Doing Well By Doing Good: A Conversation with Michael Froman

What does leadership look like in an evolving global landscape, and how will the U.S. and other nations navigate increasingly complex changes in international foreign relations? On April 28, I-House residents explored these questions and more during a rare fireside chat with Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

Residents welcomed Froman and guests for a conversation in the Home Room, marking the first event in the new Ambassador Frank G. Wisner Distinguished Speaker Series. Honoring Ambassador Wisner’s long career as an accomplished U.S. diplomat, the evening’s discussion focused on the most pressing challenges shaping U.S. foreign relations today and what lies ahead for the field of foreign policy.

“I think the last 15 months have been perhaps the most significant 15 months in American foreign policy history since the end of the Second World War,” Froman said. “I think it’s incumbent on all of us who are students or practitioners of international relations to think about where we are going, what comes next, and the future of the international system, whether it’s in terms of trade, alliances, or adversaries.”

In conversation with moderator and I-House alumna Josephine Hebling ’24, Froman drew on his experience as the final U.S. trade representative appointed under U.S. President Barack Obama and as vice chairman of strategic growth at Mastercard, offering insights at the intersection of government, global economics, and international leadership. The discussion spanned myriad topics including trade, security, and diplomacy; the future of NATO; and U.S. relations with Iran, Denmark, and other nations.

Asked about the state of the U.S. and what gives him optimism for the future, Froman invoked the country’s long 250-year history of conflict, partisan collaboration, and resilience in the face of adversity. “We’re going through something interesting right now. There’s no doubt about it,” he said. “But it’s not unprecedented, and I’m still hopeful about the institutions, the processes, and the society that allow us to get through periods like this.”

The evening’s event was the first in a new I-House speaker series honoring the late Frank G. Wisner (1938–2025), former chair of the I-House Board of Trustees. Ambassador Wisner spent almost 25 years serving I-House in various roles, while also enjoying a storied career as an American diplomat, having led embassies in Zambia, Egypt, the Philippines and India. His wife, Judy Cormier, was in attendance alongside many other family members, close friends, and former colleagues.

In his welcoming remarks, I-House President & CEO Sebastian Fries remembered Ambassador Wisner as a brilliant diplomat, a trusted advisor, and a good friend. Wisner had maintained a long friendship with Froman, who expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the series’ inaugural speaker.

“As Sebastian said, Frank was larger than life, a great diplomat, and a great foreign policy mind,” he said. “He took the time with youngsters, like myself at the time, to give us support and advice. He brought us along and included us in ways that a lot of people don’t, and I always really valued that.”

As the evening shifted to a question-and-answer session, I-House residents asked Froman what advice he would offer young people looking to make a positive impact in foreign affairs and other public service careers. His guidance was simple: Prioritize doing well by doing good, and keep an open mind to where you can make an impact on the causes you care about most.

“Keep your mind open to all the places where you can address the issues that you care about,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to work in both the public and private sectors. In the private sector, especially, you have to figure out how to do well by doing good. You have to be able to explain to your shareholders, your management, and your employees that what’s good for the company can also be good for society.”