As Director General of the Foreign Service and ambassador to three countries in three different bureaus (Philippines, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe), and having served in DC leadership positions on the 7th floor and White House, Amb. Thomas saw U.S. diplomacy from multiple perspectives. He reflects on crisis management, leadership, and career progression. He talks about the blatant discrimination he encountered early in Peru and later in Zimbabwe, his adventures in rural Nigeria, and his time...

Liliana Ayalde reflects on a long and accomplished career in assistance, public health, and diplomacy. Beginning with her first posting with USAID in Bangladesh, Amb. Ayalde traces lessons learned and her abiding contributions to international development and diplomacy in the U.S. Foreign Service. She bounces back from serious medical leave; she gets help from allies like Amb. Roberta Jacobson; and she confronts tension relations following the Snowden disclosures. Amb. Ayalde speaks to the...

Leola Calzolai-Stewart, Rachell Shapiro, Kiley Kraskouskas talk about the careers of three outstanding African-American diplomats – ambassadors Edward Dudley, Terence Todman, and Carl Rowan – as well all that was involved in bringing the story of these pioneers to life in “The American Diplomat” on PBS. The discussion covers the history of African-Americans in the Foreign Service from Reconstruction to the modern day, as well as the barriers they faced in a State Department that initially...

Six-time U.S. Amb. Ryan Crocker (Career Ambassador and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient) looks back on his experience working with the military in some of toughest assignments and most fraught conflict zones ever. He also looks to the future and analyzes the nature of expeditionary diplomacy, the current state of geopolitics and the international system, and shares his thoughts on how the Foreign Service might evolve through generational change, namely by talking about diversity,...

She has fought Ebola in Liberia, sexism in the State Department, and the closing of political space in Uganda.  U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac talks about problem-solving, leadership, multi-functionality and clarity. She begins with her serendipitous entry into the Foreign Service that morphed into an incredible career in Africa and global health.  Speaking from a diversity of experiences, Malac discusses the qualities required of a globe-trotting FSO, the rewards and challenges associated...

U.S. Consul General to Casablanca Lawrence Randolph talks about being a sincerely interested diplomat and using diversity as our strength. In his growth as a leader, he emphasizes mentorship and sponsorship, learning local languages and cultures, being open to new opportunities, and the secret strength of American diplomacy – creating diverse teams. He underscores the need to do outreach to Americans; how emotional intelligence, preparation, humility and straightforward resilience helps...

Amb. Herro Mustafa explains her love of diplomacy, underscores the need for emotional intelligence and adaptability, and cites her sources of support and resilience. She talks about rejecting limitations and developing her own “card” full of lessons.  She discusses her growth as a diplomat, as she journeyed from Kurdish-Iraqi refugee in Minnesota to a young, female U.S. ambassador in Europe with young kids. **Brought to you as part of an Una Chapman Cox Foundation project on American...

Amb. Ron Neumann, President of the American Academy of Diplomacy and a three-time former ambassador, discusses everything from his time in Vietnam as a soldier to current events in Afghanistan. He gets into details of refugee policy and women's education, as well as reflects on leadership, working in high-threat environments, serving in Iran, finding satisfaction in tough work, and how DC thinkers and diplomats in the field can work together better. 

Amb. Ted Osius discusses his love of Southeast Asia, experiences as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, moral courage, and public diplomacy (on a bicycle). He talks reconciliation between U.S. and Vietnam, leaving the State Department in protest, working in and with the private sector, and having a husband and kids in the Foreign Service. Brought to you as part of an Una Chapman Cox Foundation project on American diplomacy and the Foreign Service.  Be sure to check out his new book: Nothing...

Amb. Bill Taylor -- our first political appointee as a guest -- discusses Ukraine, impeachment, "irregular channels," public diplomacy, the nature of conflict, Afghanistan, foreign assistance and being an interagency team player. *Brought to you as part of an Una Chapman Cox Foundation project on American diplomacy and the Foreign Service.

