She is currently working on a globe-spanning book about the use of “soft power” — the ability to transform hearts and minds by reframing values, resolving contradictions, rethinking unhelpful traditions and nudging people into wiser choices.

Soft power is how a new generation of citizens around the world is almost imperceptibly changing how we work, spend, save, eat and even how we treat our partners and children.

Penny imparts this fascinating topic through an array of engaging examples, such as the conundrum of “right on red” traffic intersections, the vaulting comeback of gymnast Simone Biles and female genital mutilation in West Africa.

Her experience and insights proved so valuable that they led her to become a sought-after global authority on the use of soft power, a Forbes columnist who focuses on the intersection of soft power, leadership, citizenship and ethics and a Fellow-in-Residence at the McSilver Institute of Poverty Policy and Research at NYU.

When New York City was in the midst of the pandemic, Penny, who was New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs during one of the most harrowing times the city ever experienced, worked with the United Nations and foreign governments to procure necessary medical equipment. Penny’s leadership and relationships led to a historic donation from the United Nations, as well as contributions from dozens of countries.

Also under Penny’s leadership, New York City implemented a series of award-winning programs with the international community, ranging from youth empowerment to the power of local government leadership. These focused on global issues like climate change, sustainable development and rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic.

These are amazing feats, especially since Penny has faced a lot of roadblocks along the way. As a child, she emigrated from Sri Lanka to the United States with her family to flee a civil war. She spent her youth as an undocumented immigrant, based in Los Angeles and, as she describes, living the reality of a 1980’s version of a “Dreamer.” The struggles of living in the shadows were compounded by domestic violence at home.

But despite the tough times, Penny not only survived, but she also thrived. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California and completed her Master’s of International Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. As New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs — the first immigrant and woman of color to be appointed to the job — she worked with the largest diplomatic corps in the world.

Prior to the Mayor of New York City’s appointment, Penny was the Director of Girls and Women Integration at the Clinton Global Initiative.

Penny is a life-long advocate of women’s rights and is a vocal champion for sustainability and social justice. Her contributions to social justice have been recognized and celebrated by the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and the French-American Foundation, among others.

“It sounds kind of trite, but lived experiences really do matter, right?” she said in an interview with The New York Times. “You get into so many theoretical conversations with people who are trying to empathize, as they should, which is great. But there’s something very visceral about fighting for women and girls when you’ve gone through those experiences yourself.”

Penny is on the Board of Directors of the Center for Reproductive Rights and the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, which provides oversight of the UN Foundation, and is a regular contributor to Forbes magazine within its leadership strategies platform. She also serves on the Aspen Institute’s Digital Equity Advisory Council, APCO Worldwide’s International Advisory Council, 92Y Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact Advisory Committee, the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Cities of Tomorrow and The International Advisory Council for International Peace Institute.

Whether the issue has been social justice, women’s and children’s rights or global sustainability, a common factor has been Penny’s recurring use of soft power. She considers it a superpower for reimagining and reorienting public goods. Rather than compelling compliance or simply increasing spending, soft power achieves goals across stakeholders, agencies and nations by surfacing hidden values, clarifying common goals through diplomacy and collaborating efficiently.

Penny was recently appointed to the rank of Knight in France’s National Order of Merit by President Macron for her global leadership on diplomacy, human rights and sustainability. In December 2020, she was awarded the Golden Helsinki Medal by Mayor Vapaavuori for the creation of a global network of local governments achieving sustainable development efforts. Penny was also recognized by the French American Foundation as a Young Leader (2017) and named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2016). Read Less ^