By: Ghazel Ghazaleh Abassalian, #womaninnovator Video Editor, Pipeline

I found out about Pipeline through a friend of mine, Jennifer Lauren. The last time we met we had many conversations about women’s position today in the Western world, but also in the Middle East. One day I received an email from her mentioning Pipeline and that they were looking for a video editor. I went to check out Pipeline’s website and didn’t hesitate for a minute to apply.  

I volunteer as Pipeline’s #womaninnovator Video Editor because:

After having graduated from art school with a major in Audiovisual Art, I really wanted to get more involved doing film and montage for issues that matter to me. Pipeline discusses what I care about. By becoming a video editor for Pipeline[’s media campaign #womaninnovator], I can do what I like to do, which is montage, while working with amazing women who share my ideals. This way I get to help to show something that carries a message and people should really hear about. 

I [was] born in Iran but [was] raised in the Netherlands. My parents fled Iran when I was just a few months old. Growing up with an active and involved mother who raised my brother and me I’ve always been aware of women’s situations in society, especially in the Middle East. 

We live in a male-run world where more and more women are starting to rule the business world, the household on top of that plus maintaining a family life. Still women are in a position where they need to struggle for equality. 

My definition of a #womaninnovator: 

She has a vision of what she wants. Being an open individual she is curious to learn to know and get better, I see her taking charge of her own life. She has the ability to take action, however challenging it may feel at the time, that may mean feeling a bit scared or anxious but deciding to take action anyway in the knowledge it will get a lot easier next time. A women innovator does not let fear stand in her way.