Elmira Bayrasli is a renowned writer, entrepreneur, researcher, and educator with a focus on global entrepreneurship, foreign policy, tech, and innovation. She has studied political science, government, Middle Eastern studies, literature, and Turkish language and literature at prestigious institutions like New York University, Soas University of London, and Columbia University in the city of New York. Elmira is the author of "From The Other Side of the World: Extraordinary Entrepreneurs, Unlikely Places" a book that tells stories of gifted individuals worldwide who have defied insurmountable odds to lead high-growth startups. She is also co-founder and CEO of Foreign Policy Interrupted, an incubator and media enterprise aimed at increasing the number of women commenting on foreign affairs on op-ed pages and television.

Elmira's work has featured in renowned publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, The Huffington Post, and TechCrunch. As an experienced consultant, Elmira has worked with organizations like the Social Progress Imperative, the UN Foundation, and the Turkish Philanthropy Funds. Elmira has also contributed to academic research in the entrepreneurship field, co-authoring a study for Pakistan's Planning Commission entitled "Creating a Place for the Future." As a speaker, Elmira has appeared at various conferences worldwide, including the White House Entrepreneurship Summit in Dubai, Riseup (Cairo), and Council on Foreign Relations.