Leading with Empathy
Policy
Strategic Communications
Workplace Mental Health
Leading with Empathy
Policy
Strategic Communications
Workplace Mental Health
Meet our Founder
A former Middle East policy advisor at the Pentagon, Jasmine now advises organizations and individuals on crafting empathy-based, culturally driven approaches to policy, strategic communications, and workplace mental health.
Jasmine has served for over 25 years in public and private-sector organizations covering issues related to national security and international affairs, including as a consultant to the United Nations and the European Union. Her podcast, Mind/work with Jasmine El-Gamal, explores mental health in the workplace through storytelling.
Jasmine's work has taken her from the battlefields of Iraq to the courtrooms in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; from refugee camps to the hallways of power inside the US government. Her reputation for empathy is built on her consistent efforts to integrate understanding and compassion into her professional work, public engagements, and advocacy.
She is widely recognized for her ability to humanize policy discussions and advocate for mental health and well-being in high-stress environments, making her a respected and empathetic voice in her field. Her empathy-based approach to problem-solving, team-building, and communications is sought after by organizations and individuals wishing to build bridges, design inclusive and inspiring narratives and create sustainable impact in their communities and on the global stage.
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. She also served as the Acting Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy and later as Special Assistant to three consecutive Under Secretaries of Defense for Policy (USDP), where she supported the leadership in crafting national security and organizational strategies; managing 700+ USDP employees; and leading interagency coordination efforts on policy, legal, and legislative priorities.
While in government, she won numerous awards for distinguished service based on her contributions to policy formulation, her written and oral briefings to the Pentagon;s leadership and her efforts to bridge gaps in understanding between the United States and the Middle East.
After leaving government and before launching Mindwork Strategies, Jasmine was a Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council and a Visiting Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Her commentary 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, BBC, Sky News, The New Statesman, Sky News Australia, and other international outlets.
About Mindwork Strategies
Our Story
Our Approach
Our Approach
Our story began with a simple belief: that empathy, when used as a strategic tool, is a fundamental component of successful policies, whether at the government, organization, or community level. We saw the need for a new, human-centered approach to policy, strategic communications and workplace mental health, and set out to create a company that would meet that need.
Our Approach
Our Approach
Our Approach
At Mindwork Strategies, we believe in the connective strands that bind us all: a desire for dignity, freedom, justice and health. Based on the principles of shared humanity and collective responsibility, we work closely with our clients to understand their goals and challenges and develop solutions that are tailored to their unique needs while accounting for the ripple effects of their actions.
Our Services
Our Approach
Our Services
From advising on strategy to shaping communications and enhancing the well-being of your workforce, we will help you achieve your objectives, using the principle of strategic empathy, including:
- Writing strategy papers and background briefings.
- Drafting speeches and talking points.
- Crisis communications.
- Auditing workplace mental health policies and crafting related interventions.