Liberty University holds annual breakfast meeting with ambassadors, international connectors, and business leaders in Washington

Liberty University held an Ambassador and Diplomats’ Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 2, for around 30 distinguished guests representing nations in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America as well as private sector businesses. The event, which helps to set the scene for Liberty’s annual CEO Summit in the fall, was aimed at facilitating and growing relationships between world leaders and domestic and international businesses.

Featured panelists included Liberty Senior Vice President for Business Relations Dr. Dave Brat, Ambassadors Chibamba Kanyamba (Zambia) and Elsie Kanza (Tanzania), former Assistant Secretary of State Robert Destro, and Kosmos Energy Vice President for Global Public Policy and Government Affairs Jeff Krilla. Also in attendance were representatives from The World Bank, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Other embassies represented were Costa Rica, Finland, Great Britain, Switzerland, Japan, and Paraguay. Most of the panelists addressed their own Christian faith and how their respective cultures share the faith, while also representing many variations of Christian culture and values within their own countries.

Several interns serving at America First Policy Institute through Liberty’s Washington Fellowship program this summer also attended. The event was held at the Heritage Foundation.

“It was an honor to meet with these high-ranking officials, private sector business leaders, and important international connectors in our nation’s capital,” Brat said. “This event provided a healthy step in strengthening and building partnerships that are advantageous for all parties. It also serves as an example of Liberty University’s continued contributions and relevance in global outreach.”

Ambassadors Kanyamba and Kanza, who attended Liberty’s CEO Summit last year, shared how the summit far exceeded their expectations in terms of depth of CEO leaders, breadth of  topics presented, and number of high-ranking special guests attending from around the world. They spoke on what they hope to see accomplished at this year’s summit to achieve real economic outcomes in their countries.

Liberty’s CEO Summit is an annual networking event hosted on campus for world-class CEOs, government leaders, innovators, and influencers who share the university’s values of faith, freedom, and friendship. Registration is open for this year’s summit, scheduled for Sept. 23-25. A broad lineup of keynote speakers includes Michael Flynn, former U.S. National Security Advisor; Jim Bridenstine, former NASA administrator; Edward Graham, chief operating officer for Samaritan’s Purse; and Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby. The event will coincide with Liberty’s Global Focus Week, and a Samaritan’s Purse field hospital will be set up on campus for tours. Liberty is expecting to host C-suite leaders from Ford, Toyota, Merrill Lynch, and Microsoft, as well as the former heads of SC Johnson Wax and Hardee’s.