From Negotiator to Architect: Franz Zubieta Mariscal's Global Diplomatic Impact

Franz Zubieta Mariscal, an international law expert at the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), serves as the technical secretary for the High-Level Panel on the Freedom of Transit, spearheading the implementation of its mandate. He was previously Minister Counsellor and Legal Advisor at the Permanent Mission of Bolivia to the United Nations (UN), representing and negotiating Bolivia's international agenda. As the Chair of the UN Group of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), he led diplomatic efforts for the sustainable development of the 606 million people located in 32 LLDCs nations. His current work is crucial to ensuring that the unique challenges of landlocked developing countries are translated into tangible global policy.

These immense responsibilities require sound leadership skills that are grounded in data, proven strategies, and up to date research, which brought Franz to the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) executive education program Leadership Decision Making, an experience that provided him with “invaluable tools” and was an “unparalleled investment in my capacity to lead and make a difference.” 

“In my work, I am constantly involved in high-stake situations, from multilateral negotiations to policy implementation where the outcomes have significant implications. The primary challenge I sought to address was enhancing my strategic decision-making and leadership capabilities in this complex, high-pressure environment,” he said. “I wanted to move beyond a purely legalistic approach and integrate robust frameworks for analyzing complex problems, managing diverse stakeholder interests, applied neuroscience to understand my bias, and leading teams effectively to achieve coherent and sustainable outcomes for the international agenda of Bolivia and LLDCs.” 

When he returned to the UN after his time in the HKS classroom, he put his learnings to use immediately, with the positive impact occurring just as swiftly. “I applied structured negotiation frameworks to build consensus among LLDCs and the UN membership, despite their diverse interests and approaches. For instance, I achieved declaring, by full consensus, the 6th of August as the International Day for the Awareness of the Special Needs, Interest and Challenges of LLDCs,” he said.  

In addition to the tangible initiatives it was able to bring about at the UN, Leadership Decision Making also had a profound effect on Franz’s own career and professional development, playing a factor in him earning his current role. He said, “The program was a key catalyst for a significant professional evolution. It equipped me with the confidence and skills to operate not just as a legal expert, but as a strategic leader in the diplomatic arena. This was instrumental in my appointment to my current role and in being entrusted with the chairmanship of the LLDCs group in 2025. The network and perspectives I gained at HKS have also enriched my approach to problem-solving, recognize my bias, and allowing me to draw on a global community of practice when facing new challenges.”

As Franz looks at what lays ahead for him in his role, he knows there is no shortage of challenges. He is keenly aware of the obstacles facing LLDCs, and is fiercely passionate about being their advocate on the global stage. Their largest hurdles, Franz said, include “Their geo-structural disability related to the lack of direct territorial access to the sea, obstacles to transport and communication, long distances from major markets, cumbersome transit procedures and inadequate infrastructure, geopolitical tensions and conflicts, food and energy crises, high transportation and trade costs, high interest rates, inflation, high indebtedness, climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification and pollution. These factors make them the most vulnerable and furthest behind on the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, my next significant challenge is to support the translation of the United Nations political commitments for LLDCs into concrete, actionable, and global policies to implement their rights under international law.”

With a renewed sense of confidence in his own leadership and vision for what his role requires next, Franz is embracing his work with clarity and energy, as well as the backing of the skills he honed and gained during his time at HKS. “Executive Education at HKS is a transformative experience that provides a unique convergence of three elements: a world-class toolkit of practical frameworks for public leadership, exposure to diverse global perspectives from an exceptional cohort of peers, and the intellectual space to reflect on and refine your personal leadership philosophy,” he said. “It doesn't just teach you what to think, but how to think more strategically about the most pressing challenges of our time.”