Inspiring Boldness Speaker Series with U.S. State Department Diplomat in Residence Melissa Martinez
On Monday May 1st, 2017, Marymount was honored to welcome Melissa Martinez, the State Department Diplomat in Residence at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs, as our third speaker this year for our Inspiring Boldness Speaker Series.
Ms. Martinez delivered an rousing talk about her path toward becoming a diplomat, the rewards and challenges of working as a foreign service officer, and the advice she has for our students who are thinking about where their careers may take them. Our student body were both inspired and impressed with Martinez’ background and stories that she had to share.
Growing up in a rural town in New Mexico, Martinez learned life lessons early on through Cross Country running which taught her the important skills of focus, discipline, and pacing oneself. She spoke about her first cross country race, in which her anxiety and excitement led her to sprint the first mile, only to grow exhausted slowing down to a slow jog by the end. This analogy for pacing oneself became a constant throughout her impressive career, which has led her through the rigorous process of becoming a Foreign Service Officer and has taken her to many countries where she represents the U.S. State Department. Like a running race, she explains, this career is often demanding and requires endurance to succeed. Martinez spoke about the importance of finding trustworthy mentors, relying on family and friends as your biggest cheerleaders, and investing your time and energy into the things that make you most passionate in order to stay motivated.
Growing up in a rural town in New Mexico, Martinez learned life lessons early on through Cross Country running which taught her the important skills of focus, discipline, and pacing oneself. She spoke about her first cross country race, in which her anxiety and excitement led her to sprint the first mile, only to grow exhausted slowing down to a slow jog by the end. This analogy for pacing oneself became a constant throughout her impressive career, which has led her through the rigorous process of becoming a Foreign Service Officer and has taken her to many countries where she represents the U.S. State Department. Like a running race, she explains, this career is often demanding and requires endurance to succeed. Martinez spoke about the importance of finding trustworthy mentors, relying on family and friends as your biggest cheerleaders, and investing your time and energy into the things that make you most passionate in order to stay motivated.
When asked by Valory B. ’17 what obstacles she has had to overcome in her career, Martinez touched on the relatable challenge of working through her shyness and fear of public speaking in a career that requires many presentations, media appearances, and communication roles. As a Diplomat, Martinez often acts as the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, speaking with journalists across countries about United States positions on a range of policy matters.
She also described the importance of time management and setting realistic expectations when asked by Sarah F. ’19 how she juggles all of her State Department responsibilities. As a mother of a 7-month-old baby, Martinez says she often feels that time is running on fast forward, and in order to manage it all, she has learned to prioritize the important things, set aside time for family, and remember never to over-promise and under-deliver. For our students, whose busy lives often pull them in multiple directions at once, these lessons struck a strong chord.
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