Ghana’s Ambassador Genevieve Apaloo delivers a lecture at TUJ on June 17, 2025.
Students at Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ), had the opportunity to attend a lecture on June 17, 2025, by Genevieve Apaloo, Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan and Singapore, titled “A Woman in Diplomacy: My Journey, Challenges, and Lessons Learned.” The event offered the TUJ community an inspiring look into the world of diplomacy and leadership, drawn from the ambassador’s personal and professional experience.
Speaking to a packed classroom, Ambassador Apaloo inspired the audience with her honest reflections on navigating a career in diplomacy to become Ghana’s first female ambassador in the Asian countries. In her lecture, she shared her personal background, discussed the history of Ghana, explored relations between Ghana and Japan, and reflected on the challenges faced by the African nation.
She then engaged in a lively Q&A session where students asked a wide range of questions, covering regional issues, economic developments, her core beliefs, her approach in Asia, her experiences in international relations and even more personal topics.
In response to a student’s question about what drives her despite her demanding schedule, Ambassador Apaloo began by describing herself as a perfectionist. She emphasized the importance of working hard and giving one’s full effort to the pursuits one chooses, noting that time in life is limited, and that makes every decision and action count.
The ambassador reflected on her university years, drawing on a saying: “There is more sleep after death.” She explained how that mindset continues to motivate her, saying she often tells herself, “Get up and go [to work]. I only have a limited amount of time assigned in Japan. I can sleep when I go back to Ghana.”
She noted that life and career opportunities are brief and unpredictable. “You only get so many years to live and you never know how many you’ll be given,” she said. Although Ghana’s diplomatic posting is normally four years, she acknowledged that assignments could change at any time. “The president could post me to another country any time. So honestly, I’m grateful for each day I have here and I intend to make the most of it.”
Emphasizing the importance of building relationships, Ambassador Apaloo added, “You never know where the connections you make will take you. Those connections open doors.” She encouraged students to be proactive about networking, as it can shape both personal and professional futures: “Make good connections and use your network. They’ll help open doors for you. That’s what drives me.”
TUJ frequently welcomes diplomats and foreign government officials to provide students with firsthand insight into global affairs. Recent high-profile visitors include India’s ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, in February. In August 2024, students had the opportunity to meet with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and Senegalese Ambassador to Japan Jean-Antoine Diouf in April 2024.
In a related development, TUJ announced earlier this month that Dr. Sergiy Korsunsky, former Ukrainian ambassador to Japan, will join as a distinguished global scholar and special advisor to the dean starting July 1, 2025.
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