Jasmine at her home in London. Photo: Rich Hardcastle. 2023
A former Pentagon advisor, Jasmine has served for over 25 years in public and private-sector organizations covering issues related to national security and international affairs. She is the founder and CEO of Mindwork Strategies, a policy and strategic communications advisory firm.
During her tenure at the Pentagon, Jasmine served three Secretaries of Defense, advising on Middle East issues in times of crisis, including post-war Iraq, the Arab Spring, the war against ISIS, and Syria, winning numerous awards for distinguished service based on her contributions to policy formulation and strategic communications.
An Egyptian-American raised on both sides of the Atlantic, Jasmine has dedicated her life to building bridges between different cultures and perspectives. From the battlefields of Iraq to the courtrooms in Guantanamo Bay; from refugee camps in Europe to the hallways of power inside the US government, Jasmine has utilized the power of storytelling to combat dehumanisation and foster a shared understanding of our common humanity.
She is a mental health advocate specialising in workplace well-being who believes that healthy workplaces are the foundation of healthy societies.
Her political commentary and analysis have been featured in CNN, Time Magazine, BBC, Sky News, Al Masry Al Youm, Le Figaro, The New Statesman and The Washington Post, among others.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jasmine emerged as a vocal and passionate advocate for improving mental health in the workplace, frequently writing and speaking on the topic in public fora and to private audiences.
She founded Mind/work Strategies, LTD to help organizations assess, analyze and optimize mental health in their workplaces, with a focus on high-stress, high-stakes fields such as national security, the military, conflict journalism and crisis humanitarian assistance.
She also created Mind/work show (May 2023), a video and audio-format podcast dedicated to exploring mental health in the workplace through interviews with individuals from a range of careers and industries.
Jasmine’s commentary, and coverage of her work, has appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Atlantic, Newsweek, Time Magazine, CNN, Al Jazeera, Al Hurra, L’Orient du Jour, Sawt al Azhar, Al Masry Al Youm. Le Figaro and other international outlets.
Jasmine lives in London with her husband and cat, Dora the Explorer (or, more accurately, dog in cat form).