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Power & Purpose
Power & Purpose episodes
- Věra Jourová on Digital Power and Europe’s Global RoleVěra Jourová joins Amanda and Nathalie to reflect on her time at the forefront of EU policymaking on technology, disinformation, and media freedom. She discusses the challenges of regulating Big Tech, promoting innovation while protecting citizens’ rights, and addressing the digital challenges facing democracies today. She also shares her personal journey, including how growing up under communist rule shaped her commitment to democracy.
Věra Jourová is the former Vice President of the European Commission.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.36 min - Dina Kawar on the Human Cost of Middle East ConflictHow are overlapping crises shaping diplomacy in the Middle East? Dina Kawar, Jordan's Ambassador to the United States, joins Amanda and Nathalie to explore the ripple effects of war and the realities of regional interdependence. She reflects on her diplomatic career, the barriers women face in public service, and the mindset needed to lead under pressure.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.35 min - Gabriela Ramos on Mexico, Multilateralism, and the Fight for Gender EqualityGabriela Ramos joins Amanda and Nathalie to reflect on Mexico’s changing relationship with the United States, the weakening of the multilateral system, and the effort needed to sustain international cooperation. She discusses parental expectations, professional trade-offs to sustain family life, and the purpose that sustained her through achievement and failure.
Gabriela Ramos is the co-chair of the Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TSIFD), leading the development of a framework for financial transparency and social impact. Previously, she held the role of Assistant Director General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO (2020-2025), Chief of Staff and Sherpa to the G20 of the OECD (2006-2020), and she was a member of Mexico’s Foreign Service. In 2025, she was Mexican Candidate for Director General of UNESCO.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.42 min - Priyanka Chaturvedi on India, Empowerment, and PersistenceHow does the world look from India today? Priyanka Chaturvedi joins Amanda and Nathalie to explore India’s evolving global role, its relationships with Europe and the United States, and the challenges of regulating technology in a democracy. She reflects on her journey from media to politics, the challenges women face in political life, and why persistence matters in public service.
Priyanka Chaturvedi is an Indian politician who served as a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra, and is a former Deputy Leader of Shiv Sena (UBT).
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.42 min - Julie Smith on NATO, Trust, and the Importance of Public ServiceFormer U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julie Smith joins Amanda and Nathalie to discuss the alliance’s future at a moment of deep uncertainty. From a growing transatlantic trust deficit to Europe’s push for greater security autonomy, she explores what lies ahead for NATO. Julie reflects on her experience navigating the alliance during the war in Ukraine, what it means to be a woman in the security field, and the importance of keeping faith in public service.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.51 min - Arancha González on Agency, Activism, and EmpowermentWhat does it take for Europe to stay open, democratic, and competitive in a world driven by power? Arancha González joins Power and Purpose for a hopeful conversation about Europe’s resilience. Together with Amanda Sloat and Nathalie Tocci, she explores why Europeans should focus on wellbeing as much as GDP, how to respond to Trump without projecting weakness, and why activism must override optimism or pessimism in politics.
Arancha González is the third Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po and the first woman to lead the world's third school for Politics and International Studies. Prior to joining PSIA, Ms. González served as Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (2020-2021).
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.38 min - Oleksandra Matviichuk on Justice, Dignity, and the Power of Ordinary PeopleWhat does justice look like in the midst of war? On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk joins Amanda and Nathalie to discuss the realities facing Ukraine today - from a cold winter and fragile ceasefire talks to the systematic documentation of war crimes. She explores why dignity - not victimhood - must shape the future of her country's democracy and the power of ordinary people in extraordinary times.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.40 min - Hiba Husseini on Staying the Course in the Pursuit of PeacePeace is rarely linear and often pursued under the most difficult conditions. Drawing on decades of legal and negotiating experience, Palestinian lawyer Hiba Husseini sits down with Amanda and Nathalie to discuss the current realities in the Middle East, the limits of diplomatic processes, and the importance of legal frameworks in moments of crisis. She highlights the importance of hope and explains why walking away has never been an option.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.34 min - Laura Chinchilla on Leading with Passion, Empathy, and IntegrityAs democratic norms feel increasingly fragile, Laura Chinchilla argues that political leadership can still be a force for good. The former president of Costa Rica speaks to Amanda and Nathalie about recent events in Venezuela while offering a hopeful lens on the broader multilateral system. She reflects on the pride and challenges of being Costa Rica’s first woman president, the importance of holding the line against disinformation, and why public service can still be a source of purpose and integrity.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.42 min - Naomi Chazan on Democracy, Division, and the Work That Never EndsWhat does it take to sustain democracy in times of crisis? Naomi Chazan joins Amanda and Nathalie to remind us that democratic systems, like gardens, must be constantly tended. From Israel’s internal divisions to the global erosion of democratic norms, she explores the role of civil society, women’s leadership, and the never-ending work of keeping democracy alive.
Naomi Chazan is Professor Emerita of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and senior research fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute.
Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.
Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.
Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.34 min
About Power & Purpose
From the publisher's feed
Power & Purpose explores the human side of global leadership. Hosted by Amanda Sloat and Nathalie Tocci – former advisors to the US President and EU High Representative turned professors – this…
podcast features candid conversations with senior government officials, offering an inside look at how power, values, and purpose intersect in public life.
These conversations go beyond the headlines to offer a personal window into leadership at the highest levels. Guests reflect on pivotal moments, difficult decisions, and lessons learned when the stakes were high. They speak openly about their proudest achievements and missed opportunities, how they managed pressure, and what it takes to lead through complexity and uncertainty.
Drawing on their own experience in government and academia on both sides of the Atlantic, Amanda and Nathalie bring insider perspectives to conversations that are as personal as they are political. You'll hear the stories that don't make it into official briefings.
Whether you're deeply engaged in foreign policy or simply curious about how leaders navigate impossible choices, these conversations reveal what leadership actually looks and feels like. In an era of political cynicism, Power & Purpose offers something rare: honest reflections from people who have chosen to serve and proof that purpose-driven leadership is still possible.
These conversations go beyond the headlines to offer a personal window into leadership at the highest levels. Guests reflect on pivotal moments, difficult decisions, and lessons learned when the stakes were high. They speak openly about their proudest achievements and missed opportunities, how they managed pressure, and what it takes to lead through complexity and uncertainty.
Drawing on their own experience in government and academia on both sides of the Atlantic, Amanda and Nathalie bring insider perspectives to conversations that are as personal as they are political. You'll hear the stories that don't make it into official briefings.
Whether you're deeply engaged in foreign policy or simply curious about how leaders navigate impossible choices, these conversations reveal what leadership actually looks and feels like. In an era of political cynicism, Power & Purpose offers something rare: honest reflections from people who have chosen to serve and proof that purpose-driven leadership is still possible.
- Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in International Relations in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain. Most recently, she served as Special Assistant to President Biden and Senior Director for Europe in the National Security Council. She also worked in the State Department and House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee. She has a PhD in Politics from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Political Theory from James Madison College at Michigan State University.
- Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy. She is also Director of the Instituto Affari Internazionali. She previously served as Special Advisor to EU High Representatives Federica Mogherini and Josep Borrell. She has a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of Oxford.