. She is the author of four books, including her bestselling memoir Between Two Worlds: Growing Up in Tyranny, Escaping the Shadow of Saddam, and the host of several shows and podcasts, including PBS #MeToo, NOW WHAT? and a limited-series podcast with Foreign Policy focused on women's leadership in protecting and restoring nature.

At age 23, she founded Women for Women International, which has helped more than half a million women survivors of war and mobilized over $240 million US dollars in financial aid to help them rebuild their lives. Her current work with Daughters for Earth focuses on mobilizing $100 million US dollars to support women-led projects that address planetary health and drive systemic change at the community and regional level.

She has received numerous honors for her work, including the TIME100 Impact Award in 2023. Oprah Winfrey also recognized her as one of 25 women changing the world in People magazine. Other publications, from Harper's Bazaar to Foreign Policy, have named her among the top 100 global thinkers and leaders making a positive impact worldwide.

Recognition

Awards, doctorates, publications, and affiliations.

  • TIME Earth Awards (presenter of 2025 honoree)
    2025
  • TIME100 Impact Award
    2023
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  • Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Award
    2019
  • Gulf Business — Top 100 Most Powerful Arabs
    2019
  • Arabian Business — #1, The World's Most Influential Arab Women
    2017
  • Fast Company — 100 Most Creative People in Business
    2016
    Source →
  • Foreign Policy — 100 Leading Global Thinkers
    2016
    Source →
  • People Magazine — 25 Women Changing the World (named by Oprah Winfrey)
    2016
    Source →
  • Fortune — Most Influential Women on Twitter
    2014
  • Barclays Women of the Year
    2012
  • Forbes Trailblazer Award
    2012
  • The Guardian — Top 100 Women: Activists and Campaigners
    2011
    Source →
  • Visionary Leadership Award, International Festival of Arts & Ideas
    2011
  • Newsweek — Top 100 Women Leaders
    2007
  • Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize — Women for Women International (founded and led by Zainab Salbi)
    2006
    Source →
  • Time Magazine Innovator of the Month
    2005
  • Honored by President Bill Clinton at the White House
    1995
  • Harper's Bazaar — 21st Century Heroines (nominated by President Bill Clinton)
Four books

On war, freedom, and the inside life.

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Freedom Is an Inside Job

Freedom Is an Inside Job

Between Two Worlds

Between Two Worlds

The Other Side of War

The Other Side of War

If You Knew Me You Would Care

If You Knew Me You Would Care