The International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) stands as a pivotal initiative designed to cultivate greater diversity within the upper echelons of international public service. This encompasses both governmental bodies and private non-profit organizations, addressing a critical need for varied perspectives in global leadership. ICAP’s core mission is to propel the careers of highly promising mid-career professionals from underrepresented groups, guiding them towards more influential positions in international affairs and solidifying the importance of an International Career Program in today’s global landscape.
At the heart of ICAP lies the firm belief that the rich tapestry of diversity within U.S. society should be mirrored in its global leadership. While various programs exist to broaden the pool of minority candidates equipped for successful public service and international careers, ICAP recognizes that simply increasing the number of qualified individuals is not enough. True diversity at senior levels requires dedicated effort to nurture and mentor talented professionals from underrepresented backgrounds, enabling them to ascend to the highest ranks of international public service. This international career program is meticulously structured to facilitate exactly this progression.
The Transformative ICAP Seminar at Aspen
The cornerstone of ICAP is its annual week-long seminar hosted at the Aspen Institute. This intensive program convenes mid-career professionals from underrepresented groups with seasoned senior officials, esteemed faculty, and experienced Aspen Institute staff. The seminar is further augmented by follow-up activities, ensuring sustained impact and reinforcing the benefits of this unique international career program.
Nestled in the inspiring mountain environment of Aspen, the seminar provides a sanctuary away from the daily grind, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in the program. This focused environment encourages deep reflection on their career trajectories and fosters the development of strong, lasting relationships within the cohort. The ICAP seminar in Aspen is carefully curated to include a blend of lectures, seminars, in-depth discussions, interactive workshops, informal networking opportunities, and compelling storytelling sessions, all designed to:
- Delve into the complex international problems and pressing policy issues that will demand the attention of senior officials in the coming decade.
- Analyze the essential characteristics, core values, diverse experiences, and necessary credentials associated with effective leadership, and explore pathways to acquire and cultivate these attributes.
- Examine the diverse career paths and rich experiences of individuals who have successfully reached senior positions, and assess the relevance of these patterns for those currently navigating their mid-career stages within an international career program.
- Discuss common career and life stages, providing strategies and frameworks for effectively managing the challenges and opportunities that arise.
- Address the specific obstacles and unique challenges faced by people of color in international careers, and collaboratively develop strategies to overcome these barriers.
- Underscore the paramount importance of diversity in fostering effective and high-quality leadership for the United States on the global stage in the years ahead.
- Formulate actionable plans to encourage greater participation of people of color in international affairs careers, including outreach initiatives led by mid-career participants targeting high school and college students, thus expanding the pipeline for future international career program participants.
- Emphasize the critical role of mentorship in international careers, actively facilitating mentoring relationships between senior officials and mid-career professionals, and empowering mid-career individuals to embrace mentoring roles themselves, creating a supportive ecosystem within the international career program.
- Cultivate strong bonds and enduring mutual support networks among participants, fostering connections that extend far beyond the Aspen seminar experience, creating a lasting community within this international career program.
Beyond the enriching group seminar sessions, each mid-career participant benefits from personalized one-on-one meetings with a dedicated career counselor. These individual sessions provide tailored career discussions, expert advice, and strategic planning guidance, further enhancing the personalized support offered by this comprehensive international career program.
Read more about the ICAP Seminar at Aspen.
The Visionary Behind ICAP: Associate Professor E. Thomas Rowe
ICAP was conceived and brought to life by E. Thomas Rowe, Associate Professor at the Josef Korbel School and Director of ICAP. Professor Rowe’s motivation stemmed from his direct experience as Associate Dean and Dean at the School, where he observed firsthand the persistent lack of diversity in senior international leadership roles, despite numerous efforts to address this issue. He recognized that while graduate fellowship programs successfully increased the number of talented and credentialed graduates from underrepresented groups, this alone did not translate into diverse leadership at the highest levels. The senior leadership in U.S. international affairs—across government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector—remained overwhelmingly white and disproportionately male.
Professor Rowe identified a critical flaw in the prevailing assumption within graduate institutions: the belief that a larger pool of diverse candidates and the reduction of overt discriminatory practices would automatically lead to leadership reflecting the diversity of the U.S. population. Crucially, insufficient attention was being paid to the less visible yet significant barriers hindering the advancement of professionals from underrepresented groups. These obstacles included the scarcity of mentors and role models, the frequent exclusion of professionals of color from crucial professional and social networks, the lack of robust support systems, and the continued presence of subtle, institutionalized discriminatory practices. ICAP was intentionally designed as an international career program to directly address these systemic obstacles by providing targeted mid-career support, strategic advice, and invaluable networking opportunities, ultimately empowering diverse leaders to achieve their full potential on the global stage.
