Lauri Fitz-Pegado

Lauri Fitz-Pegado's career has been characterized by her extensive involvement in cultural and commercial diplomacy. Her work includes roles as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer specializing in cultural affairs in the Dominican Republic and Mexico, followed by her position as the Director General of the Foreign Commercial Service under a Presidential Appointment in the Department of Commerce. She also has significant experience in the private sector, including a tenure as a telecommunications executive at Iridium, LLC, and advising roles on trade, foreign direct investment, and branding for over 20 countries, corporations, individuals, and non-profits. Her consultancy extends to crisis resolution and image management, utilizing her expertise developed at The Livingston Group, as well as senior positions at global public affairs companies Hill and Knowlton and Gray and Company.

Fitz-Pegado also has a profound connection with the arts, particularly dance, which she studied intensively at the Jones-Haywood Dance School, and later performed with the Capitol Ballet Company and Ballet Santo Domingo. These experiences not only shaped her personal development but also her professional life, where she applies the discipline and creativity learned from dance to her current roles. She actively supports the arts as a mentor and advisor, particularly focusing on equity, inclusion, and the support of marginalized communities. Her leadership extends to board positions at The Washington Ballet, the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, and non-profit organizations like Mother Jones. She also co-founded The Collective to support ballet education for teachers and students of color in the DMV area.

Fitz-Pegado's academic background includes a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College, where she was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate, and a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University’s School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She is a prolific speaker on topics such as cultural diplomacy’s role in U.S. foreign policy, the interplay between dance and diplomatic careers, and addressing racial biases in the arts. Her memoir, "Dancing in the Dash: My Story of Empowerment, Diplomacy, and Resilience," published in September 2021 by Bold Story Press, details her journey and the lessons she has learned along the way. Currently, Fitz-Pegado continues her dedication to fostering understanding and advancement in the creative sector globally, while residing with her family who live and work in locations as diverse as Scotland, Angola, and Mozambique.