Brandeis International Business School

Myra Chaudhary, BA/MA’10, has used her education and social networking expertise to help improve relations between the U.S. and Pakistan. Growing up a Pakistani-American in Massachusetts, Chaudhary longed to show the world the beauty of Pakistan, shatter cultural stereotypes, and draw attention to concerns facing young people there. She won the Brandeis International Business School American Leadership Award, which recognizes U.S. students who exhibit outstanding potential for international careers.

Tell us about your internships before and during your Brandeis IBS career.

I was an intern for the U.S. Senate in the summers of 2009 and 2010. Secretary of State John Kerry asked me to write for his official campaign blog, and my piece evolved into a series of blogs about critical issues within South Asia. Senator Kerry helped inspire a Pakistani-American girl like myself to realize that a person can make a difference as long as they remain committed and hopeful. With his help and support, I have been able to do my little share to bridge gaps between the U.S. and Pakistan—to fight against terrorism, backwardness, ignorance, poverty, and promote better understanding, and respect of all cultures and people.”

What else have you done in the area of U.S-Pakistani relations?

I consulted with Cynthia Schneider, former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands and a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute, about using social networking to build online connections between people in Pakistan and the U.S. around cultural events. I also helped launch a celebrity campaign against terrorism that was introduced with a concert at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York with celebrities including Deepak Chopra and Pakistani musician and activist Salman Ahmed.

What inspired you at Brandeis?

The U.S.-Pakistan relationship is delicate, but striving for a greater understanding between the two nations is vital. Things may seem difficult and it’s important to be realistic, but I’m reminded of the words of Louis Brandeis: “Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.” Why shouldn’t we continue to hope or strive for our dreams?