Speaking at the Athenaeum on Feb. 17, as part of CMC’s 2025 Family Weekend programming, Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt P’25, delivered the Spring 2025 Lecture in Diplomacy and International Security in Honor of George F. Kennan.
Her talk, “Across Frontlines, War Zones, and Boardrooms: The Real Demands of Responsible Leadership,” explored what it means to lead with conviction—navigating difficult choices, holding the line under pressure, and standing firm when it matters most.
“Because in the end, responsible leadership isn’t about titles or power—it’s about the integrity you stand by and the resilience that keeps you standing," she said.
A Nonresident Fellow at the Henry L. Stimson Center, Kleine-Ahlbrandt focused on her work for the United Nations in Rwanda, and drew upon her more than 25 years of U.N., think tank, international organization and government experience in national security, policy analysis, conflict prevention and resolution, human rights protection, crisis management and peace-building with a focus on Asia.
In addition, Kleine-Ahlbrandt spoke movingly about how her Stage 4 cancer diagnosis deepened her commitment to living with clarity, purpose, and an unshakable devotion to what truly matters.
As she ended her talk, Kleine-Ahlbrandt inspired a standing ovation from the audience, which included her son and former Ath Fellow, Adrian Flynn ’25.