|
Ms. Cari Guittard is a native of Dallas, Texas. She has a BA in Political Science and Public Administration as well as a Masters of Public Affairs & Public Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. In 1998 she was selected for the Presidential Management Fellowship and began work as a computer security specialist and spokesperson for cyber threats and critical infrastructure protection for the US Department of State.
During her tenure at State, Guittard spent extensive amounts of time working globally, primarily in the Middle East and Asia, managing portfolios that included Public Affairs & Public Diplomacy, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Political Military Affairs, Diplomatic Security, Counter-terrorism and Information Resource Management.
In the summer of 2003, Guittard was hired by Keith Reinhard, Chairman Emeritus of DDB Worldwide, to develop and lead Business for Diplomatic Action, the only private sector led a-political, non-profit whose mission was to enlist the U.S. business community in public diplomacy and global engagement efforts. For eight years, Guittard served as BDA’s Executive Director guiding the activities of a global Board and senior advisory council spearheaded by preeminent global communications, marketing, political science, research and media professionals.
At the beginning of 2011 Guittard assumed a Global Affairs portfolio with Global Strategic Partners boutique intelligence, defense and strategic communications firm. In this capacity Guittard will continue her corporate diplomacy efforts as well as work on an extensive global portfolio of issues including strategic communications, geopolitical strategy, and work with the military and intelligence community.
Guittard serves in an Adjunct Faculty capacity for the University of Southern California Master of Public Diplomacy Program spear-heading the development and teaching courses in Corporate Diplomacy and Geopolitical Risk. She is a regular contributor to the Annenberg Center on Public Diplomacy (CPD) Blog. Guittard also serves in an adjunct capacity for the University of San Francisco’s MBA program. In 2007 Guittard was named by 7X7 San Francisco Magazine as one of their Hot 20 Under 40, an annual profile of emerging leaders in the Bay Area. Guittard is an active member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, the Commonwealth Club of California, and the World Affairs Council of Northern California. Guittard and her husband reside in the Bay Area.
What do you believe is currently the most pressing foreign policy issue?
Digital Diplomacy -- how we balance security and the free-flow of information; how we instigate and encourage expression in social media while at the same time balancing foreign policy interests, reactions and responses; how we leverage social media for foreign policy objectives to include security, intelligence, public diplomacy and competitive advantage.
What are you reading right now?
How to Run the World by Parag Khanna and The Future of Power by Joseph Nye; always on my desk for quick reference and use in my Corporate Diplomacy classes is The Next Decade by George Friedman and every Ian Bremmer has ever written
Favorite Online Resource?
Watching America, which has daily free translations of global news coverage of the US, and STRATFOR
Why did you choose to join the PCIP?
Close friends whom I respect in the foreign policy and global affairs community recommended it. No two gatherings are ever the same and each forum is an intimate opportunity to engage with experts in leading global issues and concerns. I continually learn and find inspiritaton from the diverse PCIP membership and dynamic leadership of the Council. In short there's nothing like the Pacific Council.
Other Links of Interest:
Howard Consulting Group
The CPD Blog
PD Magazine especially the Summer 2011 issue about Corporate Diplomacy
The Five Tool Executive
|