Ms. Marnie Gustavson is the founder and president of Creative Economic Opportunities, Inc. In the US, she worked fifteen years as a trainer and program consultant for organizations with a focus on programs for women. In 2003, Marnie returned to Kabul, Afghanistan where she had lived as a child with her family for four years, to assume the executive directorship of PARSA, (Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Services for Afghanistan) from icon and founder, Mary MacMakin. In Afghanistan, she has also worked as a consultant and trainer for women leaders, Afghan women parliamentarians and NGO directors providing comprehensive organizational development, and a unique program of personal and professional support in this post conflict country.
Working with her husband, Dr. Norman Gustavson, psychologist and medical anthropologist and Dr. Patricia Omidian, anthropologist she is co-creating psychosocial services adapted to the Afghan culture. With her training partner, Afghan American Mahbouba Seraj she is designing women’s listening groups and developing a radio program that Mahbouba will host called “Our Beloved Afghanistan,” focusing on programs that will support Afghan women as they attempt to improve the quality of their lives and to claim their human rights.