Diplomacy Happens Between the Headlines
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About the Leader
Marie Royce
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States
- Achiever®
- Maximizer®
- Self-Assurance®
- Arranger®
- Strategic®
The Honorable Marie Royce is a businesswoman, diplomat and educator who serves as an adviser and on nonprofit and for-profit boards. She is the former Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), where she had the honor of leading a global team of 674 employees, overseeing two presidentially appointed boards (Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and Cultural Property Advisory Committee), and a budget of $760 million. Assistant Secretary Royce was sworn into office after being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Royce has 25+ years of global experience in the Fortune 500. She also served as a full-time visiting professor and is a small business owner.
"I really trusted myself."
Even as a child, Royce was clear about what she wanted to do, and she trusted her decisions. At 18, she initially planned to follow in her father's footsteps by attending real estate school after graduating. However, after completing the classes, she realized that her true passion lay in international business rather than practicing real estate locally. Emboldened by her Self-Assurance, she chose to pursue a global path instead.
"I work really hard to make sure everybody has an opportunity to contribute."
Royce endeavors to understand what motivates each employee and how they can best direct their talents toward team goals. She emphasizes to her teams how important it is for every single person to contribute to the larger strategy and that every one of their strengths is valuable.
"I start with zero every day and see how much I can do."
Being a hard worker is one of Royce's top priorities. She resets her internal evaluation of achievement each day, dedicating fresh energy to her goals daily and delighting in completing as much as she can.