About Dawson
I love helping others find their career path in international affairs jobs in Washington DC and beyond.
My passion for all things international started as an American Field Service (AFS) foreign exchange student in Switzerland where I first tasted diplomatic life. I decided from then on, I wanted a fulfilling career in international affairs where I could have a positive impact on the world and my community.
I served in the United States Foreign Service at the U.S. Department of State from 2009-2019 where I lived in Sudan, Poland, Washington DC, Vietnam and Australia. Working as a U.S. Diplomat was the experience of a life time. My work for the U.S. Department of the Treasury in the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), managing U.S. sanctions programs, put me at the center of foreign policy making in Washington DC. As the U.S. Treasury Representative to the United Kingdom, I have been the at nexus of key international economic issues working with a key partner on crises across the globe.
Throughout my career, I worked with the full array of players in the international relations world (over 40 U.S. government agencies, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, associations, academics, think tanks, development organizations, U.S. Congress and many more).
Over the course of my career, I set up over 200 informational interviews (30 minute coffee meet ups or phone chats) to learn about international affairs careers that might better leverage my strengths. I interviewed with brands such as Meta, Disney, Google, the United Nations, universities, major financial institutions, think tanks, consultancies and others trying to find next job in international affairs but I found the search frustrating, opaque, and little good guidance online. I am here to make you a more successful candidate in your international affairs career search.
Education:
Masters of Global Management at Thunderbird School of Global Management
Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from Lewis & Clark College
Curious about more of my background? Check out my LinkedIn
Fun Facts:
I speak German, French and Polish, learning Portuguese and Spanish for fun too! In my free time, I enjoy travel, hiking, kayaking and scuba diving.
Dawson Law
Countries Lived In: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, Sudan, Vietnam
Countries Visited: Over 90! There is so much more of the world to explore!
Coolest Professional Experiences: Representing U.S. Treasury at White House meetings on the latest crisis. Flying on to a U.S. aircraft carrier to strengthen diplomatic/military cooperation. Attending a White House free trade agreement signing ceremony. Managing the President’s visit to Vietnam for a summit with 20 world leaders. Providing my expert perspective on global issues to CNN, Bloomberg, Polish TV, Australian media and more.
Learn from My Job Search Experience and Mid-Career Job Change
I found international affairs/foreign policy job searching to be challenging! Whether you are new to the international affairs job market or trying to make a career switch, I’m here to help.
There are so many meaningful jobs in this field but how do you find them? What’s right for you? Let’s work together on a plan to get where you want to go.