Looking to take your career global? Perhaps you’re a recent grad or a mid-career professional seeking to develop meaningful international connections while living and working abroad. Navigating the numerous options for international careers in the U.S. government can be both exciting and overwhelming.

To help simplify the process, Global Minnesota assembled an expert panel of federal government professionals to provide insights and advice. Hear representatives from the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the U.S. Agency for International Development as they share exciting new opportunities and hiring tracks, including what skills might benefit you and how to get started.

Whether you’re a student, a career-switcher, or simply a curious individual, this webinar recording is the first stop on your journey to an international career of purpose.

Climate-driven changes are impacting people, businesses, and landscapes--on a global scale. While attention has been placed on reducing the severity of climate change—impacts due to these changes are increasingly observed, increasingly costly, and well-documented. Aging built environments and infrastructure may not have been sized for the new realities and/or not easily adapted for future conditions. How must we respond? What actions can we take to better protect people and property to promote climate resilience? What can we learn from our international partners coping with similar changes and challenges?

Minnesota companies like Barr Engineering Co. regularly help clients understand their vulnerabilities to these risks and develop resilience strategies for their long-term success.

Hear this Sustainable Development Goals Roundtable: Strategies for a Climate-Resilient World. In addition to insights and case studies from Barr Engineering Co., you'll hear from other Minnesota companies learning to pivot in a changing world.

Corporate Member Resources: Open the link to see how Global Minnesota corporate members offer expertise, services, or technology that can help with your organization’s sustainability goals.

Are you looking for a career with global travel opportunities and mission to help improve lives all around the world? On November 18, Global Minnesota will be hosting a free webinar on navigating international career opportunities in the U.S. Government. In this event, you’ll hear insights and advice from an expert panel featuring representatives from the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. They will share exciting new opportunities and hiring tracks, including what skills might benefit you and how to get started. This free webinar is open to everyone and you can register right now at this link:

Register Here

On this episode of The Global Minnesota Podcast, hear from one of the panelists for this event, Penelope Thomas. She serves as the Development Diplomat in Residence for USAID. Her overseas assignments include Bangladesh, Barbados, Colombia, The Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guyana, Jamaica, Mali, Nigeria, and Pakistan. She is also a graduate of St. Olaf College in French and Spanish. And if that wasn’t interesting enough, she is an accomplished singer and was a member of the renowned Gospel group called The Sounds of Blackness, and was once a backup singer for Prince when he recorded the soundtrack for the 1989 film Batman. She provides a sneak peak of the upcoming webinar and provides more insight into her fascinating life and work.

International Careers Webinar

Past Podcast Episode Featuring State Department Webinar Panelist

Presidential Management Fellows Program

Payne Fellowship Program

USAID Careers

USA Jobs Website

Prince - Batdance Music Video

South Korea is a leading global economy and close ally of the United States. Even with its status and the explosion of cultural touchpoints like K-Pop, South Korea’s history and politics are still relatively unknown to many in the United States. With rising tensions throughout the Asia-Pacific region, what will the U.S.-Korea partnership look like over the next few years?

Hear a presentation from Global Minnesota and the Korea Economic Institute featuring representatives from both the U.S. State Department and the Korean Embassy. They shared important context about the strategic relationship between the United States and South Korea, the ongoing tension on the Korean peninsula, and the outlook for Korea’s economic, political, and cultural influence globally.

Global Minnesota's Great Decisions program features grassroots discussion groups where people from all over the state get together in their communities to talk about the big foreign policy issues of our time. Groups are made up of all different backgrounds including community organizations, church groups, universities, and even groups of friends who want to learn more about complex international issues.

On today’s episode, hear from a Great Decisions expert speaker, Christi Siver, and a local Great Decisions group leader Renee Brown-Goodell. They have joined to talk about their roles in the Great Decisions program, the process for joining or starting a group, and how these groups foster international learning across the state.

As a major player in global affairs, Germany has a critical role in steering the transatlantic relationship. Earlier this summer, Global Minnesota partnered on an event with the Germanic-American Institute and the Bertelsmann Foundation to discuss the U.S.-German relationship. The event featured remarks from Irene Braam, Executive Director of the Bertelsmann Foundation, and Rainer Breul, who serves as the Head of Political Affairs at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C.

On this episode, hear from by Rainer Breul, who started in his position at the Germany Embassy back in July 2023. He shared more about his background, the connections between Germany and Minnesota, and the essential importance of the U.S.-German relationship.

Germany Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Department of State Office of Sub-National Diplomacy

With nearly 1.5 billion people, Africa has a young, rapidly rising population, coupled with an abundance of natural resources, access to key minerals for the green economy and a growing importance in the geopolitical balance of power. Hear from the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, Molly Phee, as she discusses U.S. policy toward this vital region.

Assistant Secretary Phee brings a wealth of experience to her understanding of this vast and diverse continent, comprising over 50 countries and numerous cultures, languages and geographies. She outlines the current approach to U.S.-Africa relations and share her experiences building bridges of understanding and economic prosperity with people across Africa. Minnesota’s significant and vibrant African diaspora add to the importance and relevance of understanding this crucial relationship.

Global Minnesota’s Classroom Connection program inspires our littlest learners with fun and interactive lessons about a country’s culture, language, and daily life. International volunteers from all over the world go to elementary and middle school classrooms to spark global curiosity about people from other countries. Global Minnesota recently expanded this program to Mankato, Minnesota, further increasing our reach across the state.

On this episode, we are joined by Angie Davis, a kindergarten teacher with Washington Elementary School in Mankato, Nowrin Koly, a Classroom Connection volunteer from Bangladesh, and Madeline Wildeson, Assistant Director for Retention at the Kearney International Center at MSU Mankato. They participated in our pilot program to expand Classroom Connection to Mankato and have joined to talk about their background and experiences with the program.

Classroom Connection Program