Safer Online, Safer Offline: Rethinking Protection in the Digital Age with Sherry Hakimi

Join the Institute of Politics and Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy Program for a conversation with Sherry Hakimi, CEO of Pirth.org and a leading advocate for safety, equity, and human rights in the digital age. Drawing on her global experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Hakimi will discuss the growing challenges of online violence and how data-driven, evidence-based solutions can better protect individuals and communities. 

From her work at the United Nations to her leadership in New York City government, she brings a unique perspective on advancing gender equity and building safer systems both online and offline. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a dynamic leader at the intersection of technology, policy, and social impact.

*Lunch will be served

Please register with a valid Harvard email address to attend in-person.

OFF-THE-RECORD: In keeping with our long tradition at the IOP to ensure honest and candid discussions of politics, this event is off-the-record.

About Sherry Hakimi

Sherry Hakimi is the CEO of Pirth.org, a global technology nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people stay safe, online and offline. Born of Sherry’s personal experience with online violence, Pirth.org not only provides people access to critical resources and support, it transforms user-reported data into evidence-based solutions.

Prior to cofounding Pirth.org, Sherry’s career has spanned the private, public, and nonprofit sectors on five continents, including at Reebok, the City of New York, and genEquality. A longtime advocate for human rights and women’s rights globally, she has served as a feminist foreign policy advisor at the United Nations and was appointed as Commissioner for the NYC Commission on Gender Equity from 2019-2022. An avid community-builder, Sherry has (co)founded, led, and grown several nonprofits and social enterprises which have enabled her work and impact at the local, federal, and international levels.

Sherry is a 2025-2026 Obama Leader, Truman National Security Fellow, and Term Member at the Council of Foreign Relations. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Harvard Kennedy School. Sherry’s writing and work has been featured in Fast Company, Tech Policy Press, The Washington Post, Politico, The Meteor, The Hill, Defense News, Business Insider, and more.