Amb. Roberta Jacobson talks about reestablishing U.S. ties with Cuba, becoming America’s first female and civil servant ambassador to Mexico, and dealing with populist leaders.  Ambassador Jacobson also discusses reestablishing diplomatic ties with Cuba, lost opportunities in Havana, populism in the Western Hemisphere, and what she loved about Latin America.

Amb. Lino Gutierrez served as Ambassador to Argentina as well as to Nicaragua, and as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau. In this episode, Amb. Gutierrez discusses his experience from Cuban immigrant to diplomat. He shares lessons on leadership, managing up, negotiating with Cubans in Grenada, navigating Washington politics, increasing diversity at State, dealing with the crisis of Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua and stark political change in Argentina.

Tim "Timmy" Davis is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service.  In this episode, Tim shares lessons learned on leadership, building strong teams, encouraging diversity, and increasing recruitment.  Mr. Davis also shares lessons learned closing of the U.S. Consulate in Basra, managing State Department principals, and navigating Secretary Clinton's e-mail controversy.  Special thanks to the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and Harvard's Sama Kubba and Syed...

Ambassador Chris Hill discusses growing up in the foreign service, working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, and formative experiences working with Secretary Eagleburger and Amb. Holbrooke. Ambassador Hill also discusses leading Six-Party talks with N. Korea, his ambassadorship in Iraq, and the importance of diversity in today's Foreign Service. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Ambassador Beth Jones discusses attending local schools in Moscow and Berlin, her first tour in Afghanistan, and working as a control officer for Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Ambassador Jones also discusses rising to the top of the Foreign Service, lessons learned from Ambassadors Pickering and Platt, managing the European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau following 9/11, and Benghazi.

Ambassador Nancy Jo Powell discusses her childhood in rural Iowa, gender discrimination at the State Department in the 1970's, and her first big break as Acting Consul General in Lahore, Pakistan in 1988. Ambassador Powell also discusses cultivating high morale in difficult posts, serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan in the wake of 9/11, the importance of mentorship, and lessons learned during her stints as the State Department's Senior Coordinator for both the Avian Influenza and Ebola.

Ambassador William Brownfield discusses his family's history in West Texas, life as a Junior Officer in Maracaibo, how to engage with the media, his tumultuous years as U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, and accusations of Venezuelan involvement in the U.S. presidential elections. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Ambassador Marc Grossman discusses life as a Junior Officer in Islamabad, his tumultuous year as an NEA staffer, tips for testifying before Congress, lessons learned from the morning of 9/11, and answering the call to return to service.

Ambassador Stephen D. Mull discusses life as a Junior Officer in The Bahamas, reporting tours in apartheid South Africa and communist Poland, and life on seventh floor. Ambassador Mull also discusses his first DCM tour in post-9/11 Jakarta, the importance of public diplomacy, and implementing the Iran deal. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. discusses the importance of history and strategic thinking in the practice of diplomacy, and the social, economic and political forces likely to shape the future. Ambassador Shannon also discusses his multiple White House tours, his service as Under Secretary (and Secretary) of State, and what it means to serve as a U.S. Diplomat. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield discusses growing up in the segregated south, succeeding as a tandem couple, and raising kids in the Foreign Service,  Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield also discusses her tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, promoting gender and ethnic diversity at the State Department, and the killing of George Floyd. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Ambassador Bill Burns discusses visiting Putin in the Kremlin, negotiating the JCPOA in Muscat, and the U.S. government's response to 9/11. Ambassador Burns also discusses the complexities of NATO expansion, attributes of a good diplomat, and President Trump's recent impeachment hearings. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Ambassador Tony Wayne discusses economic crisis in Argentina, interviewing KISS in Buenos Aires, the illegal drug trade in Mexico, health and education in Afghanistan, and raising a family in the Foreign Service. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.

Ambassador Kristie Kenney discusses growing up in Washington D.C., life as a Junior Officer in Kingston, and the importance of hard work in diplomacy. Ambassador Kenney also highlights her barrier-breaking assignments as the State Department's first female Executive Secretary, first female Ambassador to Thailand, and first female Ambassador to the Philippines. Interview excerpted from the forthcoming book: Modern American Diplomacy: A Field Guide to Success in The Foreign Service.