Notes & Negotiations

The Practical Polymath #93

Hi Friends, 

Greetings from Brooklyn! 

If you’re new here, welcome!

I launched this newsletter three years ago out of an interest in polymaths: women and men who excel at more than one craft and pursue a multidisciplinary life. That’s why I’m especially excited about today’s guest in my “Archers” series of interviews spotlighting multi-talented individuals. From concert stages to government meetings, Lina Pamart is the incarnation of a 21st-century polymath.  

Hope you enjoy it! 

Until next time,

Florian  

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🏹 Archers: Lina Pamart - Diplomat/ Violinist

Lina is a French diplomat by day, and professional violinist by night. On any given day, she might be advising government ministers in the morning and playing for a 20,000-strong audience in the evening. I talked to her about pursuing radically different careers in parallel.   

What inspired you to become a diplomat? 

A French comic book called “Quai d’Orsay”! The book, which takes its name from the Paris street where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is located, tells the story of a young man who becomes the speechwriter of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.

As a student, I had no idea about what diplomacy was, and I couldn’t imagine that a career in this field was even possible for me. This book introduced me to the world  of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a humorous, ironic and critical tone, yet it was surprisingly accurate and close to reality. I realized this a few years later, when I started working as an advisor to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs.

How did you come to the realization that you could pursue both music and diplomacy?

It’s a constant challenge. Every day and every week, I try to organize my schedule in a way that leaves enough space for both activities. Ultimately, I believe every human is multifaceted: despite the trend towards hyper-specialization, we’d be better off valuing everyone’s multiple and diverse skills. 

People are familiar with what musicians do but diplomats are a bit of a mystery. How do you describe what you do at a family reunion? 

Good question! Diplomacy is often pictured as a series of secret meetings about war and peace. This is not entirely inaccurate … But it only reflects a small part of the job. In short, diplomacy is the art of shaping and implementing the foreign policy of one’s state in all its dimensions: politics, economy, climate, culture and so on. 

So to give you a few examples, throughout my different diplomatic postings, my “family reunion” conversations have revolved around negotiating Brexit, addressing tensions between Greece and Turkey and building bonds between French and American artists. The job is incredibly diverse, which  makes it both  fascinating and challenging.

Are there any role models or mentors who have inspired or guided you in pursuing this unconventional path?

One of the most inspiring figures for me has been Daniel Barenboim. He’s a conductor and pianist, and he’s also a passionate advocate for peace in the Middle East. He’s notorious for co-founding the East-Western Divan Orchestra back in 1999 with the Palestinian literary scholar Edward Saïd. The  orchestra brings together young musicians from Israel, Palestine, and various Arab countries. It wasn’t an easy thing to do, but he created an environment where young people could engage with one another in a spirit of mutual respect, advocating for music as a form of dialogue that can foster understanding.

What advice would you give to others who aspire to pursue multiple career paths at the same time?

I’d say, be patient and mindful of your priorities. When you’re following multiple paths, it’s inevitable that sometimes you’ll make progress more slowly than you’d like. But as long as you keep your goals  in sight, you  won’t lose your way and it eventually pays off. 

Lateral Thought 

“My life is very simple. I read a lot of books. I watch a lot of movies. Listen to a lot of music. Walk the dog. Cook. Be with my family.” 

Cillian Murphy