When Susan Retik?s husband was killed during the terrorist attacks on September 11th, she could have been paralyzed by loss. Instead, at seven months pregnant with their 3rd child, Susan acted on a simple impulse to counter hatred with outreach. Susan is Co-Founder and CEO of Beyond the 11th, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Afghan widows. She has received many awards for her work including the Presidential Citizen?s Medal, which was awarded by President Obama in 2010. Susan?s work has been featured in numerous news outlets including Oprah, The Today Show, CNN, The NY Times, and People Magazine. Susan is the subject of the award-winning documentary film Beyond Belief, which details her work with Beyond the 11th, including a 2006 trip to Afghanistan.

In addition, Susan is an inspirational speaker, sharing her story of transforming personal loss into humanitarian outreach. She is also a certified Leadership Coach, helping clients gain self-awareness, unlock their potential, and clarify professional goals to align more authentically with deeply held personal values.