On Friday, April 15th, ASE hosted Mr. Ahimankin Théodore, Benin’s former ambassador to Canada, for the weekly professional development series. Mr. Théodore spoke about his career path as a diplomat, including his service in Canada, the United States, and in West African countries. He advised students on characteristics required to be a successful diplomat, such as leadership skills, humility, professionalism, and self-confidence, among others. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of teamwork and building a network, as most of your work as a diplomat will involve cultivating strong relationships with your counterparts in other countries. He noted that rather than a technical skill; this ability to develop strong bonds with others is a defining characteristic of a successful diplomat. Additionally, Mr. Théodore challenged students not to choose a particular career path unless they are truly passionate about the work and not to be confined by the pressures of society to select certain career trajectories. His talk was followed by a question and answer session, and he closed with the encouraging words “tomorrow starts today.”