Chidi Blyden, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and previously the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, delivered a thought-provoking acceptance speech at the Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) 35th Anniversary celebration. She spoke about her challenges and successes as a Black woman in international affairs and the need for diversity in shaping global policies.
Coinciding with the marking of the UN International Day for Women in Diplomacy, Blyden’s speech shed light on the role of women of color in diplomatic efforts globally. Her experiences echo those of many women in diplomacy, making her message relevant to this international observance.
“Across any of these spaces, it is not easy being a Black American woman in International Affairs,” Blyden shared. “I’ve experienced ageism, sexism, racism and other -isms. I didn’t even know I could be discriminated against just for showing up as the person that I am,” she recounted.
However, Blyden also noted how her perspective as a Black woman has been an asset, allowing her to “enter spaces and speak with credibility and authority on certain issues or develop multifaceted solutions that my peers of other backgrounds may not be able to contextualize or relate to.”
The timing of Blyden’s speech near Juneteenth adds further context to her words. As an expert on African affairs, she has advocated for community-centric approaches to security challenges, including women and youth in peace and security initiatives, which aligns with the spirit of Juneteenth- a celebration of freedom and the pursuit of equal rights and opportunities.
Credit: BPIA/Isaiah Decruise
Blyden offered advice for young professionals at the meeting. “It is imperative that you bring you to work,” she urged, promoting authenticity. She called on employers and mentors to “create the space for the difference in your workforce” and “normalize difference and the acceptance of different voices, solutions, and approaches to conducting business in your offices.”
Blyden asserted the necessity of diversity in global affairs: “The strength of our global affairs, foreign policy, and humanity, no matter what country you represent, is its diversity. We cannot have blind spots; blind spots lead to errors and repeating mistakes of the past.”
"We Come from a Culture of Excellence, So Calibrate Appropriately," Says Chidi Bylden, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation who was an award recipient at BPIA's 35th Anniversary event @MCCgov @StateDept @WhiteHouse @HP @BMasalosalo @SwissAmbUSA… pic.twitter.com/RuyiWJMOjv
— DiplomaticWatch (@Diplo_Watch) June 26, 2024
