"When I walked into the State Department in 1982, there were very few people who look like me, there were even very few women in senior positions. And we were dealing with a system that didn't necessarily appreciate the diversity that a woman and a person of color would bring to the table." —Linda Thomas-Greenfield, UN Ambassador
In an interview with Axios’ Mike Allen Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, recounts entering predominantly male environments since joining the State Department in 1982, spotlighting challenges related to diversity appreciation. Throughout her 39-year diplomatic career—as a former Assistant Secretary of State—she confronted systemic barriers faced by women and minorities within foreign service roles and explains how these experiences taught her how to model a more inclusive style of diplomacy—one that recognized and including nations unique cultural and social fabric—that better enhances global collaboration. She calls this approach "gumbo diplomacy" versus traditional "gun boat diplomacy" which is foreign policy supported by the use or threat of military force. Thomas-Greenfield also speaks about the power of investing in women's and girls' education for national peace and security and has this to say to future women: "I would hope that young people who see me — who are Black, who are women, who are people of color — will see me as an example for what they could achieve. And I'm hoping that I can use my voice and my presence to give them a reason to be hopeful."
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Watch the interview with Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield and Axios’ Mike Allen below.
