
The a16z Show Tough Love, Global Diplomacy, and Lessons on Leadership
Feb 14, 2020
Susan Rice, former national security advisor and U.S. ambassador to the UN, shares her insights on effective leadership and crisis management. She discusses the importance of mentors in shaping her career and the impact of her upbringing on her resilience. Rice highlights the balance between compassion and effectiveness in leadership, while reflecting on the challenges of being liked versus respected. She also addresses rising intelligence threats from China, calling for unity among government, academia, and industry to safeguard democratic values.
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Parental Influence
- Susan Rice's parents instilled in her a sense of self-worth and resilience.
- They taught her to use "psychological jiu-jitsu" to deflect negativity.
Lessons from Divorce
- Rice's parents' tumultuous divorce taught her valuable coping mechanisms.
- She learned to compartmentalize and focus on what she could control.
Crisis Management
- Stay calm in crisis situations.
- Focus on actionable outcomes and controllable factors.



