Driving Impact - Center for Strategic and International Studies

Latest Episodes:

From Local to Global: Leading USAID's Global Mission for Impact Nov 19, 2024

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Please join the Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project (DLIA) for the sixth and final episode of Driving Impact Season 2 with Clinton D. White, Counselor of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Hear about his experience as the highest-ranked career Foreign Service Officer at USAID and his commitment to diversity and inclusion in global development.

Commanding Change: From Military Service to Leading Veterans Affairs Nov 05, 2024

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Please join the Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project (DLIA) for the fifth episode of Driving Impact Season 2 with the Honorable Tanya Bradsher. Hear about her journey in the military as a combat veteran and how she became the first Black woman to serve as Deputy Secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

How Admiral Levine is Transforming Inclusive Health | Driving Impact Oct 22, 2024

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Have you ever wondered how Washington’s most influential policy leaders got their start? Host Hadeil Ali explores the exhilarating personal and professional journeys of Washington’s most prominent policy trailblazers.

Please join the Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project (DLIA) for the fourth episode of Driving Impact Season 2 with Admiral Rachel L. Levine. Learn about her journey as the highest-ranking openly transgender government official, her service-oriented career, and her advocacy for equitable healthcare access for all Americans.

A First-Generation American’s Journey to Diplomatic Leadership Oct 08, 2024

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Learn the legacy of the first Indian American U.S. Ambassador to India and the highest-ranked Indian American diplomat.

How a Peace Corps Volunteer Became Director with Carol Spahn Sep 24, 2024

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Please join the Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project (DLIA) for the second episode of Driving Impact Season 2 with Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn. Hear about Director Spahn’s journey from volunteering in Romania after the end of the Cold War to becoming the 21st Peace Corps Director and a renowned leader in the international development field.

Driving Impact Season 2 Trailer Sep 17, 2024

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Championing Gender Equality with Amb. Geeta Rao Gupta Sep 10, 2024

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Have you ever wondered how Washington’s most influential policy leaders got their start? Please join the Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project (DLIA) for the first episode of Driving Impact Season 2. Host Hadeil Ali explores the exhilarating personal and professional journeys of Washington’s most prominent policy trailblazers.

This first episode features a dynamic conversation with Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta about her role as Ambassador-at-Large for the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues, her career in India and the U.S., and her experience as the first woman of color in this position.

Leading America’s Military Readiness with the Honorable Shawn G. Skelly Nov 21, 2023

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In the season one finale of Driving Impact, host Hadeil Ali welcomes the Honorable Shawn G. Skelly, Performing the Duties of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, for a conversation on her 20-year service in the U.S. Navy and her leadership in guiding America’s military readiness. The pair discussed her journey to becoming the highest-ranking trans official at the Department of Defense, her love of rock music, and the importance of harnessing diverse talent to advance America’s national security priorities.

Conquering the World’s Deadliest Diseases with Ambassador Mark Dybul Nov 07, 2023

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Join our host Hadeil Ali for this week’s episode on global health security with Ambassador Mark Dybul, former U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

The pair discussed Ambassador Dybul’s travels to over 110 countries to fight three of the world’s deadliest diseases and his controversial swearing-in ceremony as the first openly gay ambassador with the rank of Assistant Secretary of State.

Navigating National Intelligence with the Honorable Susan M. Gordon Oct 24, 2023

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Join our host Hadeil Ali for this week’s episode on national intelligence with the Honorable Susan M. Gordon, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence. The pair discussed how a zoology degree led to a decades-long career at the CIA, her shock resignation in 2019, and why she thinks women can have it all.