The Future of Diplomacy: Preparing the Next Generation of Diplomats

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In most countries, new diplomats are not sufficiently prepared to carry out their duties. Lacking many of the skills needed to work in embassies and foreign ministries, and having received almost no formal training, they spend years learning fundamental competencies on the job. That hurts the effectiveness and impact of diplomacy globally.

Nicholas Kralev, the founding executive director of the Washington International Diplomatic Academy, will share his experience designing and executing professional diplomacy training. He will also discuss his book, "Diplomatic Tradecraft," the first-ever practical diplomacy textbook, which was recently published by Cambridge University Press.

A former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent, Mr. Kralev accompanied U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright on their travels around the world. His books include "America’s Other Army: The U.S. Foreign Service and 21st-Century Diplomacy" and "Diplomats in the Trenches."

Mr. Kralev has visited 107 countries and more than 80 U.S. embassies. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School and speaks five languages.