In this episode of the Dig Life Podcast, we sit down with Johanna Leblanc, a powerhouse in global diplomacy and national security law. Immigrating from Haiti at age nine, Johanna’s journey takes her from navigating a new country to advising ambassadors and engaging with the White House.

We dive deep into the often-overlooked emotional costs of immigration, the uncomfortable truths about money in politics, and the future of economic power in Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Johanna also shares invaluable insights on mastering "unspoken rules" as a woman in male-dominated spaces and the profound responsibility of mentorship.

Join us for a conversation about reshaping power, finding peace in ambition, and the blueprint for global impact.

Timestamps (Questions Asked)

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

00:44 – When did you shift your mindset from adapting to America to shaping it? 

03:53 – What is the emotional cost of immigration that is often underestimated? 

07:02 – What is the most uncomfortable truth about how policy decisions are actually made? 

09:42 – Has your work changed how you feel safe or unsafe personally in the world? 

14:56 – Is there a risk that the African Continental Free Trade Area could enhance resource extraction? 

17:45 – As a woman of color in male-dominated rooms, what are some unspoken rules you had to learn? 

19:22 – What responsibility comes from being someone else's proof of possibility? 

26:42 – Which student has really touched your life? 

31:00 – If you could rewrite one global rule, what would it be and why? 

32:55 – What would your nine-year-old self be most proud of, and what advice would she give you?