Best Foot Forward

STEPHANIE SYPTAK-RAMNATH’s life of high-level diplomatic jobs across the globe, emergency evacuations from war-torn nations and days as a naval officer reads like a novel. I was so inspired when I left our interview, I wanted to write that book myself! Read on and find out why.

- Melinda Murphy

I’ve been lucky enough to meet Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath several times, so when she sweeps through the front door of her home, she gives me a giant bear hug, a sign of her hallmark warmth. That’s the thing about Stephanie: she seems just like a regular gal with a contagious laugh and quick smile – only she’s not. This fierce and brilliant woman’s list of accomplishments is, quite simply, incredible.

Fluent in both French and Spanish, she has been a lieutenant in the US Navy, held major diplomatic positions in Mexico, Mali and Tunisia, worked at the US Mission to the United Nations, and been one of 35 women to participate in an international women’s leadership forum, which included completing courses at Harvard Business School and Singapore’s INSEAD. And that’s just for starters. Perhaps her most important job? She’s also the mother of two teenage daughters.

Now, as the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Singapore, Stephanie is the highest-ranking American official in Singapore, which has been without a US ambassador since President Trump took office in January 2017.

What does a Chargé d’Affaires do? It sounds like a big job.

There are two sides of my job. I manage 300 incredible employees across 29 sections and agencies, making sure we have a work environment where everybody can be successful and happy and can all put their best foot forward on behalf of the United States. Management and leadership are something that I’m passionate about. If I can get that right, the other pieces fall into place.

The other half of my job is representing the US in Singapore, whether it’s participating in high-level meetings, speaking at an event or attending a reception.