[Applause] so in 2013 my husband Bob and I were
so in 2013 my husband Bob and I were
so in 2013 my husband Bob and I were sitting on the couch in our living room
sitting on the couch in our living room
sitting on the couch in our living room when the telephone rang much to our
when the telephone rang much to our
when the telephone rang much to our surprise it was President Obama on the
surprise it was President Obama on the
surprise it was President Obama on the other line
other line
other line and he was calling to ask my husband if
and he was calling to ask my husband if
and he was calling to ask my husband if he wanted to be the US ambassador to
he wanted to be the US ambassador to
he wanted to be the US ambassador to Portugal you cannot imagine how excited
Portugal you cannot imagine how excited
Portugal you cannot imagine how excited we were by this phone call it was a
we were by this phone call it was a
we were by this phone call it was a once-in-a-lifetime call for sure
once-in-a-lifetime call for sure
once-in-a-lifetime call for sure well something you probably don’t know
well something you probably don’t know
well something you probably don’t know when you’re nominated by the president
when you’re nominated by the president
when you’re nominated by the president to be an ambassador not only you as the
to be an ambassador not only you as the
to be an ambassador not only you as the ambassador really but your spouse is
ambassador really but your spouse is
ambassador really but your spouse is required to go to ambassador school
required to go to ambassador school
required to go to ambassador school ambassador school takes place at the
ambassador school takes place at the
ambassador school takes place at the Foreign Service Institute in Virginia
Foreign Service Institute in Virginia
Foreign Service Institute in Virginia and it lasts for two weeks it’s a great
and it lasts for two weeks it’s a great
and it lasts for two weeks it’s a great program but for me it was a little
program but for me it was a little
program but for me it was a little problematic because I was running a
problematic because I was running a
problematic because I was running a business that I created 20 years ago and
business that I created 20 years ago and
business that I created 20 years ago and I knew I couldn’t be in Virginia for
I knew I couldn’t be in Virginia for
I knew I couldn’t be in Virginia for those full two weeks because I needed to
those full two weeks because I needed to
those full two weeks because I needed to be working back at my company
be working back at my company
be working back at my company nonetheless I was going to do what I
nonetheless I was going to do what I
nonetheless I was going to do what I could to be there as frequently as
could to be there as frequently as
could to be there as frequently as possible so we get you our first week of
possible so we get you our first week of
possible so we get you our first week of classes and the class that stands out
classes and the class that stands out
classes and the class that stands out the most was the class on what is an
the most was the class on what is an
the most was the class on what is an ambassador reial spouses role when she
ambassador reial spouses role when she
ambassador reial spouses role when she because typically it’s a shade gets
because typically it’s a shade gets
because typically it’s a shade gets overseas and what I hear is that an
overseas and what I hear is that an
overseas and what I hear is that an ambassador spouses role is about
ambassador spouses role is about
ambassador spouses role is about promoting art promoting literature
promoting art promoting literature
promoting art promoting literature promoting music it’s about organizing
promoting music it’s about organizing
promoting music it’s about organizing the diplomatic bazaar it is about
the diplomatic bazaar it is about
the diplomatic bazaar it is about hosting and attending events
hosting and attending events
hosting and attending events with other diplomatic spouses it’s also
with other diplomatic spouses it’s also
with other diplomatic spouses it’s also about hosting and attending formal
about hosting and attending formal
about hosting and attending formal receptions and dinners with the
receptions and dinners with the
receptions and dinners with the Ambassador well I started getting a
Ambassador well I started getting a
Ambassador well I started getting a little more apprehensive because well
little more apprehensive because well
little more apprehensive because well for two reasons the first was my
for two reasons the first was my
for two reasons the first was my interest really isn’t in culture my
interest really isn’t in culture my
interest really isn’t in culture my interest is really in business and the
interest is really in business and the
interest is really in business and the second part was because I had this
second part was because I had this
second part was because I had this business in the United States that I was
business in the United States that I was
business in the United States that I was running although I wanted to be in
running although I wanted to be in
running although I wanted to be in Portugal frequently the reality was that
Portugal frequently the reality was that
Portugal frequently the reality was that I was going to be in Boston
I was going to be in Boston
I was going to be in Boston more than Portugal and so the idea of
more than Portugal and so the idea of
more than Portugal and so the idea of having to host and attend all these
having to host and attend all these
