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Hi there, I’m U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
As my tenure as secretary ends, I’m thinking about the incredible people I’ve met from all walks of life — folks whose work, I am certain, will shape our future.
A few stand out, and I’m excited to catch up with them.
Here’s more about my earlier visits with these remarkable people.
Muthoni Njeru
www.supersema.com | www.techwomen.org
Nairobi, Kenya • November 2021
In Nairobi, I met Muthoni Njeru, a former fellow of the State Department's Young African Leaders Initiative. When I met her, Muthoni worked as a television production chief at a company called Kukua. She said she had always wanted to inspire children, to help them see that anything is possible. It’s why, when she saw no Black girl superheroes, she created “Super Sema,” a cartoon girl with superpowers that rely on a knowledge of STEM subjects (science, tech, engineering, and math).
As the father of young children, I know the power of positive role models. Muthoni is living proof that creativity changes the world, one young imagination at a time.
“I recall discussing the impact of mentors, specifically referencing the animated character ‘Sema’ and her impact on girls in Kenya and across Africa. This conversation motivated me to keep seeking out mentors and ultimately led me to apply for the TechWomen program. I am now a TechWomen Fellow.”
Oumaima Ben Haddou
www.rocketcenterfoundation.org
Rabat, Morocco • March 2022
Speaking of people inspired by a love of STEM, in Morocco, I met Oumaima Ben Haddou, an alumna of NASA Space Camp. She and three colleagues, all pursuing engineering, talked to me about their future plans.
From studying aerospace engineering to working on climate solutions, these young women from Morocco are fearless in the pursuit of their dreams and making the world a better place.
“I want to thank Secretary Blinken for the invaluable support he provides in empowering youth and for his kindness and humility in engaging with us — young women in STEM fields.”
Gulchekhra Rakhimova
www.uzswlu.uz
Tashkent, Uzbekistan • February 2023
Diplomacy requires an understanding of diverse cultures, and in Tashkent I particularly enjoyed seeing the Khast-Imam Square, a 16th-century historic and holy site.
Gulchekhra Rakhimova, a professional tour guide and former Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant, showed me around.
She pointed out the various mosques and madrasas.
I was struck by her knowledge and passion for cultural preservation, which happens to be a cornerstone of U.S. diplomacy.
“It was an incredible experience to meet one of the most recognizable figures in the world. I was trying to calm myself by thinking, ‘just imagine you are guiding your father or big brother; let’s go.’ After meeting him, I felt a confidence. He was very calm, curious about what I was saying.”
Máximo Fernández
www.globalkairos.org
Buenos Aires, Argentina • February 2024
While visiting Buenos Aires, I met Máximo Fernández, a co-founder of the nongovernmental organization Kairos Global, where he works still to advance democracy. Máximo is an alum of the International Visitor Leadership Program, a U.S. professional exchange.
Over the past decade, Máximo has led dozens of leadership workshops throughout Argentina. His sessions underscore the benefits of democracy and human rights. He believes that democratic change starts with everyday people, which is why his work at home is so important.
“Meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State for a political scientist, it’s like meeting Messi for a football player. Secretary Blinken is such a nice person. He was really interested in Argentine political history. He could have asked for a professional tour guide or an Argentine state official, but I felt he really wanted to connect with me. Just like two friends.”
With every trip to Ukraine, I am more and more impressed by the resilience and bravery of ordinary Ukrainians. When I met with exiled students from Mariupol State University, including Mariia Kustikova, and their rector, Mykola Trofymenko, I was deeply moved by their personal stories and determination to keep learning.
Though 18 students and staff from the university were killed during Russia’s incursions and 250 more are missing or presumed dead, the Mariupol students in exile in Kyiv continue steadfastly with their studies.
The United States has stood strong with Ukraine during its ongoing fight against Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression. It’s inspiring to see their success in rebuilding so quickly in Ukraine’s capital, where students are thriving under such difficult circumstances.
“When the Secretary of State called our university ‘an example of spirit and courage,’ it gave us all — and me personally — a powerful boost to keep going and put even more effort into supporting our country and the future generation.”
Mock Yi Jun, an alum of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative and now with the National Climate Change Secretariat, talked with me about the threat posed by the climate crisis — felt particularly by the younger generation — during my visit to Singapore.
Yi Jun has spent his career advancing sound climate policy around the world. He was Singapore’s lead negotiator at the first Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement in 2023. Leaders like Yi Jun make the world a healthier place and help to keep global warming in check.
“Despite the hot and balmy day out at Singapore’s Botanic Gardens, I remember Secretary Blinken’s genuine interest to hear more about how young people in Singapore view the challenge of climate change. … We agreed that young people can contribute meaningfully to tackling climate change — they bring value to the table.”
It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the American people as their secretary of state. The remarkable people whom I met around the world over the last four years shaped how I approached the role. They continue to inspire me.
As I step down from my role as America’s top diplomat, I will be watching with pride as so many young people I met continue striving to make the world a better place.
Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
United States of America
Published January 2025
Photo and Video Credits:
Kenya: Photos courtesy Muthoni Njeru and State Dept./Ron Przysucha
Morocco: Photos courtesy Oumaima Ben Haddou and State Dept./Freddie Everett
Uzbekistan: Photos courtesy Gulchekhra Rakhimova, Olivier Douliery/AP and Olivier Douliery/Getty Images
Argentina: Photos courtesy Máximo Fernández and U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires
Ukraine: Photos courtesy Mariia Kustikova and State Dept./Chuck Kennedy
Singapore: Photos courtesy Mock Yi Jun, John15Photography.com and State Dept./Freddie Everett
Video and other still images from the State Dept
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