[Virtual] "Political Judgment: Governing in the Gray""

Leadership Seminar Series presented by the BPIA U.S. Foreign Affairs Leadership Project

In collaboration with the Partnership for Public Service and the Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS)

Thursday, February 18, 2027 | 6:30–7:30 PM ET | Virtual

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9794618227

Details, session PPT, zoom background here: https://iabpia.org/Leadership-Project

About the Session

Senior government officials rarely choose between a clearly right answer and a clearly wrong one. More often, they operate in the gray, balancing policy objectives against legal authorities, operational realities, political considerations, institutional interests, and reputational risk. This session explores how experienced leaders make consequential decisions when information is incomplete and every option carries tradeoffs.

What We’ll Discuss

• Making decisions with incomplete information
• Balancing policy, legal, political, operational, and institutional considerations
• When to push, pause, or escalate
• Advising principals when you disagree
• Maintaining trust through difficult internal debates
• Developing judgment over the course of a public-service career

Speakers

Amb. Julianne Smith

President, Clarion Strategies | Former U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO

Ambassador Julianne Smith is a national-security expert with three decades of experience in U.S. and European defense policy and transatlantic relations. Her government service includes U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State, Deputy National Security Advisor to Vice President Biden, and Principal Deputy for NATO and European Policy at the Department of Defense.

Chidi Blyden

CEO, Culturally Bound Consulting | Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs

Chidi Blyden is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs and currently serves as the CEO of Culturally Bound Consulting and the Executive Director of Harvard University’s Center for African Studies. Her experience brings a senior defense-policy perspective on leadership, national-security decision-making, and U.S.-Africa policy.

Reta Jo Lewis

Of Counsel, Husch Blackwell | Former Chair, President & CEO, Export-Import Bank of the United States

Reta Jo Lewis has held senior leadership positions spanning the White House, Department of State, presidential transition, and an independent federal agency. Her experience includes diplomacy, economic security, international trade, political affairs, and executive decision-making.