Leadership in Action
In this sophomore season, Leadership in Action goes inside the minds of skilled negotiators and practitioners, as they attempt to solve some of the world’s most intractable challenges. This trio of episodes begins with the story behind how the United Nations managed to contain the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. From there, we’ll turn the clock back to 1997, as the British government hands over of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China. The season will wrap up by peeling back the curtain on the 2015 negotiations with Iran to curb its nuclear weapons program.
Each episode in this series is accompanied by an education guide to allow teachers and students to bring these critical lessons into their classrooms to shape the next generation of leaders.
Leadership in Action is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Ministers Forum.
Episodes:
Season 3, Episode 2 | Bobi Wine
The Bertelsmann Foundation and Aspen Institute are pleased to announce the premiere of Season Three of the Leadership in Action series. In episode two, Bobi Wine, a beloved musician turned opposition political leader takes viewers inside his perilous fight for democracy in Uganda. This is his story, in his own words – his dream for democracy.
Season 3, Episode 1 | Jan Eliasson
The Bertelsmann Foundation and Aspen Institute are pleased to announce the premiere of Season Three of the Leadership in Action series. In episode one, Jan Eliasson, is a Swedish diplomat and former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, takes us through key moments of leadership in his career of diplomacy and peace keeping. This is his story, in his own words.
Season 2, Episode 3 | Federica Mogherini on negotiating the Iran Nuclear Deal
In Episode 3 of Leadership in Action Season 2, Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s former High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, takes viewers on a journey from her early years working in Rome and London to the halls of the Italian foreign ministry. Along the way, Mogherini shares her candid memories as a young woman rising to positions of influence in politics, and the lessons drawn from overcoming the obstacles placed in her path.
Season 2, Episode 2 | Malcolm Rifkind on the transfer of power in Hong Kong
In this episode, former British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind goes back in time to the 1990s, to examine the steps leading to the transfer of power in Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China. This episode offers a unique account of the contentious dialogue between London and Beijing that aimed to preserve democracy in Hong Kong after the British departure.
Season 2, Episode 1 | Susana Malcorra on the UN's efforts to stop the spread of Ebola
In Leadership in Action’s season two, episode one, Susana Malcorra, former Argentine Foreign Minister and Chef de Cabinet of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, takes viewers inside the United Nations’ efforts to combat the spread of Ebola across West Africa.
Season 1, Episode 1 | Russian Cyber-Attack on Estonia
In the premiere episode, former Estonian Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand takes us back in time to the Russian cyber-attack against Estonia in 2007, one of the first operations of its kind, which resulted in the paralysis of Estonian banks, media outlets, and government institutions. This episode provides a cautionary tale for those searching for additional tools to combat modern-day warfare in cyberspace. The tactics may have changed over time, but the lessons endure.
Season 1, Episode 2 | Madeleine Albright on the U.S. Response to the Conflict in Kosovo
Former American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright returns to one of the defining moments of her career to reflect on the U.S. intervention to end ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. From assessing the intentions of an unpredictable Serbian leader to managing the fallout from an accidental bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, this installment tells the tale of high stakes geopolitical negotiations, overcoming adversity, and what it takes to find one's voice.
Season 1, Episode 3 | George Papandreou on the Euro Crisis in Greece
Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou takes us back to 2009, when Greece was on the brink of economic collapse due to the European debt crisis. This is a story about sacrifice, difficult choices, and national resilience against imposing odds.