having to host and attend all these receptions were just not a reality for
receptions were just not a reality for
receptions were just not a reality for me well my fear got even larger the
me well my fear got even larger the
me well my fear got even larger the following week we had a workshop on
following week we had a workshop on
following week we had a workshop on media training and of course because I
media training and of course because I
media training and of course because I had to be in Boston the day before the
had to be in Boston the day before the
had to be in Boston the day before the workshop for my own business I missed
workshop for my own business I missed
workshop for my own business I missed receiving the homework assignment but
receiving the homework assignment but
receiving the homework assignment but when I flew into Virginia that night I
when I flew into Virginia that night I
when I flew into Virginia that night I spoke to Bob and I asked him for my
spoke to Bob and I asked him for my
spoke to Bob and I asked him for my homework assignment and he gave me the
homework assignment and he gave me the
homework assignment and he gave me the homework assignment and the homework
homework assignment and the homework
homework assignment and the homework assignment said think about a world
assignment said think about a world
assignment said think about a world event something that’s going on that’s
event something that’s going on that’s
event something that’s going on that’s really important and think of the us’s
really important and think of the us’s
really important and think of the us’s role in that event and be ready to speak
role in that event and be ready to speak
role in that event and be ready to speak on it in class for about five minutes
on it in class for about five minutes
on it in class for about five minutes the next day so I read the papers and
the next day so I read the papers and
the next day so I read the papers and something that really fascinated me at
something that really fascinated me at
something that really fascinated me at the time was the Mideast peace talks and
the time was the Mideast peace talks and
the time was the Mideast peace talks and I studied it I prepared and Bob and I
I studied it I prepared and Bob and I
I studied it I prepared and Bob and I arrived at the Foreign Service Institute
arrived at the Foreign Service Institute
arrived at the Foreign Service Institute the next morning and we saw something
the next morning and we saw something
the next morning and we saw something that really surprised me there was a
that really surprised me there was a
that really surprised me there was a sign to the right that said ambassador’s
sign to the right that said ambassador’s
sign to the right that said ambassador’s meeting training and there was one to
meeting training and there was one to
meeting training and there was one to the left
the left
the left that said ambassadors spouses media
that said ambassadors spouses media
that said ambassadors spouses media training I said okay I went to my media
training I said okay I went to my media
training I said okay I went to my media trainer
trainer
trainer i sat down and the instructor got up and
i sat down and the instructor got up and
i sat down and the instructor got up and she called on the first spouse the
she called on the first spouse the
she called on the first spouse the spouse happened to have been the wife of
spouse happened to have been the wife of
spouse happened to have been the wife of the Ambassador to Belize and she got up
the Ambassador to Belize and she got up
the Ambassador to Belize and she got up there and she started talking about how
there and she started talking about how
there and she started talking about how much she loved scuba diving and how she
much she loved scuba diving and how she
much she loved scuba diving and how she cannot wait to scuba dive in Belize and
cannot wait to scuba dive in Belize and
cannot wait to scuba dive in Belize and about the beautiful fish and the
about the beautiful fish and the
about the beautiful fish and the turquoise waters and I was in shock
turquoise waters and I was in shock
turquoise waters and I was in shock because this was nothing about world
because this was nothing about world
because this was nothing about world events and when she finished the
events and when she finished the
events and when she finished the instructor said you did an incredible
instructor said you did an incredible
instructor said you did an incredible job that was wonderful
job that was wonderful
job that was wonderful and I’m even more shocked but okay well
and I’m even more shocked but okay well
and I’m even more shocked but okay well it so happens I got called next by the
it so happens I got called next by the
it so happens I got called next by the instructor and I got up and I was very
instructor and I got up and I was very
instructor and I got up and I was very nervous and I stood there and I started
nervous and I stood there and I started
nervous and I stood there and I started talking about the Mideast peace talks
talking about the Mideast peace talks
talking about the Mideast peace talks and all of a sudden I hear stop who do
and all of a sudden I hear stop who do
and all of a sudden I hear stop who do you think you are an ambassador and I I
you think you are an ambassador and I I
you think you are an ambassador and I I didn’t understand and I said what are
didn’t understand and I said what are
didn’t understand and I said what are you talking about she said your homework
you talking about she said your homework
