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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
  • Cecilia Malmström on Trade Wars and Global Turbulence

    Cecilia Malmström on Trade Wars and Global Turbulence
    Jun 1 2026
    How should Europe navigate a world of trade wars and growing geopolitical uncertainty? Cecilia Malmström reflects on trade, migration and the transatlantic rift. She also shares the lessons she learned on her journey to becoming EU Trade Commissioner and Home Affairs Commissioner.

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • Věra Jourová on Digital Power and Europe’s Global Role

    Věra Jourová on Digital Power and Europe’s Global Role
    May 18 2026
    Věra Jourová joins Amanda and Nathalie to reflect on her time at the forefront of EU policymaking on technology, disinformation, and media freedom. She discusses the challenges of regulating Big Tech, promoting innovation while protecting citizens’ rights, and addressing the digital challenges facing democracies today. She also shares her personal journey, including how growing up under communist rule shaped her commitment to democracy.

    Věra Jourová is the former Vice President of the European Commission.

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Dina Kawar on the Human Cost of Middle East Conflict

    Dina Kawar on the Human Cost of Middle East Conflict
    May 5 2026
    How are overlapping crises shaping diplomacy in the Middle East? Dina Kawar, Jordan's Ambassador to the United States, joins Amanda and Nathalie to explore the ripple effects of war and the realities of regional interdependence. She reflects on her diplomatic career, the barriers women face in public service, and the mindset needed to lead under pressure.

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
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