Course Description: This course prepares diplomats and foreign policy professionals to lead embassies, consulates, and international missions. Participants will explore management strategies, interagency coordination, security planning, personnel development, and strategic leadership of country teams. Through case studies and simulations, learners will strengthen their capacity to represent national interests while managing high-functioning, cross-cultural teams.
Course Length: 6 weeks (36 total instructional hours)
Proficiency Level: Advanced
Prerequisite: Completion of a lower-intermediate ESL course or equivalent language proficiency
Course Objectives:- Define the structure and mandate of diplomatic missions and country teams.
- Evaluate leadership roles and responsibilities of heads of mission.
- Apply strategic planning and visioning tools to mission operations.
- Manage personnel, budgets, and security with transparency and accountability.
- Foster interagency coordination and shared mission performance.
- Support morale, inclusion, and performance across diverse teams.
- Navigate crises, threats, and political transitions effectively.
- Lead public outreach and high-level representation for the mission.
- Coordinate policy messaging and bilateral or multilateral engagement.
- Develop a leadership plan for managing a country team in a complex environment.