Women in Development Talk offers powerful conversation on development economics and more

The Women in Development Talk series, hosted by the Duke Center for International Development (DCID), returned for its second season on April 1, 2025, with a powerful conversation on Applied Development Economics. 

The virtual event brought together a diverse audience of students, faculty and alumni for a reflective discussion on navigating technical and leadership roles in the global development field as women.

The panel featured three distinguished women in the field:

• Parvina Rakhimova MIDP’13, Tax Policy Advisor at the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• Shoghik Hovhannisyan MIDP’06, Senior Economist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group
• Corinne Krupp, Professor of the Practice and Director of Graduate Studies for the MIDP Program at Duke Sanford

Moderated by Vivien La Torre MIDP’26, the conversation explored how each panelist built a career in development economics, the gender-specific barriers they have encountered along the way, and the lessons they’ve learned about confidence, leadership and community.

One of the most emotional moments came from Krupp, who shared her personal reflections on the importance of female role models in her academic journey, highlighting how key they were in giving her the courage to pursue economics at a time when few women were visible in the field. “Overcoming impostor syndrome,” she advised, “is part of the process, but it helps when you see women ahead of you who made it possible.”

In a similar tone, Rakhimova emphasized the importance of sorority and mutual support among women in professional environments, especially in high-pressure institutions. “Sisterhood at work should never be taken for granted,” she said. “When it exists, it’s powerful, but it’s also our responsibility to model it for others.”

Hovhannisyan spoke openly about the challenges of working in male-dominated economic policy spaces, including moments of self-doubt and pressure. Her key takeaway: “Confidence in yourself is essential. Technical skills will take you far, but believing in your voice is what allows you to lead.”

The conversation was filled with wisdom not only about macroeconomic policy, tax systems and development finance, but also about what it means to lead with empathy, humility and purpose in the field of international development.

“This series is about more than just celebrating success—it’s about creating space for truth, struggle and connection,” shared Antonella Di Ciano MIDP’25, the series founder and event host. “We want women at every stage of their development journey to feel seen, supported and inspired.”

The Women in Development Talk series began in 2024 as a student-led initiative within DCID, with the goal of elevating the lived experiences of women working in development. Past sessions have covered topics including peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and technology in development. Unique among professional panels, these talks are intentionally not recorded, to preserve a space for honest dialogue and vulnerability.

Each event features a blend of students, faculty and alumni, offering attendees the opportunity to hear from women at different stages of their careers and to envision themselves as future leaders in the field.