Lessons in leadership at home and abroad: A conversation with Susan Rice

Having served at the highest levels of executive branch leadership in the United States, Susan Rice is widely recognized as one of the most influential thinkers on both domestic and foreign policy. As U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security advisor in the Obama administration, she championed addressing human rights, poverty, climate change, LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights, public health, and nuclear non-proliferation as global priorities. As director of the Domestic Policy Council in the Biden administration, she was a critical player on a range of policy issues including health care, policing, gun safety, racial equity, and the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

On Thursday, September 5, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings hosted Ambassador Rice in a fireside chat with China Center Director and Senior Fellow Ryan Hass to discuss lessons in leadership she has gleaned through her work domestically and on the world stage. This in-person event will be livestreamed. Audience Q&A will follow the moderated discussion. Online viewers can submit questions by emailing [email protected].

This inaugural Jeffrey A. Bader Memorial Lecture launches an annual series designed to bring renowned speakers to Brookings and foster candid conversations among participants, inform policy debates, and educate the public. Jeffrey A. Bader was an esteemed member of the Brookings community from 2005 until his passing in 2023. He had a decades-long career spanning multiple administrations of both parties, serving in the U.S. Department of State, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and National Security Council. Through his dedicated public service, leadership, and mentorship of generations of policy officials and experts, Jeff was pivotal in shaping America’s approach to China and its strategy toward East Asia.