Ambassador Susan Rice started a career in politics because of her interest in making policies more effective for ordinary people. In an interview with Blavity Politics (video below), she explains how service was an important value to her family and how she was drawn to public policy from a young age. 

Rice worked in the White House during both the Clinton and Obama administrations. President Clinton appointed her to the National Security Council as the Director for International Organizations and Peacekeeping when she was just 28 years old. She later served for eight years under President Obama, first as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and then as National Security Advisor. 

Rice told Blavity Politics that she learned a lot while working with President Obama.

“One thing he was often on my case about was having a poker face when I was in meetings,” she said. She went on to say that he frequently teased her about her face giving away what she was thinking and that she learned to be more disciplined with her facial expressions as a result. 

Rice also stressed the important role that young people play in shaping the world today. She urges them to be engaged, to vote and to help others register to vote.

“Otherwise, you are essentially a recipient of other people’s choices,” she added.

Watch the full video below.