I recently spoke at a conference of MBAs from all over the U.S. who gathered at Columbia University for a discussion about public service. I was proud to be part of a panel that included Seth Wheeler and Randal Quarles. The discussion was rich and included ways that up-and-coming business minds can be focused on policy and public service. One of the questions that came up most often after my panel was, “How do you know when it’s the time to get out of the private sector so you can enter into public service or international relations work?” I love telling people that you can and should be doing both. It’s not an either/or question.
If you want to be involved in the international arena, there is no point in waiting for it to come to you. I know too many people who, after a successful (and often lucrative) few years in a job will call me to complain about regrets that they didn’t get involved in international work. They will often tell me that they don’t know where to start and feel that the window has closed for them to get into the global aspect of their field or within their organization.
There are organizations in every community that will help you connect with the global world, whether or not your day job puts you in the international arena. Just because you don’t deal with Dubai on a daily basis or jet to Capetown, you can still be part of the conversation. From the World Affairs Council to the United Nations Association to Sister Cities or Rotary, there are hundreds of organizations that invite business leaders to meet with global issues and talk with the people who are driving policy around the world. Diaspora organizations are an excellent way to give back to a homeland that you care about and keep abreast of what is happening in a country that interests you. I don’t know any Diaspora organization that wouldn’t welcome someone who cares about their culture or people, even if they don’t have a direct or blood link to the place. Many of these organizations have business advisory councils and entrepreneurship boards. These are great ways to get involved.
I invited the MBAs I spoke with to consider keeping in close contact with these organizations and volunteering, serving on boards, and helping keep their international eyes open. Given the high quality of the people that I met today, I think that the private sector is in good hands…and so is our global scene.