Women in Diplomacy: Insights from Four Women Shaping International Affairs

June 24 marks the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. For much of history, diplomacy, like many areas of politics and international affairs, has been a male-dominated profession. While the representation of women in diplomacy has improved significantly over the past decades, gender disparities remain, particularly in senior leadership positions.

According to the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy’s Women in Diplomacy Index 2025, the share of women ambassadors has continued to increase across the globe. However, women remain underrepresented in top diplomatic posts and decision-making roles.

Encouragingly, a policy brief by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security highlights that the global share of women ambassadors has increased from approximately 1 percent in 1968 to nearly 25 percent in 2024. Against this backdrop, I was honored to interview four remarkable women in diplomacy from the United States, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, and Lithuania/the European Union. Through their stories, we gain a deeper understanding of both the opportunities and challenges facing women in international affairs today, as well as valuable lessons for the next generation of leaders.

Dr. Vivian S. Walker (United States)

A former Executive Director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy and a retired senior foreign service officer, Vivian S. Walker is Co-President of the Public Diplomacy Council of America, Practitioner in Residence and Professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Co-Editor of the Palgrave Macmillan Series in Global Public Diplomacy, and Faculty Fellow at the University of Southern California’s Center on Public Diplomacy. Previously, she taught at the Central European University, the National War College, and the National Defense College of the UAE. Her thirty year diplomatic career included service in Central Asia, the Caucasus,  Afghanistan, and North Africa.

"My mother was born in Hungary, moved to Sweden following the Hungarian revolution in 1956, and later immigrated to the United States," she recalls. Growing up with that international perspective sparked an early interest in different cultures, histories, and societies.

Without knowing much about diplomacy at the time, Walker enrolled at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service because it simply sounded interesting. Years later, she is now a professor, teaching in the graduate program where her own journey began. Beautiful full circle.

After Georgetown, Walker pursued a PhD in English Language and Literature at the University of Chicago. Yet as she neared graduation, she realized that a traditional academic career was not what she wanted.

"I had a revelation," she says. "Did I want to spend my whole life writing articles about Shakespeare that nobody would ever read? The answer was no."

Instead, she took the U.S. Foreign Service Exam, passed, and began a career that ultimately led her to public diplomacy which was a field she describes as the perfect fit.

Unlike many diplomatic roles focused primarily on government-to-government engagement, public diplomacy allowed her to connect directly with local communities. Through initiatives such as Fulbright scholarships, educational exchanges, and cultural programs, she could help people access information, ideas, and opportunities that could create positive change in their own societies.

"What I loved about public diplomacy was that I could both teach and learn," she explains. "In some sense, I never really left graduate school. The world became this great classroom where I could be both teacher and student."

Reflecting on the challenges of her career, Walker believes one of the biggest obstacles facing public diplomacy is that it is often undervalued as a tool of statecraft. While military operations or economic initiatives can produce visible and measurable outcomes, public diplomacy relies on long-term relationship-building, trust, and influence.

"Soft power requires patience," she notes. "You rarely get immediate results, and it's often difficult to measure success."

This challenge becomes particularly significant when policymakers seek clear evidence of impact. Unlike military victories or economic indicators, changes in perceptions, attitudes, and relationships often unfold gradually over years, making them harder to quantify despite their lasting importance.

When asked what advice she would give to young women considering careers in diplomacy or international affairs, Walker emphasizes that success in the profession is ultimately determined by individual capability rather than gender.

At the same time, she acknowledges that diplomatic life can place unique demands on family life. Frequent international assignments may affect spouses' careers, children's education, and support networks in ways that many other professions do not.

"My advice is not so much about whether women can succeed in diplomacy because they absolutely can," she says. "It's about understanding the realities of the lifestyle and preparing for them."

Having served in a variety of cultural contexts, including more conservative societies, Walker says she consistently found that professionalism earned respect. While adapting to local customs was sometimes necessary, she never viewed those adjustments as barriers to doing her job effectively. For instance she was always treated with respect as a professional in the most conservative of countries. “Did I wear longer skirts? Did I cover my hair? Yes. Was that a sacrifice? Absolutely not”, she said.

