Political Activist and Diplomat; Former US Ambassador to the Netherlands
Shefali Razdan Duggal: Biography at a Glance
- Shefali Razdan Duggal is the former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands and the first person of color to hold the post, representing the U.S. with both diplomatic strength and personal trailblazing.
- She is a seasoned political strategist, having served as a National Finance Committee member for President Joe Biden and Deputy National Finance Chair for the DNC.
- Razdan Duggal was nominated for the State Department’s top honor, the Sue M. Cobb Award, and is the first ambassador to receive a namesake Dutch tulip in recognition of her impact.
- Her personal story, from immigrant and daughter of a single mother in Ohio to senior U.S. diplomat, grounds her message in resilience, service, and the power of the American Dream.
- With a voice shaped by decades of advocacy and leadership, she speaks powerfully on democracy, equity, civic engagement, and global public service.
Videos
Biography
Shefali Razdan Duggal was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands on September 20, 2022, and presented her credentials to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander on October 19, 2022. She is the first person of color to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Shefali is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Council of American Ambassadors, Foreign Policy for America, Meridian International Center, and a Board Member of the Netherlands America Foundation.
Prior to serving as Ambassador, Shefali was a San Francisco Committee member of Human Rights Watch, a member of the Leadership and Character Council at Wake Forest University, and served on the National Advisory Board of Inside Washington at Miami University of Ohio. She actively engaged in political advocacy, serving on the National Finance Committee for Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign and as a National Co-Chair of Women for Biden. Shefali also held the position of Deputy National Finance Chair at the Democratic National Committee.
From 2014 to 2020, she served on the National Board of Directors of EMILY’s List. She was appointed by President Barack Obama to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council (2014–2018) and later served as a Western Regional Advisor to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles in numerous national political campaigns.
A Kashmiri Pandit born in Haridwar, U.P., India, Shefali moved to the United States at the age of two and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Shefali was raised by a single mom, who worked two minimum wage jobs to support them, working hard as a seamstress during the day and cutting vegetables at the local grocery store in the evening. Shefali had nothing handed to her and worked her way up from her humble beginnings, with a heart focused on giving back and mentoring the next generation. Her hope is to continue inspiring people to have faith in themselves, as she fundamentally believes in the possibilities of the American Dream. For love and loyalty to the United States, Shefali became a naturalized U.S. citizen on November 16, 1990.
Ambassador Razdan Duggal holds a B.S. in Mass Communication, with a minor in Political Science, from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and an M.A. in Media Ecology from New York University. She also received an honorary doctorate from Miami University.
On International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024, the Dutch honored her by naming a fuchsia-pink tulip, the “Tulipa Shefali,” making her the first ambassador to the Netherlands, from any country, to receive such a tribute. That same year, she was nominated for the U.S. Department of State’s prestigious Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service for her work representing the United States in the Netherlands—the first U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands to receive this nomination.
Ambassador Razdan Duggal is known for her values of authenticity, kindness, positivity, hard work, and service. She is married and has two adult children.
Topics
From Immigrant to Ambassador: Leading with Purpose, Resilience, and Impact
In this powerful and personal talk, former U.S. Ambassador Shefali Razdan Duggal shares her journey from a young immigrant raised by a single mother to becoming a trailblazing U.S. diplomat. Drawing from her experience in politics, global affairs, and advocacy, she offers meaningful lessons on leadership, equity, and navigating power structures with authenticity and purpose. With warmth and clarity, she inspires audiences to lead with conviction, champion inclusion, and turn obstacles into opportunities for impact.
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FAQs
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Shefali Razdan Duggal booking information and availability
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