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Power & Purpose

Power & Purpose

Written by: IE Insights - Hosted by Amanda Sloat and Nathalie Tocci
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Power & Purpose explores the human side of global leadership. Hosted by Amanda Sloat and Nathalie Tocci – former advisors to the US President and EU High Representative turned professors – this podcast features candid conversations with senior government officials, offering an inside look at how power, values, and purpose intersect in public life.

These conversations go beyond the headlines to offer a personal window into leadership at the highest levels. Guests reflect on pivotal moments, difficult decisions, and lessons learned when the stakes were high. They speak openly about their proudest achievements and missed opportunities, how they managed pressure, and what it takes to lead through complexity and uncertainty.

Drawing on their own experience in government and academia on both sides of the Atlantic, Amanda and Nathalie bring insider perspectives to conversations that are as personal as they are political. You'll hear the stories that don't make it into official briefings.

Whether you're deeply engaged in foreign policy or simply curious about how leaders navigate impossible choices, these conversations reveal what leadership actually looks and feels like. In an era of political cynicism, Power & Purpose offers something rare: honest reflections from people who have chosen to serve and proof that purpose-driven leadership is still possible.




  • Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in International Relations in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain. Most recently, she served as Special Assistant to President Biden and Senior Director for Europe in the National Security Council. She also worked in the State Department and House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee. She has a PhD in Politics from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Political Theory from James Madison College at Michigan State University.
  • Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy. She is also Director of the Instituto Affari Internazionali. She previously served as Special Advisor to EU High Representatives Federica Mogherini and Josep Borrell. She has a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of Oxford.
IE Insights Careers Economics Personal Success Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Frans Timmermans on Europe's Climate Leadership and Energy Future

    Frans Timmermans on Europe's Climate Leadership and Energy Future
    Jul 13 2026
    How can Europe pursue ambitious climate action while remaining competitive and secure? Frans Timmermans reflects on the origins of the EU's Green Deal and its quest to manage energy transition and security amid wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, a transatlantic rupture, and the China challenge. Drawing on decades in diplomacy and politics, he shares lessons on the continued importance of negotiation, resilience, and principled leadership despite the pressures of public life.

    Frans Timmermans was Executive Vice President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal and European Commissioner for Climate Action.

    Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.

    Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.

    Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.
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    52 mins
  • Kersti Kaljulaid on Estonia's Lessons on Hybrid Threats and Democratic Resilience

    Kersti Kaljulaid on Estonia's Lessons on Hybrid Threats and Democratic Resilience
    Jun 29 2026
    As Europe adapts to a new security landscape, what can other countries learn from Estonia’s experiences on the Eastern flank. The country’s former President Kersti Kaljulaid discusses cyber resilience, European defense, and the importance of standing firm in the face of Russian aggression. She also shares her unconventional path to the presidency, the challenges of leading as a woman, and why credibility is a leader's most valuable asset.

    Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.

    Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.

    Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.
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    44 mins
  • Utaara Mootu on Land, Next Gen Leadership, and Finding Her Voice

    Utaara Mootu on Land, Next Gen Leadership, and Finding Her Voice
    Jun 15 2026
    Utaara Mootu joins Amanda and Nathalie to discuss Namibia's struggle for historical justice, the lasting impact of colonialism, and what is means to represent a new generation in politics. She reflects on her journey to becoming one of Namibia's youngest parliamentarians, sharing lessons on what it means to lead in the social media age.

    Utaara Mootu is a Member of Namibian Parliament for the Landless People's Movement.

    Dr Amanda Sloat is Professor of Practice in the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid, Spain.

    Dr Nathalie Tocci is Professor of the Practice at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy.

    Power & Purpose is an IE Insights podcast.
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    50 mins
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