Paul Rennie, OBE, earned two degrees in economics because he wanted to make as much money as possible. Until it dawned on him that a life in public policy would be a lot more rewarding.
“I really wanted to stop thinking about writing checks for $100 million and think about, well, what if I work for the IMF or the World Bank and I’m writing checks for $100 billion?” said Rennie, who now serves as the British Consul General in Los Angeles.
Rennie recently visited the USC Price School of Public Policy to speak to a group of students, faculty and alumni who wanted to hear first-hand what it’s like to be a top diplomat. The event was organized by USC Price Master of Public Policy (MPP) student Mitali Jain, Co-President of the Graduate Policy and Administration Community (GPAC), who currently interns at the British Consulate in Los Angeles. The event partners included USC Price Career Services and USC Price Master of Public Administration Program.
Rennie represents the U.K. government in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands.
His role includes the promotion of trade and investment, scientific cooperation, tackling climate change, creative and media collaborations and educational partnerships between the U.K. and the U.S. Southwest. He also oversees delivery of essential consular services to a 600,000-strong British resident community and British visitors.
Rennie explained what it’s like to promote the best interests of the U.K. while finding ways to help his host country. Sometimes it’s a matter of facilitating business interests or sharing insights. For example, he invited experts from Great Britain with hard-earned expertise in natural disaster insurance to advise experts here after the Los Angeles fires in January 2025.
“This is America’s 250th anniversary, which by default means 250 years ago, my ancestors were in an actual shooting war with some of your ancestors. Eighty-five hundred British service personnel were killed at the hands of General George Washington. And I have been to his grave and watched my ambassador lay a wreath to him,” Rennie said, clearly touched by the memory.
Rennie, who as an OBE means he is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, said speaking with students is one of the most gratifying aspects of his job.
“They’re not just the next generation of leaders, they’re the people who really care about some of the most challenging problems we face,” he said. “And I think critically, as someone who works in the diplomatic space, you realize that a lot of the problems we’re trying to solve are really their inheritance. And so being able to get their thoughts and their views about what I should be thinking about as a diplomat today is kind of investing in their future for tomorrow.”
While Rennie is no longer on the road to riches that he traveled as an economics major, he said he has no regrets about following a career in public service, something he wholeheartedly recommends to students.
“So, I’d say to anyone who’s thinking about a career in public policy, number one, we need you,” Rennie said. “We need the best and the brightest, the talent to make this work. And number two, you will never, ever regret that choice when it comes to your enjoyment of the role.”
