Washington AI Network and Ned’s Club DC Host Power Breakfast Honoring British Ambassador Karen Pierce
The Washington AI Network, in partnership with the newly opened Ned’s Club DC, hosted a power breakfast on Saturday, January 25 in honor of British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce. The event brought together a distinguished group of political leaders, diplomats, media and other influential figures ahead of the annual Alfalfa festivities taking place later that evening. The breakfast honored Ambassador Pierce’s remarkable five-year tenure in Washington and her contributions to diplomacy, highlighting the strong U.S.-U.K. bond and the enduring special relationship between the two nations.
The conversation was recorded for the Washington AI Network Podcast. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on the Washington AI Network YouTube channel.
Joiwind Ronen, Ned’s Club DC executive director of membership & programming, opened the event with brief remarks, welcoming attendees to the newly opened club. Washington AI Network founder Tammy Haddad led a wide-ranging interview, exploring Pierce’s insights on U.S.- U.K. relations, her work over the last five years in DC, and her diplomatic career. She addressed her predictions for the future relationship, including thoughts on her successor Peter Mandelson as well as the new Trump administration. On Mandelson, she commented, “He’s a very good businessman, and above all, I think he’s a really good trade expert. He went on to be the European commissioner for trade. He’s done a lot, and he’s got very good political and policy instincts.” When asked about the relationship between President Trump and Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the UK, Pierce noted, “They got on very well. They’ve talked a few times on the telephone. They had dinner together in September in the margins of the UN General Assembly. The president was very gracious and invited the prime minister and the foreign secretary to his personal apartment in Trump Tower.”
Senator Chris Coons offered a heartfelt toast following a lighthearted video montage featuring tributes from notable figures comically suggesting new roles for Pierce as she departs her DC post. The video featured Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Kellyanne Conway, Bret Baier, Kaitlan Collins, and entrepreneur and Washington Commanders co-owner Mark Ein. When asked to reflect on her time living in Washington, Pierce said “being in Washington makes me smile. The very first time I came we drove along Rock Creek Parkway for some political military talks at the State Department and I thought, ‘I can’t believe you drive through the park to get to work in the world’s most important city’ and I was hooked from that moment.”
At the end of the interview, Haddad presented Pierce with a commemorative champagne saber engraved with the language “Always the Dame of DC.”
Held at the newly opened Ned’s Club, the gathering was a blend of intellect, humor, and camaraderie. As a fresh addition to Washington’s social scene, Ned’s Club DC provided the perfect venue for this power-packed occasion, reflecting its mission to host high-level and impactful convenings.
Notable guests included: Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Kellyanne Conway, Walter Isaacson, Hon. Jane Harman, Amb. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Robert Barnett, Mark Ein, Shannon Kellogg, Olivia Igbokwe, Cam Sadler, Lynda Carter, Karen Knutson, DeDe Lea, Kara Swisher, Arun Gupta, Richard Walters, Cal and Laura Ripken, Alexandra Veitch, Sally Quinn, Govind Shivkumar, Niamh King, Ed Luce, Pamela Brown, Symone Sanders, John McCarthy, Helen Milby, Andrea Mitchell, Keenan Austin Reed, Senay Bulbul, Rohit Chopra, Bob Costa, Rory Gates, Nicoletta Giordani and Ryan Williams.