Press Release

FAST FORWARD HOW WOMEN CAN ACHIEVE POWER AND PURPOSE

RELEASE DATE: OCT. 6, 2015

By Melanne Verveer and Kim K. Azzarelli With a foreword by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Learn how some of the world’s most inspiring women are using their growing economic power to create success and meaning in their lives while building a better world.

Important conversations about leaning in, work/life balance and empowering women and girls around the world have energized a generation of women. FAST FORWARD: How Women Can Achieve Power and Purpose (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; On-Sale: October 6, 2015), by two women leaders whose experience spans corporate America, public service, and global diplomacy, shows women how to take the next step.

Written by former Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer, and business leader and lawyer, Kim Azzarelli, FAST FORWARD shows women how to accelerate their growing economic power and combine it with purpose to find both success and meaning in their lives while creating a better world.

Based on interviews with more than 70 trailblazing women, FAST FORWARD combines hard data with personal stories from icons such as IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and actress America Ferrera, as well as experiences from lesser known heroes, to provide not only inspiration but a practical, hands-on toolkit to help women know their own power; find their purpose in life; and connect with others to achieve their personal goals.

With eye-opening data from sources in sociology, economics, psychology, business and philosophy— FAST FORWARD demonstrates that women are not only key to creating lasting change, but also critical to economic growth and business success. FAST FORWARD tells the stories of companies, countries and leaders who recognize that women control the lion’s share of purchasing power and are increasingly key to competitiveness around the world. The age of women’s explosive economic and social power has finally arrived.

The authors are co-founders of Seneca Women, a global women’s leadership community centered on the principle that advancing women and girls can fast forward us to a better world. The mission of Seneca Women is to build a global on and off-line community to connect women with inspiring people, organizations, ideas, opportunities, support and events as well as practical tools for personal and professional development. To seize the moment and join the community, visit: www.senecawomen.com

About the Authors

MELANNE VERVEER is a founder of Seneca Women and director of Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security.

In 2009, President Obama appointed her the first-ever United States ambassador-at- large for global women’s issues. She co-founded Vital Voices and served on White House staff.

Courtesy of the the author of Courtesy

Azzarelli (left), Verveer (right) Verveer (left), Azzarelli Photo Credit: Victoria Will

KIM K. AZZARELLI is a founder of Seneca Women and co-

founder and chair of Cornell Law School’s Avon Global Center for Women and Justice. She is a legal, corporate and philanthropic adviser and has held senior positions at companies including Newsweek/The Daily Beast, Goldman Sachs, and Avon.

Courtesy of the the author of Courtesy

FAST FORWARD: How Women Can Achieve Power and Purpose

by Melanne Verveer and Kim K. Azzarelli

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • On-sale: October 6, 2015

ISBN: 9780544527195 • Also available as an e-book • Price: $24.00

Publicity Contacts: Courtney Greenwald, Associate Vice President Stephanie Kim, Publicity Manager Rubenstein Communications, Inc. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 212.843.8093 (office) • [email protected] 212.420.5878 (office) • [email protected]

ADVANCE PRAISE for

FAST FORWARD

“[An] empowering work about women’s valuable contributions to the global economy…An inspiring foreword by Hillary Clinton bolsters the authors’ message that women, working together, can accomplish anything.” —Publishers Weekly

“A durable contribution to the continued efforts to effect change for women.” —Kirkus Reviews

“As I have travelled the world, I've seen the incredible strength and resilience of women everywhere, working at every level. If there was ever a doubt that our moment is now, this book dispels it. Fast Forward shows every woman how she can empower herself and her community, and why all of us will be better for it. Women are the growing force for progress in the 21st century.” —Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State

“We are all capable of great things, even world changing things, if we take inspiration from others and join together to get it done. We are witnessing an awakening to the justice of civil rights for women in our time. You can feel it is imminent, and it will change the world when it is accomplished. Here are stories of a few women who have dared to imagine the day, and worked to make it happen. Let them inspire you.” —Meryl Streep, actress and activist

