Ambition is a trait most politicians share, regardless of what they aspire to do with it. Luckily, Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, a consummate politician, also possesses a moral compass. While at Harvard Law, the Irish born, American raised scholar decided her academic research on America’s role in genocide, from the Holocaust to Armenian genocide to Darfur, merited a book. In 2002, she published A PROBLEM FROM HELL, which promptly became a Pulitzer Prize Winner and caught the attention of human rights advocates to politicians, including a then young Senator, named Barack Obama. The two policy wonks formed a friendship. Soon after, Power went from working outside of the belly of the beast to becoming a key member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet. Today, she holds three jobs. She is part of President Obama’s staff and, eventually, Ambassador to the UN and part of the UN Security Council.
Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to Employee of the Month and the rest of your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe directly from the Employee of the Month show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or visit slate.com/employeeplus to get access wherever you listen.
