Episode 204 | Leadership Lessons from 25 Years alongside General Colin Powell - Leslie Lautenslager

My guest today is an internationally recognized expert in diplomacy and protocol and the author of My Time with General Colin Powell.

This is Part 1 of our fascinating conversation. Leslie and I talk about how she found her way into protocol (largely by being the right person at the right time), what protocol really means beyond rules and titles, and why kindness and respect aren’t “soft skills”—they’re leadership skills.

Leslie shares insights into General Powell’s leadership style, his high standards, and why she came to call one of America’s leading statesmen “my general.”

This is part one of our conversation. In the next episode, we’ll talk more about Leslie—how she handled the pressure, earned trust at the highest levels, and built a career around doing things the right way.

About Leslie Lautenslager:

Leslie Lautenslager is a distinguished protocol expert with a career spanning over three decades of high-level diplomacy and international relations. Beginning her journey in 1986 at Blair House, she managed state visits and led presidential delegations before transitioning to the private sector as the event manager for General Colin L. Powell. She served as a trusted advisor and liaison to the General for 25 years, including his tenure as U.S. Secretary of State, where she was the Assistant Chief of Protocol for Ceremonials. In this role, she organized functions for foreign dignitaries and coordinated major national events, such as the UN General Assembly and state funerals, remaining with the General until his passing in 2021.

Beyond her government service, Lautenslager is a global leader in her field, having served as President of Protocol & Diplomacy – Protocol Officers Association from 2016 to 2020. An accomplished author and trainer, she penned the memoir "My Time with General Colin Powell" and has contributed to several academic texts on international etiquette. A graduate of the College of William & Mary, she is now an internationally recognized speaker who trains prestigious organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Peace Corps in the art of diplomatic and corporate relations.

Connect with Leslie:

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