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Sydney F.

Tech Diplomacy & Global Policy

8+ years in government—Hill, White House, Foreign Service across Mexico and Middle East, now in tech diplomacy. I connect governments, tech companies, and civil society on emerging tech challenges. I translate complex policy into action and turn big ideas into tangible outcomes.
🎓 BA Political Science & Healthcare
🎓 MA International Economics & Law
🌐 3 Languages
👥 Managed Teams & Budgets
💡 Big Ideas, Bigger Impact
📋 PMP Certification (In Progress)
Explore My Journey

My Journey: From DC Foundations to Tech Diplomacy

Three phases that shaped how I work today

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Learning the DC Ropes Early

White House, Capitol Hill & U.S. Embassy Bangkok

I got my start as a campaign intern in my hometown, then interned in my Congressman's office. A year later, I took a semester off school to intern at the White House for First Lady Michelle Obama—an experience that opened my eyes to the Executive Branch. After graduation, I became a Foreign Relations Fellow on Capitol Hill, then an economic fellow at U.S. Embassy Bangkok. This progression gave me the full DC foundation: campaigns, Congress, White House, and international economic policy.

Private Sector Foundation: During college and early career, I also gained project management and client services experience through internships at McKesson, PwC, and Morgan Stanley—learning how to operate in fast-paced corporate environments and deliver for internal stakeholders.

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Translating Policy into Action

6+ Years in the Foreign Service

In 2019, I joined the Foreign Service, ready to put my DC foundation into practice on the global stage.

Mexico City:

  • Stepped into a 6-month senior-level vacancy as public affairs manager, supervising a team of 9
  • As a Political Officer, built lasting government relationships and translated complex policy issues for Washington stakeholders
  • Big Win: Planned Mexico's first national conference on women in justice sector—mobilized 2,000+ leaders
  • Coordinated 3 cabinet secretary visit including Secretary Blinken for high-level security dialogue
Middle East:
  • Interviewed 200+ nationalities daily in 3 languages
  • Supported COP28 delegation—secured high-level ministerial meetings and briefed delegation on UAE context
  • Big Win: Installed first Lactation Pod in U.S. consular waiting room—set global precedent, inspired 30+ embassies worldwide
Washington D.C. - Latin America Office:
  • Coordinated private sector engagement—prepared briefings and economic analysis for senior leaders ahead of meetings with CEOs and Foreign Ministers
  • Furthered commercial diplomacy across Latin America and the Caribbean

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Bridging to Tech Advocacy

Office of Science & Tech Diplomacy

I'm now getting Silicon Valley smart on AI, biotech, quantum, and tech policy—building relationships with industry leaders, allies, and the interagency, while understanding the U.S. domestic ecosystem to attract and advance commercial diplomacy. It's the same connector work I've always done, just applied to the technologies shaping our future.

💡 My Strength

When I can be creative, I come up with big ideas that lead to big impact. From Mexico's first gender security conference to global lactation pod rollout—I see opportunities others miss and turn them into reality.