you talking about she said your homework assignment I said here’s my homework
assignment I said here’s my homework
assignment I said here’s my homework assignment and I gave her what my
assignment and I gave her what my
assignment and I gave her what my husband had given to me and she looked
husband had given to me and she looked
husband had given to me and she looked at me and she said that wasn’t your
at me and she said that wasn’t your
at me and she said that wasn’t your homework assignment that was the
homework assignment that was the
homework assignment that was the ambassador’s homework assignments the
ambassador’s homework assignments the
ambassador’s homework assignments the spouses were supposed to talk about
spouses were supposed to talk about
spouses were supposed to talk about culture well I was now in a really bad
culture well I was now in a really bad
culture well I was now in a really bad place because not only again was I not
place because not only again was I not
place because not only again was I not interested in talking about something
interested in talking about something
interested in talking about something I’m not interested in talking about but
I’m not interested in talking about but
I’m not interested in talking about but in some ways what was worse to me was
in some ways what was worse to me was
in some ways what was worse to me was that I wasn’t able to speak about the
that I wasn’t able to speak about the
that I wasn’t able to speak about the things that mattered to men so still I
things that mattered to men so still I
things that mattered to men so still I felt so incredibly lucky for the
felt so incredibly lucky for the
felt so incredibly lucky for the opportunity that Bob and I had been
opportunity that Bob and I had been
opportunity that Bob and I had been given by President
given by President
given by President so regardless of what went on in
so regardless of what went on in
so regardless of what went on in ambassadorial school what I knew is that
ambassadorial school what I knew is that
ambassadorial school what I knew is that I really wanted to build a bridge
I really wanted to build a bridge
I really wanted to build a bridge between the u.s. and Portugal and I
between the u.s. and Portugal and I
between the u.s. and Portugal and I really wanted in whatever I did to make
really wanted in whatever I did to make
really wanted in whatever I did to make a lasting positive impact on the
a lasting positive impact on the
a lasting positive impact on the Portuguese people Bob and I arrived here
Portuguese people Bob and I arrived here
Portuguese people Bob and I arrived here in April of 2014 and when we arrived
in April of 2014 and when we arrived
in April of 2014 and when we arrived here I was here for one full week before
here I was here for one full week before
here I was here for one full week before I had to go back to Boston but during
I had to go back to Boston but during
I had to go back to Boston but during that first week we hosted a breakfast
that first week we hosted a breakfast
that first week we hosted a breakfast for the American Chamber of Commerce and
for the American Chamber of Commerce and
for the American Chamber of Commerce and it was there and through the discussions
it was there and through the discussions
it was there and through the discussions I heard from me 25 people there and by
I heard from me 25 people there and by
I heard from me 25 people there and by the way 24 of them were men there was
the way 24 of them were men there was
the way 24 of them were men there was only one woman country manager there but
only one woman country manager there but
only one woman country manager there but what they spoke about was the Portuguese
what they spoke about was the Portuguese
what they spoke about was the Portuguese economy which had been in seventh year
economy which had been in seventh year
economy which had been in seventh year of an economic downturn and it was so
of an economic downturn and it was so
of an economic downturn and it was so clear the impact the economy was having
clear the impact the economy was having
clear the impact the economy was having on the country and what was clear to me
on the country and what was clear to me
on the country and what was clear to me is that the economy was not just
is that the economy was not just
is that the economy was not just impacting the country but it was
impacting the country but it was
impacting the country but it was impacting the spirit of the Portuguese
impacting the spirit of the Portuguese
impacting the spirit of the Portuguese people so it was obvious that one of the
people so it was obvious that one of the
people so it was obvious that one of the things that Portugal needed most in 2014
things that Portugal needed most in 2014
things that Portugal needed most in 2014 was an economic boost of some sort well
was an economic boost of some sort well
was an economic boost of some sort well at the same time I also recognized a
at the same time I also recognized a
at the same time I also recognized a great untapped resource in Portugal and
great untapped resource in Portugal and
great untapped resource in Portugal and that is Portuguese women studies prove
that is Portuguese women studies prove
that is Portuguese women studies prove that when women thrive the economy
that when women thrive the economy
that when women thrive the economy thrives there are a number of reports
thrives there are a number of reports
thrives there are a number of reports out there including the McKinsey report
out there including the McKinsey report
