Samantha Power on Diplomacy, Motherhood, and the 24-7 Job 'of a Lifetime'

At 42, Samantha Power became the youngest person to be appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Now, she is a powerful force in steering America’s foreign policy and dictating intervention abroad. “My style in diplomacy is my style as a human being—I’m very direct and very honest,” she says in this video. Despite being surrounded by men on the security council, she admits that she carries a lot of clout as an American. “We’re the largest donor, we’re the host country, we’re the superpower—so people’s ability to be dismissive or patronizing with me are limited.” Power is also a mother of two young children. Balancing motherhood with a job that bends to global events is difficult, but Power says it informs her work in meaningful ways. “It’s not ideal to always be one eye on the blackberry, and two arms around my children,” she explains. “For the sake of mothers out there who don’t have the blackberry but do have the children and are hoping someone will be raising their voice on their behalf, it’s a great privilege.”

This is the fifth episode of The Atlantic’s video series “Women and Leadership,” which explores insights and advice from five women in politics, entertainment, and tech.

[cheryljoseph]

I'm not sure why the comments on this are so disparaging, but I'd like to counter them by saying that I'm not even American, but I find Samantha's work to be extraordinary. Her book, The Education of an Idealist, is an inspiration to me. Thank you, Sam Power!

[zanirani]

Thank you for your service, Ambassador! Loved the book as well. God bless you and your family.

[robertsimms]

What about Libya's children? What about their country? And no, Gaddafi would never had decimated his beloved Libya. For every "good" Samantha Powers would argue exists for removing him, there are several reasons for not

[MykeystoJoy]

My mother has been an ambassador of my country several time, i get to be the " ambassadors daughter" people make documentaries, shows and even movies about it. But through my tv show that will air on christmas time.. i will reveal the truth of the pressure i have felt and the world you do not see. ♥️ i admire this woman, thank u for this video and for the amazing job you have done - starlight. Ps: trailers of my show will be on my youtube

[zacharyreshovsky]

Samantha Power has been a long-time real life heroine of mine. In addition to her brilliant work for the Obama Administration and Pulitzer Prize for A Problem from Hell she is an exceptionally graceful and righteous woman. We need more moral beacons of light to counteract the darkness that has encompassed large parts of the West over the past 5 years. I look forward to seeing what Ambassador Power will do at USAID and am enthused for her!

I have several friends who are all really interested in foreign policy who are also theater and dramatic obsessed. We have a long-time obsession with Samantha Power's personal life story as akin to a major character in high fantasy. We also like listening to Lana Del Rey's songs about great American Lorde's album PURE HEROINE and comparing her to lyrics in Lorde's songs.

[orange]

Why so much hate? this is one of the hardest jobs in the world.

[gudvaregud]

What happened with Libia and other countries in Africa miss Power?

[kimora]

Love listening to her share those experiences!

[CARIB]

Great behind the scenes video, it humanized her.

[akkbuilders]

Samantha, you're an amazing person!

[BobJohnson]

Amazing that American diplomats even show their face in view of Afghanistan and Iraq

[derickjordan]

God bless you Ambassador power and your two beautiful children's!!

[Enzorgullochapin]

- Truth is singular. Its "versions" are mistruths -
Sonmi-451

[luarluar]

THE WRONG VISIONARIES
Right now there are visionaries that want to better the world, save humanity; so they act to achieve this wonderful idea.
But, to achive their vision, they took wrong actions because of their ignorance, misled ambitions and miscalculation,

causing
in the end enormous pain, suffering death.
Beware of the WRONG VISIONARIES.

[madams]

the salience of her neocon-ishness is more prominent than anything else she has brought.

[aleksandravasileva]

Draga Samantha bi ve zamolila zanesto. Imam 74 godini i pred 2 godini mi ja amputiraa nogata. Vo momentov sum na rehabilitacija a inaku sum privremeno smestena vo starski dom. Bi ve zamolila ako mozete da mi pomognete da pronajdam garsoniera od 28-30 kvadrati. Kje plakjam stanarina i ostanati trosoci.mozebi kje se zacudite sto vi se obrakjam no ne znam kade vekje da se obratam . Vi blagodaram. So pocit i topli pozdravi od Skopje Makedonija.💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[therooster]

A woman responsible for starving countless children to death giving advice on being a mother. Hope her kids find this fact out

[camilledarley]

It makes me so happy to know that my children are growing up in a world with politicians like Samantha Powers. We need more people (particularly women) in powerful positions who understand and care about what the citizenry wants, too. This video was very inspirational.

[agnesberg]

Samatha power isa militant och agly women

[dezimarshall]

There are 16 ambassadors and they ALL MEN.
*Cues " Walk Like A Man "