As part of our “Women on Wednesdays” series, please join the Women & Politics Institute for a virtual conversation with WPI Executive Director Betsy Fischer Martin and Ambassador Capricia Marshall, former Chief of Protocol of the United States and author of the forthcoming book, Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make It Work for You.

Protocol delves into the importance of diplomacy and etiquette in every arena--from the international stage to everyday life. Marshall chronicles her long career working at the highest levels of government, including as chief of protocol for President Barack Obama and as social secretary to President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton. Providing a “master class in soft power,” she shares the personal stories, near-misses and successes from her time in office, illustrating how crucial protocol and diplomacy are and providing “an accessible guide for anyone who wants to be empowered by the tools of diplomacy in work and everyday life.”

Capricia Marshall has had an extensive career in public service. In 1997, Marshall became the youngest Social Secretary to the White House in recent memory, which put her in charge of planning and execution of all White House international and domestic events. She worked on the Hillary Clinton campaign as a senior advisor, helping to coordinate women’s outreach. She served in the Obama administration as Chief of Protocol of the United States from 2009 to 2013. Currently, she serves as Ambassador-in-Residence at the Atlantic Council  in Washington, DC and as President of Global Engagement Strategies.

Betsy Fischer Martin is an Emmy-winning journalist and former TV news executive. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University and a faculty member in the School of Public Affairs, where she teaches courses on campaigns and elections. During her earlier career in television news, she spent 23 years at NBC News serving as the longtime Executive Producer of Meet the Press with Tim Russert and as the Managing Editor of NBC News Political Programming.

"Women on Wednesdays": Amb. Capricia Marshall - "Protocol," in conversation with Betsy Fischer Martin