out there including the McKinsey report on diversity that say when women are
on diversity that say when women are
on diversity that say when women are also in leadership positions companies
also in leadership positions companies
also in leadership positions companies have greater profitability and they
have greater profitability and they
have greater profitability and they actually recover more quickly from
actually recover more quickly from
actually recover more quickly from economic downturns and despite the fact
economic downturns and despite the fact
economic downturns and despite the fact that there were more women graduating
that there were more women graduating
that there were more women graduating with graduate degrees from Portuguese
with graduate degrees from Portuguese
with graduate degrees from Portuguese universities still women held
universities still women held
universities still women held less than 10% of the leadership
less than 10% of the leadership
less than 10% of the leadership positions in corporations in Portugal
positions in corporations in Portugal
positions in corporations in Portugal and the women that did helped holds
and the women that did helped holds
and the women that did helped holds higher positions may 25% less than their
higher positions may 25% less than their
higher positions may 25% less than their male counterparts and the one thing that
male counterparts and the one thing that
male counterparts and the one thing that I know well and that I am passionate
I know well and that I am passionate
I know well and that I am passionate about is growing businesses and
about is growing businesses and
about is growing businesses and understanding what it’s like as a woman
understanding what it’s like as a woman
understanding what it’s like as a woman in business to deal with inequality and
in business to deal with inequality and
in business to deal with inequality and so it was at that point I had my aha
so it was at that point I had my aha
so it was at that point I had my aha moment and what I realized I needed to
moment and what I realized I needed to
moment and what I realized I needed to do and what I could do to make that long
do and what I could do to make that long
do and what I could do to make that long and lasting difference was to take the
and lasting difference was to take the
and lasting difference was to take the opportunities that I had in the United
opportunities that I had in the United
opportunities that I had in the United States as a small business owner that
States as a small business owner that
States as a small business owner that most benefited my business and bring
most benefited my business and bring
most benefited my business and bring them to Portugal and I now knew the
them to Portugal and I now knew the
them to Portugal and I now knew the bridge I wanted to create and that
bridge I wanted to create and that
bridge I wanted to create and that bridge has a name and it is connect to
bridge has a name and it is connect to
bridge has a name and it is connect to success and connect to successes mission
success and connect to successes mission
success and connect to successes mission is to help grow the Portuguese economy
is to help grow the Portuguese economy
is to help grow the Portuguese economy by supporting the creation and growth of
by supporting the creation and growth of
by supporting the creation and growth of women-owned businesses the program has
women-owned businesses the program has
women-owned businesses the program has four main initiatives each one of the
four main initiatives each one of the
four main initiatives each one of the initiatives is free and each one of the
initiatives is free and each one of the
initiatives is free and each one of the initiatives relate to connecting were
initiatives relate to connecting were
initiatives relate to connecting were the women of Portugal with other people
the women of Portugal with other people
the women of Portugal with other people as well as with resources the first
as well as with resources the first
as well as with resources the first component of the program is a corporate
component of the program is a corporate
component of the program is a corporate mentoring program where a team of
mentoring program where a team of
mentoring program where a team of subject matter experts work with a woman
subject matter experts work with a woman
subject matter experts work with a woman business owner over the course of a year
business owner over the course of a year
business owner over the course of a year to help her work on instead of in her
to help her work on instead of in her
to help her work on instead of in her business the second component is an mba
business the second component is an mba
business the second component is an mba master’s consulting program we’re a
master’s consulting program we’re a
master’s consulting program we’re a group of students from the top
group of students from the top
group of students from the top university
university
university and Portugal will serve as business
and Portugal will serve as business
and Portugal will serve as business consultants for a woman owned business
consultants for a woman owned business
consultants for a woman owned business to help her solve a specific business
to help her solve a specific business
to help her solve a specific business problem over the course of the semester
problem over the course of the semester
problem over the course of the semester this program also connects Portuguese
this program also connects Portuguese
