Political appointments are an integral part of national security and foreign policy leadership. As we prepare for the next presidential transition, LCWINS will host a series of webinars to help more women pursue, prepare for, and succeed in these pivotal roles.
This “Political Appointments: Managing for Success” session highlights what success looks like for political appointees. You’ll hear from LCWINS Leadership Council member Virginia Blaser, a former State Department official who’ll distill 30+ years of experience into a handful of tactics to help women manage and lead for success. Love Rutledge, a senior executive in the Department of Defense, will guide the discussion with the kinds of keen questions that drive her popular FedUpward Podcast.
This one-hour discussion surfaces some of the most important leadership lessons learned through our speakers’ decades of public service and leverages the collective experience and feedback of former appointees in the bipartisan LCWINS community.
Virginia Blaser is a tech-driven CEO, founder, and AI inventor with over three decades of experience leading organizations and driving innovation across the public and private sectors. As the CEO and founder of Blaser Global, she advises corporations, NGOs, and governments on leadership, operational strategy, and the ethical integration of AI into diplomacy, development, and foreign affairs. A serial entrepreneur, Virginia has launched and scaled multiple startups, secured venture capital investments, and developed AI-powered tools, including a patent-pending platform that transforms images into customizable products — merging technology, design, and accessibility at scale. Before entering the private sector, Virginia served as a senior U.S. diplomat for over 30 years across three continents — including five years as acting U.S. ambassador to five countries. She managed billion-dollar budgets, navigated complex political and economic challenges, and advanced U.S. interests on the global stage. Virginia is the author of The Manager’s Workbook, described by the Foreign Service Journal as a “must-read” for aspiring and experienced leaders. She serves on several boards, including Cape BPO, the President’s Advisory Council at Pathfinder International, and the board of IRPIA, an Africa-based think tank focused on innovation, governance, and policy impact. She also sits on the advisory boards of Tilting Futures and Crisis Path, helping shape global strategies on leadership, innovation, and resilience. Her work reflects her passions: empowering women and youth, advancing innovation, and shaping the future of leadership in the age of AI.
