Building the Future: Freedom, Prosperity, and Foreign Policy with Dan Runde

In this podcast, Dan is joined by former Secretary of the Navy, John Lehman. Secretary Lehman served under President Ronald Reagan and took office at the age of just 38 years old. This podcast explores the influence of the U.S. Navy during the Cold War and Secretary Lehman’s new book Oceans Ventured: Winning the Cold War at Sea. One of Secretary Lehman’s greatest achievements was Ocean Venture ’81...

In this episode, Dan sits down with Lindsay Lloyd, Deputy Director of the Human Freedom Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, to talk about the health of democracy worldwide. Mr. Lloyd was involved in the Democracy Project: a joint national survey by the Bush Institute, Freedom House, and the Penn Biden center that examines American attitudes toward the state of democracy at home and the imp...

This week Dan hosts Rick Barton, former U.S. Ambassador to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and author of the recently published book, Peace Works: America’s Unifying Role in a Turbulent World. Rick discusses his extensive career trajectory at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) – where he founded the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) – the UN High Commi...

In this episode, Dan is joined by Alec Ross - technology policy expert and author of the bestseller The Industries of the Future. This book explores the technological and economic trends that will shape the next ten years and is targeted towards non-engineers interested in learning about cyber, AI, and big data. Alec served as Senior Advisor for Innovation for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a...

This week, Dan is joined by Romina Bandura, Senior Fellow with the Project on Prosperity and Development and the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS. They discuss her new report on the Future of Global Stability: The World of Work in Developing Countries. By 2030, there will be more than 3 billion people under the age of 25 years old. The future of work has recently attracted much at...

In this week’s podcast, Dan is joined by Todd Moss, Executive Director of the Energy for Growth Hub. On September 27, Todd launched the Energy for Growth Hub, a new global network connecting research and policymakers to build high-energy systems. Todd has spent most of his career at the Center for Global Development, where his work has focused on Africa, energy, and development finance. Todd also...

In this installment of “Building the Future with Dan Runde,” International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder discusses how technology is defining what work, careers, and industry will look like in the future. The ILO is at the forefront of ensuring that worker rights are preserved no matter how impactful the fourth industrial revolution is to current global labor markets. But the...

On this episode, Dan is joined by C.D. Glin, President of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). Mr. Glin has substantial experience in Africa, beginning with the Peace Corps in Ghana and South Africa. Mr. Glin also worked for the IFC in Nigeria, for the Peace Corps under President Barack Obama, and most recently as Associate Director for Africa at the Rockefeller Foundation. USADF is th...

On this episode, Dan is joined by David Bohigian, Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the United States’ development finance institution. Mr. Bohigian has considerable experience in both the public and private sectors, working for Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund as well several key trade roles under President George W. Bush. In thi...

Dan is joined by Agnes Dasewicz, Fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation and former Director of the Office of Private Capital and Microenterprise at USAID. Her career has spanned over 20 years in development finance, working at SEAF, AIG, and IFC at different points. In this episode, Dan and Agnes discuss the beginning of career working in private capital in emerging markets in Eastern Europe. During...

Dan is joined in this podcast by Michael Rawlings, the Mayor of Dallas and a member of our Task Force on Forced Migration. Before becoming Mayor, Mr. Rawlings worked in the private sector and was the CEO of Pizza Hut. One out of four residents in Dallas was born outside the United States. During his time in office, Mayor Rawlings was also confronted by the Ebola crisis when someone was diagnosed w...

In this podcast, Dan Runde is joined by Benn Steil, Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. In February 2018, Dr. Steil published a new book, The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War, that places foreign aid to Western Europe in the context of the Cold War and U.S. national security interests. You can find CSIS’ review of the book here. Dan and Dr....

Dan Runde is honored to be joined for this podcast by Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI). In his 25 years as President, Ken Wollack has been a champion of democracy along with support from NDI chair, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In this podcast, he discusses the challenges to democracy today and the lasting impact of events like the Arab Spring....

In this podcast, Dan Runde is joined by Ambassador James Michel, a Senior Advisor to the Project on Prosperity and Development at CSIS and former chair of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In January 2018, Ambassador Michel published a CSIS report, Managing Fragility and Promoting Resilience to Advance Peace, Security, and Sus...

This podcast features Daniella Ballou-Aares, a Partner for Dalberg Advisors and former Senior Advisor for Development to U.S. Secretaries of State John Kerry and Hillary Clinton. This discussion focuses on the role of blended finance in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Daniella also shares her thoughts on innovative data sources for development. To hear more from Daniella listen t...

This podcast features James A. Harmon, the Chairman of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund (EAEF). Mr. Harmon shares his unique and insightful experiences as Chairman of the EAEF, including the obstacles he had to overcome to make enterprise funds successful in Egypt. In the early 1990s, enterprise funds were innovative because they were given the unique and dual mandate to “do development” and...

This podcast features His Excellency Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United States. Relations between the United States and Pakistan have been strained in recent months. It is important for the United States and Pakistan to continue their 70-year relationship. Pakistan currently ranks as the sixth largest country in the world, and they will shortly becom...

This podcast features Shannon Green, who is the Senior Director of Programs at the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC). This podcast was recorded at the closing of Ms. Green’s time at CSIS. Her concluding remarks pose an optimistic view of the progress of human rights that reflects her hope for continued efforts. She brings deep experience in international development, human rights, and viole...

This podcast features Ambassador Casper Klynge, Denmark’s first Technology Ambassador. In this interview, Ambassador Klynge discusses his new role and the growing importance of technology and Silicon Valley in the development agenda. Ambassadors are typically found in Washington D.C., but Ambassador Klynge has been tasked with strengthening Denmark's relationship with technology giants like Facebo...

Andrew Natsios, former USAID Administrator and a key member of the CSIS Forced Migration Task Force, shares his views on the evolving role of USAID and international organizations and their responses to the forced migration crisis. More people are displaced today than any other point in human history. Mr. Natsios provides powerful insights in the root causes of the global migration crisis and the...

Antonio Rodiles, a Cuban dissident, opens up to Dan Runde in this podcast about the challenges he has faced opposing as an activist in Cuba and his hopes for political change. In addition, he discusses U.S.-Cuba relations and the ongoing challenges that have hindered the country’s progress. Tune in to hear more from our courageous guest.

In this podcast, Ambassador Jim Michel, Senior Adviser at CSIS and former U.S Ambassador to Guatemala, discusses the critical role of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) and the international dialogue around new approaches toward development.

Andrew Shearer, Director of the Alliances and American Leadership Project at CSIS, join Dan for this week’s podcast to discusses the importance of international partnerships and the changing landscape of the Asia-Pacific region. How can the United States and Australia strengthen their collaboration in fragile and conflict-affected places?

In this podcast, First Lady of Afghanistan, Rula Ghani, discusses the resiliency of Afghan women and their increasing re-emergence in grade schools, universities, and professions (such as engineering and law) after years of war and oppressive Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Mrs. Ghani has her finger on the pulse of women’s empowerment in Afghanistan and shares a variety of fascinating anecdotes – whi...

This week’s podcast features Lana Abu-Hijleh, who is the Palestine Country Director for Global Communities and a member of the CSIS Forced Migration Task Force. Lana shares the struggles she faced pursuing a career as an engineer growing up in Palestine and her inspiration for returning home. Palestine has made great strides in education, lowering the illiteracy rate to around 2 percent. In additi...