“A life filled with purpose is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves -- and to others. Fast Forward shows women how to lead lives of purpose and meaning, so that they, and our world, can thrive.” —Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief, Huffington Post

“I love this book. It tells the stories of ingenious women who took the circumstances around them, created successful companies, purpose in their lives while at the same time recognizing their own power to lift other women up, supporting both economic growth and social progress all over the world. It’s an inspiring wake-up call to action and once you’re fired up, longing to find your own power and potential, it gives you a tool kit of information as to how you can begin. Brilliant.” —Sally Field, actress and activist

FAST FORWARD: How Women Can Achieve Power and Purpose

by Melanne Verveer and Kim K. Azzarelli

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • On-sale: October 6, 2015

ISBN: 9780544527195 • Also available as an e-book • Price: $24.00

MORE ADVANCE PRAISE

for FAST FORWARD

“What is life without a sense of purpose? Any woman who's asked herself this question must read Fast Forward, filled with inspiring stories of women who’ve achieved power in their own lives and used it to make a difference for others, especially other women and girls.” —Maria Shriver, author and journalist

“Fast Forward gives all of us hope through the inspiring examples of pioneering women in global leadership, public service and the corporate world - a path forged by Melanne Verveer since she helped Hillary Clinton transform the concept of women's rights in Beijing in 1995. Verveer and co-author Kim Azzarelli share their practical experience with new insights in how we can all lean even further forward. A must read for women - and men - who believe strong, educated women and girls are the key to advancing societies.” —Andrea Mitchell, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, NBC News

“The stories of the remarkable women chronicled in Fast Forward are both inspiring and instructive, making it must-read for anyone interested in leading successfully with purpose in the 21st century. Fast Forward is also a reminder that progress and gender parity are inextricably linked and that if we want a society that operates at its best, we have to work for both.” —Ajay Banga, CEO, MasterCard

“The stories in this inspirational book serve as a powerful reminder that, with the right support, women can become an unstoppable force in their communities and economies. It is a rousing call to action for anyone who cares about creating a more equal world. Unleashing the full potential of women is not an option – it is an imperative.” —Cherie Blair, founder, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

“In Fast Forward, we are reminded why Melanne Verveer and Kim Azzarelli are two leading 'sheroes' of the global women’s movement. The book is chock-full of wise and clever advice for women and men committed to empowering women to reach their full potential. You will be inspired by their profiles of determined women of resilience, grit and passion to change the world. Brava!” —Darren Walker, president, Ford Foundation

FAST FORWARD: How Women Can Achieve Power and Purpose

by Melanne Verveer and Kim K. Azzarelli

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • On-sale: October 6, 2015

ISBN: 9780544527195 • Also available as an e-book • Price: $24.00

NATIONAL

AUTHOR TOUR

Tuesday, October 6 NEW YORK CITY Ivect Chicago Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute Tuesday, October 20 The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College CHICAGO 695 Park Avenue The Chicago Council on Global Affairs with Diane von Furstenberg 12:00pm 6:00pm Thursday, October 22 Thursday, October 8 ATLANTA WASHINGTON, D.C. Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum Politics & Prose Bookstore 441 Freedom Parkway NE 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW 7:00pm 7:00pm Wednesday, October 28 Friday, October 9 LOS ANGELES BOSTON Town Hall Los Angeles at the City Club Harvard Bookstore at the Brattle Theatre 555 S. Flower Street – 51st Floor 40 Brattle Street 11:30am with Anne Finucane 6:00pm Thursday, October 29 SAN FRANCISCO Monday, October 19 The Commonwealth Club of California CHICAGO 555 Post Street Chicago Bar Association 6:30pm The Standard Club 320 Plymouth Court Friday, October 30 11:30am SEATTLE Downstairs at Town Hall Seattle Monday, October 19 1119 Eighth Avenue (enter on Seneca Street) CHICAGO 7:00pm IvyConnect Chicago 8:00pm

FAST FORWARD: How Women Can Achieve Power and Purpose

by Melanne Verveer and Kim K. Azzarelli

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • On-sale: October 6, 2015

ISBN: 9780544527195 • Also available as an e-book • Price: $24.00