this program also connects Portuguese business students with real practical
business students with real practical
business students with real practical experience the third component or
experience the third component or
experience the third component or workshops that will offer both practical
workshops that will offer both practical
workshops that will offer both practical business skills as well as soft skills
business skills as well as soft skills
business skills as well as soft skills and the last component which is directly
and the last component which is directly
and the last component which is directly a people-to-people connection is
a people-to-people connection is
a people-to-people connection is networking something that has been
networking something that has been
networking something that has been missing in Portugal for women you know
missing in Portugal for women you know
missing in Portugal for women you know it was fairly amazing that this program
it was fairly amazing that this program
it was fairly amazing that this program which really took American values such
which really took American values such
which really took American values such as corporate social responsibility
as corporate social responsibility
as corporate social responsibility gender equality and entrepreneurship and
gender equality and entrepreneurship and
gender equality and entrepreneurship and brought them to Portugal it was amazing
brought them to Portugal it was amazing
brought them to Portugal it was amazing that this program that was actually
that this program that was actually
that this program that was actually started by an ambassador’s spouse became
started by an ambassador’s spouse became
started by an ambassador’s spouse became the Embassy’s flagship initiative and
the Embassy’s flagship initiative and
the Embassy’s flagship initiative and what I really want to tell you about now
what I really want to tell you about now
what I really want to tell you about now are the results because that’s what
are the results because that’s what
are the results because that’s what really matters
really matters
really matters today it’s three years after the program
today it’s three years after the program
today it’s three years after the program began my husband and I are no longer in
began my husband and I are no longer in
began my husband and I are no longer in Portugal it’s been almost a year since
Portugal it’s been almost a year since
Portugal it’s been almost a year since my husband was the ambassador but we
my husband was the ambassador but we
my husband was the ambassador but we have nine hundred and two women
have nine hundred and two women
have nine hundred and two women registered in the program we are on to
registered in the program we are on to
registered in the program we are on to our fourth corporate mentoring edition
our fourth corporate mentoring edition
our fourth corporate mentoring edition we have already helped ninety-eight
we have already helped ninety-eight
we have already helped ninety-eight women-owned businesses through corporate
women-owned businesses through corporate
women-owned businesses through corporate mentoring we’re on our sixth edition of
mentoring we’re on our sixth edition of
mentoring we’re on our sixth edition of the MBA masters consulting program we’ve
the MBA masters consulting program we’ve
the MBA masters consulting program we’ve helped 75 women-owned businesses solve
helped 75 women-owned businesses solve
helped 75 women-owned businesses solve specific problems we’ve provided real
specific problems we’ve provided real
specific problems we’ve provided real practical experience to more than 250
practical experience to more than 250
practical experience to more than 250 business students in Portugal on top of
business students in Portugal on top of
business students in Portugal on top of that we now have had almost 70 workshops
that we now have had almost 70 workshops
that we now have had almost 70 workshops health and close to 1,500 people it’s
health and close to 1,500 people it’s
health and close to 1,500 people it’s been absolutely amazing
been absolutely amazing
been absolutely amazing on top of that
on top of that
on top of that we are now in the Azores and we are
we are now in the Azores and we are
we are now in the Azores and we are expanding to Africa but what I really
expanding to Africa but what I really
expanding to Africa but what I really learned and what I really realized is
learned and what I really realized is
learned and what I really realized is that bridges are about people and
that bridges are about people and
that bridges are about people and connecting people and it doesn’t really
connecting people and it doesn’t really
connecting people and it doesn’t really matter whether the bridge is centered
matter whether the bridge is centered
matter whether the bridge is centered around scuba-diving culture or economic
around scuba-diving culture or economic
around scuba-diving culture or economic initiatives what matters most to have a
initiatives what matters most to have a
initiatives what matters most to have a strong and sustainable bridge is that
strong and sustainable bridge is that
strong and sustainable bridge is that that bridge and that bridge diplomatic
that bridge and that bridge diplomatic
that bridge and that bridge diplomatic or otherwise be built with passion or
or otherwise be built with passion or
or otherwise be built with passion or authenticity and commitment thank you
authenticity and commitment thank you
authenticity and commitment thank you [Applause]
”
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