As global challenges grow increasingly complex, Harvard Kennedy School’s Dean’s Council provides a space for leaders from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and drive meaningful solutions. Council members Joanne Yoo MPA and Peter Lupoff reflect on how their shared values and professional connections drew them to this work, the significance of strengthening HKS’s international reach, and the vital role practitioners play in developing the public leaders of tomorrow.
Q: Joanne, you’ve been on the Dean’s Council for a few years now, and you’re an alum. How did your engagement with HKS evolve after graduation, and what prompted you to join the Council?
Joanne:
The time I spent at HKS was truly transformative—it challenged me to think broadly about global systems and the kind of impact I wanted to have. My career has largely been in finance and investing, and for many years I wasn’t deeply connected to the School. That changed during the period I lived in Nigeria, where I reconnected with classmates who were now leading in government and business. Seeing how they applied what we learned at HKS to real-world challenges reignited my connection to the community. As my own work began to focus more on emerging markets investing and global markets, joining the Dean’s Council felt like a meaningful way to engage and contribute.
Q: How did the two of you connect, and what led to Peter’s joining the Council?
Peter:
Joanne and I met because of our mutual interest in investing in Black, brown, and female founders, and in Africa. We were both living in Brooklyn, and that sparked our friendship. She told me about her work on the Dean’s Council. I teach impact investing at University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business, and I’d shared my concern that investment solutions often don’t translate to the real world—especially when policy and politics come into play. Joanne said, “You might find the Council interesting,” and invited me to a meeting. I was blown away by the level of discussion; it was exactly the kind of engagement I was searching for intellectually.
Q: What is it about the mission of HKS that resonates with you most?
Joanne:
It’s the leadership training, but also access to leaders and frameworks for solving tough, complex issues. The timing is so important—Peter joined just as the world was shifting into a period of uncertainty, politically and socially. Having access to diverse insights is crucial right now. HKS’s international outlook and ability to attract a truly global student body—that’s always stood out to me. Especially with my interest in emerging markets, I see the connection between the School and the places where solutions are needed most.
“I was blown away by the level of discussion; it was exactly the kind of engagement I was searching for intellectually.”
Q: Peter, you gave a big thumbs up at the mention of international engagement. Why does that matter to you?
Peter:
If the U.S. is pulling back from global leadership, it’s all the more important to support what HKS stands for. Being economically tied to other nations keeps the world safer; the more interests we share, the more stability we all enjoy. Supporting global outreach isn’t just the right thing morally—it’s a smart, long-term strategy. Seeing the U.S. risk losing its position as a magnet for talent is tough, so supporting HKS’s globalism and diverse student intake feels urgent and essential.
Q: How do you hope your support for HKS will translate into broader impact?
Joanne:
With a finance and development background, I believe it’s often down to the private sector—through impact investing and creating formal employment—that will catalyze development. Peter and I want to help students see how their academic work translates to practical, real-world outcomes. The School has a chance to engage practitioners and students to shape new pathways toward making a difference. We hope to do more with HKS, especially from a practitioner’s point of view.
Peter:
I agree. We can help bridge the gap between academia and practice, so students are ready to step into important roles and drive change sooner. The Dean’s Council isn’t just about supporting faculty or funding; it’s about being available to students, sharing experience, and accelerating the solutions the world needs now.
Q: What is it like to actually participate in Dean’s Council meetings? Any highlights?
Peter:
I get to a lot of conferences, and if I come away with a couple great takeaways it’s a win. At the Dean’s Council, I filled eight pages with notes at my first meeting—the combination of Council members, faculty, and speakers, from former prime ministers to policy experts, is mind-blowing. It feels like being just a step away from the room where decisions happen.
Joanne:
I agree—it’s invaluable to get information as close to the source as possible, especially in today’s climate. I look forward to the opportunity to come back to campus and the opportunity to convene in London. The Council’s global representation makes for very rich, rewarding discussions.
Q: Any final thoughts?
Joanne:
Just gratitude for the chance to engage and make a difference through HKS.