Episode 20 – White House Social Secretaries Jeremy Bernard and Lea Berman

Dear Friends,

 

As you may know, I will be moving to New York City in the coming weeks to attend New York University. Amidst these big changes, I have been thinking about how I will make friends in a new town and how I will navigate the New York academic and social world.

 

I was lucky to find two of the country’s leading experts on successful social interaction, Jeremy Bernard and Lea Berman, two former White House Social Secretaries. Jeremy Bernard served as President Obama’s Social Secretary from 2011–2015, and Lea Berman served as Social Secretary for the George W. Bush White House from 2004–2007.

 

 

I learned so much in this interview from Lea and Jeremy. How to, in their words, “radiate calm”, what it’s like to plan a State Dinner, and to make sure you leave a White House event before the “chicken walk” begins.

 

I was moved by their commitment to kindness and consideration. In the words of actress Judith Light, who spoke at their book party later that evening, “The book reminds us of the qualities of grace and generosity. Those qualities that we need to be reminded of. This may be the manuscript that changes the world.”

 

Special thanks to Lea and Jeremy for speaking with me and I wish you all the best on your book tour!

 

You can listen to the podcast here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/volta-insider/id1049322728?mt=2

 

See you in New York!

 

Rachel Greenberg
Voltainsider.com

 

You can order Treating People Well: The Extraordinary Power of Civility at Work and in Life here: https://www.amazon.com/Treating-People-Well-Extraordinary-Civility/dp/1501157981