“Life in every White House is intense and challenging and fascinating,” Lake says. “While working very hard as I did to bring about the cease fire in northern Ireland or the Dayton agreements in Bosnia, or various other issues, it was very intense.”
While working with UNICEF may differ from working in the White House, Lake says it is no less absorbing. He recently finished his first year as executive director and is expected to remain at that post for at least four more years.
“I’ve been blessed always with having jobs that I loved,” Lake says.
Despite his multiple influential positions, Lake’s colleagues say that one of Lake’s defining characteristics is his humility.
“I more or less run it,” Lake says of UNICEF, quickly adding, “although it runs itself, and I’m often running after it.”
—Staff writer Brian A. Feldman can be reached at bfeldman@college.harvard.edu.