Carol Bellamy assumed the leadership of World Learning in May 2005, having completed ten years as executive director of UNICEF, the children's agency of the United Nations. Prior to joining UNICEF, Carol was Director of the United States Peace Corps. Having served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala from 1963 to 1965, she was the first former volunteer to run the organization.
Carol has had a distinguished career in the private sector. She was a Managing Director of Bear, Stearns & Co. from 1990 to 1993, and a Principal at Morgan Stanley from 1986 to 1990. Between 1968 and 1971 she was an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Carol also spent 13 years as an elected public official, including five years in the New York State Senate (1973-1977). In 1977, she became the first woman elected to citywide office in New York when she was elected President of the NYC Council, a position she held until 1985.
Carol earned her law degree from New York University in 1968. She is a former Fellow of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and an honorary member of Phi Alpha Alpha, the U.S. National Honor Society for Accomplishment and Scholarship in Public Affairs and Administration. In 2004, Carol was named to Forbes Magazine's 100 Most Powerful Women in the World. Carol graduated from Gettysburg College in 1963. She was born and raised in the New York area.
ExpatWomen's Interview with Carol
ExpatWomen:Carol, we are in awe of your achievements. How does one go from expat Peace Corps volunteer to Forbes Magazine's list of 100 Most Powerful Women in the World?
Carol:Peace Corps opened my eyes to the world and to the world of possibilities. So, after Peace Corps I decided to try my hand at a number of things and over the following 30 years worked as a corporate lawyer, investment banker and New York elected official—all domestically focused. But when the opportunity presented itself to return to international work I jumped and in 1993 President Bill Clinton appointed me to be the Director of the Peace Corps. In my mind, this was the best job in the United States. In 1995 UN Secretary General Boutras Boutras Ghalli appointed me Executive Director of UNICEF and then (again, in my mind) I now had the best job in the world!! In all my work I have tried to learn new skills and new ways of doing things and to always try to work with really interesting and smart folks.
ExpatWomen:What is it that inspires you to take on roles that focus on serving others, such as your role as an elected public official and your directorships of UNICEF and the Peace Corps?
Carol:The fantastic "not so secret" behind helping others is that one usually gains as much as one gives.
ExpatWomen:How do you think your time as an expat in Guatemala for the Peace Corps shaped your thinking?
Carol:While some of my projects during my two years as a Peace Corps volunteer were "successful", some were not. Thus one lesson from this time which has shaped my thinking was failure should never be allowed to stop you.... you may have to do it differently or do something different, but don't stop! I also learned that while a person may be poor financially that does not mean they are poor in spirit or in humanity.
ExpatWomen:Throughout your career, what do you consider to be one of your biggest challenges?
Carol: On a professional level, I would say the biggest challenge has been to move successfully between different job descriptions and cultures at the same time, as many of your readers will have done. And when one does this every three years or so, paradoxically it becomes both easier and more challenging! Easier because one develops mechanisms to adapt to change; more challenging because you need to bring an open mind to each new cultural setting, without expectations coloured by previous experiences.
ExpatWomen:What was it like living in Guatemala in the sixties? What were your first impressions?
Carol:I lived in a very rural, inaccessible area with high incidence of poverty and illness and thus it was an experience unlike anything I had ever known, though I came from a working class family. As the plane landed I had no idea what to expect and thought I would see wild animals (lions and tigers). Actually there were many ferocious animals but not the big sort but rather many poisonous snakes and spiders. And it was hot – actually we had two seasons: hot and hotter.
Carol:World Learning is a 75-year-old global non-profit organization operating international education and development programs in more than 70 countries worldwide. World Learning awakens people to critical global issues, transforms them into engaged citizens, and equips them to take action for change. We do this through global academic programs for high school, undergraduate and graduate students that prepare them to be effective professionals and global citizens. We also engage people and communities around the world to address issues of poverty and justice through international development, education and cross-cultural exchange. We have programs in 75 countries.
ExpatWomen:Carol you are a shining example of how women can both rise to the top and retain a social conscience. What words of wisdom can you offer our audience, from your experience in doing so?
Carol:Practice honesty and integrity in all you do.
ExpatWomen:Thank you very much Carol. Your success is inspirational and we wish you ongoing success for the future.
