ALUMNA DISPATCH

Learning, service, and building community aren’t just Sacred Heart Goals; they’re cornerstones of being a good ambassador, says Claudia Turbay Quintero. And she is a natural.

“I have always felt compelled to better understand the issues and people around me,” Claudia said. “I’ve always understood that we are bridges and connectors. Instead of building up walls, we have to pull them down to create a common open space for all.”

This 91st Street alumna has been connecting communities for years. Claudia currently serves as the Colombian Ambassador to Ghana, a position she has held since 2013. She served as the Colombian Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation/Liechtenstein from 2009 to 2013, and as the Colombian Ambassador to Uruguay and the Latin American Integration Association from 2002 to 2008.

Before her career in diplomacy, Claudia was a print and broadcast journalist and was the President of Proexport Colombia (currently ProColombia), a Colombian government agency that promotes Colombian exports, tourism, and foreign investment.

Claudia’s urge to serve her native country of Colombia was instilled at a young age. She is the daughter of former President of Colombia Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala, who served as the country’s ambassador to the United Nations, Great Britain, and the United States before serving as President of Colombia from 1978 to 1982. Her mother, Nydia Quintero Turbay, is the president of a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the condition of impoverished Colombian families through educational and nutritional programs. And of course, she attended Sacred Heart, which she says strengthened her spirit and values.

We asked Claudia to tell us more.

What does it take to be an effective ambassador?

You must first love your country. You have to love people in general, and have a calling to serve; to continually seek new opportunities for positive agendas; and of course, to understand the priorities of the country’s development challenges.

Are different qualities more relevant in different countries?

You always follow the international strategy of the country that you represent, but diplomacy can be focused in different ways according to the priorities and culture of the country. In Uruguay, the Colombian community is very small, so I pioneered the importance of cultural promotion and engaging with the local people. In Switzerland, the concept of neutrality aligned with my own belief in living peacefully with others, despite our differences, and with my love for scientific matters. In Ghana, I have learned on a personal level the value of small actions. You don’t always need to have big projects; you always have a lot to give, just by being you. I feel that for every country I have been posted to, I become their ad hoc ambassador too when my time there ends.

What is a common misperception about what it is like to be an ambassador?

The main misconception is that ambassadors don’t work and just go to parties. Ambassadors work 24 hours a day! Every single consequence of our presence and the actions we take is like a thread in a woven fabric that is always dynamic in its design. Networking, good relations, effective actions, and communication skills are all not only important, but very important in the execution of our duties as ambassadors. Being an ambassador is an exciting job. If you do things well, everything goes well, but if you make mistakes, you can really create bad situations. It is a great responsibility. You have to be careful wtih your words and your actions.

How has your experience as a journalist influenced you as an ambassador? Looking back at your 17 years of being an ambassador, what are you most proud of?

It is the best possible complement, because in both careers, I have no doubt that by being an Ambassador, I have helped you must have a permanent interest in learning, understanding, my country in both tangible and intangible ways. Through and observing what surrounds you. As a journalist, you always communicating our values and decisions to policy makers, try to search for the truth, to arrive to the core point. I have made the Colombian presence positive, friendly and How has your family influenced you? effective, so that the interests of Colombia are well understood within the international community. I feel privileged I am very thankful to my family and and proud to have been entrusted with my parents. I recognize their presence in my “spiritual genetics” and everyI have learned on this honor by different presidents of my country, and to have been able to develop thing that makes me who I am: my faith and belief in God, my calling to serve, my respect for others, the love a personal level the value of small deep relationships in every country with a diverse group of people. that impels my actions, my perseverance, honesty and gratitude, and my sense of responsibility. actions. You don’t always need to Now that you look back at your diplomatic career, is there anything you wish you had done differently? My father was a successful political figure in Colombia who moved up by stepping on every single rung on the have big projects; you always have I love what I do and feel passionate about it. I wouldn’t change any of the wonderful experiences I have had as an Ambassador ladder until he became Head of State, and he greatly influenced the country during his lifetime. My mother has a lot to give, just by being you. in any of the countries I have been to. I have always felt that I am an Ambassador by nature, which has enabled me to excel served the needy all her life, and has without the feeling that it is a burden. always been particularly concerned about education. I saw How did your Sacred Heart education influence your her evolve as a person while being a mother, a wife, and a careers as a journalist and ambassador? social activist through her NGO, La Fundación Solidaridad My life is guided by my own development and understanding por Colombia, which serves as her main platform. At 90 of spirituality, and my commitment to be a good person in years old, she is still a wonderful inspiration for how to both heart and mind. The best example I have to follow is live your life. Jesus Christ. I love the Holy Trinity, and this has been part How is being an ambassador in Ghana different from of my upbringing and family influence. your previous posts? What are you most excited about? Sacred Heart education has been a beautiful part of my Being in Ghana is completely different. I was given the world. Without a doubt, the values, teachings and friends I responsibility of opening the Embassy and it was a challenge, gained at Sacred Heart strengthened my spirituality. Even as it was my first time ever in Africa. I have had the opporthough I didn’t stay long— just 2 years—I loved my class tunity to learn about the values and ways of this culture and my experience. For that, I am thankful. every day, and have discovered how similar Colombia and Ghana are. Also, I have been trying to make up for lost time regarding not having been here before. It is really like taking advantage of “every breath of air.” I feel close to Africa and now, I can very clearly say that Africa is in my life.