Grassroot Diplomat Talks

You have no control over where you are born, but many are persecuted over their nationality. Being mindful that we could have been born ANYWHERE should be the first thing that diplomats need to be trained about. Not everyone is in a fortunate or privileged position to be born in safe and favourable places.

Stereotypes and misconceptions run deep about diplomats and their work in diplomacy, but where do these perceptions come from? Even in the year 2020, things haven’t changed much in terms of how people view diplomats. Diplomacy is a career that is seen to be reserved for the elite and is washed with so many stereotypes, it’s difficult for ordinary people to even know what diplomats actually do.

Many people get politicians and diplomats confused because they all work for the government. But politicians are elected and diplomats are not....but diplomats are given a very big title but serve politicians. How does this work? Who is the boss? Who is accountable to whom? What are the similarities and differences? What do diplomats do that is glaringly different from politicians abroad?

Modern day diplomacy is being crushed by ignorance and hate speeches with many, many examples of how people are made to feel like second class citizens. What does that mean and where is this happening?

Countries are misrepresented through perpetual negative stereotypes and the media controls perceptions. How can governments take more control on their self-image and what impact will more proactive branding strategy have on the people?

French is a predominant language used in diplomatic discourse. Words such as charge d'affaires and Ambassador are normal titles but difficult to pronounce by those who are not familiar with such languages. How do you ensure that you use diplomatic languages correctly and is French still dominant, or quickly being taken over other official languages used at the United Nations and other multilateral agencies?

Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, was a wanted man by many of the world’s diplomats. Under his leadership, Assange leaked highly secret and confidential diplomatic cables that embarrassed some of the most powerful governments. So much so, that Assange went into hiding and was taken refuge at the Embassy of Ecuador in London.

In this podcast, Talyn Rahman-Figueroa (CEO) talks why Assange was a hunted man and her first encounter with the Wikileaks case when she was on her way to meeting at the Embassy of Colombia, next door to where the hacker was hiding. This podcast was put together by Ahlam Mohammed.

What drives you to have a career in international diplomacy? Do you want to become a diplomat because it runs in your family or know people who do it? Too often, we neglect to navigate our life to our own wants, beliefs, and values. Instead, we simply follow a path based on a prescription of our past.

The birth and death of countries have been a disruptive process for the lives of millions who suddenly find themselves stateless. How does politics and diplomacy change when countries no longer exist or have been annexed by another country?

“Are you a spy?” is a legitimate question that many diplomats get asked. The knowledge for several languages, cultures and number of stamps in a passport makes any average citizen curious about what a diplomat does and how they conduct themselves. In this podcast, Talyn Rahman-Figueroa (CEO) talks about misconceptions of diplomats and what government work really means.