California on the World Stage: A Conversation with Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis
- Council of American Ambassadors
- Jul 29
- 1 min read
Updated: Oct 3
In this episode, Ambassador Jim Rosapepe sits down with Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis to explore her extraordinary journey from U.S. Ambassador to Hungary to her current role as California’s second-highest elected official. Drawing on her unique experiences at the intersection of diplomacy and domestic leadership, Lt. Governor Kounalakis shares reflections on democratic backsliding in Europe, the rise of authoritarianism, and how lessons from her time abroad inform her work in Sacramento today.
As California’s top representative for international affairs and trade, she discusses the state’s global leadership on clean energy, subnational diplomacy, and immigration, offering a window into how America’s most populous state engages the world.
Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on diplomacy, democracy, and what it means to lead globally from the state level.
Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis served as the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary from 2010 to 2013, appointed by President Barack Obama. She was elected Lieutenant Governor of California in 2018—the first woman elected to the position—and re-elected in 2022. Prior to public service, she was a businesswoman and philanthropist and today remains a strong advocate for democratic values and inclusive leadership.
Ambassador Jim Rosapepe served as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania from 1998 to 2001 and is a member of the CAA Board of Directors. He currently serves in the Maryland State Senate and is Chairman and CEO of Patuxent Capital Group LLC.