Our team at Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is proud to announce Lyla Kohistany will be joining us as our keynote for the HER Gala on October 23.
Lyla Kohistany will present us with her powerful voice and inspiring story whose journey reflects our mission and values. Her story is an embodiment of empowerment, and we are honored to showcase this guest to you.
Lyla’s History
Lyla Kohistany is an Afghan refugee, U.S. Navy veteran, nonprofit leader, and human rights activist whose career has been defined by service and a deep commitment to uplifting underrepresented communities. Fleeing the Soviet invasion with her family as a child, Lyla grew up in the U.S. and went on to forge a trailblazing career in national security and foreign policy as a Surface Warfare and Intelligence Officer.
Additionally, with three Afghanistan deployments alongside U.S./NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) and tours in the Pentagon, she has enjoyed a distinguished career contributing to counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and all-source intelligence operations at the highest levels.
After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Lyla launched Honor the Promise, a nonprofit supporting Afghan SOF veterans as they rebuild their lives in the U.S. Her leadership and advocacy have been featured in national media and on major platforms.
Lyla was a Presidential Scholar at the George W. Bush Center, a nonresident Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council, an Ambassador for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, and a Board member for The Honor Foundation. She is currently a Senior Fellow with The Soufan Center, a member of the Global SOF Foundation’s Advisory Council, and a board member for the Corioli Institute.
Lyla earned a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University. She is a Star Trek and Star Wars aficionada, international traveler, and devoted aunt to her niece and nephews.
Whether serving in uniform, advising global leaders, or mentoring the next generation, Lyla is living proof of what Afghan women can achieve – as leaders, visionaries, and architects of the future.
Let’s celebrate the power and resilience of Afghan women and girls together at the HER Gala.
