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From a childhood in Harlem and Queens to the highest levels of American diplomacy, retired U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. reflects on a career defined by leadership, resilience, and service. In this conversation, Ambassador Thomas shares how early family influences, lessons from mentors, and firsthand experiences in global crises shaped his approach to decision-making.

Ambassador Thomas is a former U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe, and has held senior leadership roles at the U.S. Department of State, including Director General of the Foreign Service and Executive Secretary. He currently serves as a Senior Kissinger Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute.

Ambassador Thomas offers candid insights into the realities of diplomacy: balancing American values with strategic interests, engaging difficult counterparts, and leading teams through uncertainty. He also speaks to the personal sacrifices of Foreign Service life, the importance of empathy in leadership, and the enduring belief that most people around the world seek dignity, opportunity, and a voice in their future.

This episode is a lesson in leadership grounded in decades of lived experience at the intersection of policy, people, and global events.