Launching the Condoleezza Rice Women Who Inspire Lecture Series

May 2, 2019

Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor
Ana Palacio, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain

Named in honor of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Condoleezza Rice “Women Who Inspire” Lecture Series seeks to highlight how women are reshaping the world, confronting global challenges, and blazing trails across all walks of life that improve the human condition. Secretary Rice began the lecture by emphasizing the importance of women’s empowerment as a moral, but also practical, cause.

“If you could raise a magic wand and empower every woman, you could get purchase on so many issues that bedevil the globe,” Rice said. “If you empower every woman to own a business, she will employ a whole village, and before you know it, the village will better off.”

Spain’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ana Palacio was introduced as the lecture series’ first guest speaker. An international lawyer specializing in European law, Palacio dedicated her public career to advocating for democracy. She celebrated the launch of the lecture series and lauded the school for creating a forum to share lessons and experiences of women who are inspiring the next generation who will lead.