Former United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Matthew Barzun, spoke at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) on Tuesday, April 15, at the College of Business 2024-25 Distinguished Speaker event. Through the Speaker Series and other events, EKU brings highly accomplished professionals from a variety of fields to campus to speak about their experiences with students and the community. At Tuesday’s event, Barzun discussed the business of diplomacy, sharing ways to enrich understanding in an interconnected world, build trust and navigate complex relationships.
“We are pleased to welcome such an accomplished business executive and diplomat as Matthew Barzun to EKU,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “Our College of Business has brought many amazing individuals to EKU for their speaker series, and Matthew’s experience and leadership offer powerful insights for the next generation of business professionals and community leaders.”
Barzun helped build CNET Networks, serving in executive roles including executive vice president and chief strategy officer. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2013-17 and the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden from 2009-11. Barzun resides in Louisville and is the owner of Louisville Magazine. His book “The Power of Giving Away Power,” highlights the ability of power distribution to multiply creativity, deepen trust and enhance collaboration.
“I wanted to talk about how we needed to think differently about power, how people got the memo that lording power over others wouldn’t work. But then there’s a temptation equally bad to hoard the power all to oneself,” said Barzun. “The key is to make power with and through other people sitting around a table, whether it’s a classroom or a boardroom or a dining room. That’s the challenge: how can we mend and amend in our democracy rules of a game we love together and make value of that difference and not try to dismiss the difference or demonize the difference.”
Barzun’s presentation focused on his personal background and the influence of his grandfather, a former Columbia University professor and author of the renowned book “Teacher in America.” He shared how his grandfather’s work inspired his own career and helped shape the ideas in his book.
Barzun then engaged the audience in discussing the concept of ideas.
“In order to get an idea to provide light, you have to do the same thing you do for an actual light. You need two things—you need a source of energy and a means of connection,” said Barzun. “That’s what is going to light up the room.”
Barzun concluded with a conversation about the theme of his book and resolving tension constructively.
“Constructive attention is what we need to think about. This is what we want in life. It really has to do with making something together,” he said.
The College of Business Speaker Series highlights the role of business across academic disciplines, providing frameworks to organize efforts, align incentives and develop sustainable, profitable solutions to address challenges. Together, this interdisciplinary synergy aims to accelerate economic, intellectual, cultural and civic vitality.
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