Hessa Alyahya (Saudi Arabia)

Hessa Alyahya is Director of Public Diplomacy and Media Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C. A graduate of Georgetown University's Master of Science in Foreign Service program, she has worked in media, strategic communications, and multilateral affairs, including at the United Nations. Through her work, she seeks to promote dialogue and strengthen mutual understanding through public diplomacy and people-to-people connections.

For Hessa Alyahya, diplomacy began long before she officially entered the profession. Arriving in the United States at the age of 18 with little English, she found herself navigating not only a new language and culture, but also misconceptions about Saudi Arabia and Saudi women.

As an international student in New York, she was often challenged by classmates and professors about news headlines concerning her country. While the experience was difficult, it also became an unexpected training ground for diplomacy.

"I found myself constantly explaining who we really are—our culture, our history, and what often gets lost behind headlines" she recalls. "Living in America challenged me in ways that, without realizing it, were preparing me for diplomacy long before I held the title."

Looking back, Alyahya believes those experiences quietly shaped the diplomat she would later become. Although some people are drawn to diplomacy by the opportunity to live in different countries, she says her motivation has always been different.

"For me, diplomacy was never about moving from post to post," she says. "It was about representation, and about helping others see us beyond the stereotypical assumptions."

Originally trained in political science, Alyahya joined Saudi Arabia's diplomatic service and later moved into public diplomacy, where she discovered a passion for the field. After serving in media affairs, she rose to become Director of Public Diplomacy and Media Affairs at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., leading a team of up to 14 professionals.

She believes diplomacy extends far beyond traditional politics. Education programs, cultural exchanges, sports diplomacy, and people-to-people connections all contribute to building understanding between societies.

"People often think diplomacy only happens between governments," she says. "But even simple conversations can leave lasting impressions."

Reflecting on the challenges of her work, Alyahya describes media diplomacy as demanding and fast-paced. Working in Washington, D.C., where developments unfold rapidly, requires balancing timely communication with strategic considerations and national interests.

"My priority is national interests, not headlines," she explains. "Sometimes there are active conversations taking place between countries, and not everything can be discussed publicly."

Despite the pressure, she finds the work deeply rewarding and considers Washington one of the most dynamic environments for understanding diplomacy in practice.

When asked what advice she would give to young women interested in international affairs, Alyahya emphasizes the importance of communication, initiative, and building relationships.

"Grades get you in the room. How you carry yourself, how you listen, how you make people feel, that’s what keeps you there" she says.“Opportunities often go to those who know how to communicate, connect with others, and step beyond their comfort zone.”

As a university student, she founded a Saudi student club to introduce local communities to Saudi culture. Those experiences led to internships and opportunities that would ultimately shape her career.

"It's the little things," she says. "Never underestimate the power of a simple conversation. You may forget it later, but other people won't."

While acknowledging that women often face additional challenges and sometimes have to work twice as hard to prove themselves, Alyahya remains optimistic about the next generation.

"Diplomacy isn’t about having all the right answers. It’s about having the courage to engage with people who see the world differently and finding common ground where others see division. Young people have an important role to play in that."

For Alyahya, diplomacy is ultimately about representation, understanding, and the power of human connection.

Unurmaa Janchiv (Mongolia)

Unurmaa (“Unro”) Janchiv is Mongolia’s Honorary Cultural Envoy from 2015 to 2026, a cultural and public diplomacy practitioner, and Founder and CEO of Great Diplomacy Ltd., based in London. With more than 20 years of experience in the creative industries, she has played a key role in fostering cultural connections between Mongolia and the United Kingdom. Through exhibitions, performances, and international collaborations, she has promoted Mongolian culture and strengthened people-to-people ties across Europe. She works closely with the Embassy of Mongolia in the UK and other European countries, Arts Council of England and various Mongolian and UK governmental bodies on cultural relations. Among the highlights of her work is the successful production of The Mongol Khan in London, which brought together over 200 creatives from Mongolia and the United Kingdom.

For Unro, cultural diplomacy was never separate from culture itself. Having lived and worked internationally for many years, she came to believe that culture is one of the most powerful ways to build understanding between people and nations.