Ambassador – definition and meaning
An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat who represents a country. Ambassadors are the chief officers of embassies, which governments place in the capitals of foreign countries. Ambassadors do not only exist in embassies, but also in business, finance, charities, and other organizations.
In their diplomatic capacity, ambassadors are instrumental in forging and sustaining bilateral relations, serving as a bridge between their home country and the nations they are posted in.
According to eDiplomat, an ambassador is: “The chief of a diplomatic mission; the ranking official diplomatic representative of his country to the country to which he is accredited, and the personal representative of his own head of state to the head of state of the host country.”
The term may also refer to a person who represents an activity, company, or organization. Famous trumpeter Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was one of jazz’ most popular ambassadors.
Charities and advocate groups have ambassadors – we call them special envoys. Special envoys spearhead their movement. The actress Angelina Jolie Pitt was a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador from 2001 to 2012. UNHCR stands for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
A good ambassador needs to be trustworthy. Schools, countries, or companies need to know that what they share with the ambassador is not shared indiscriminately. Above all, steadfast ambassadors always stay loyal to their employer. Even when ambassadors do not agree with their instructions, they must remain loyal.
Brand Ambassador
Companies or organizations hire brand ambassadors to represent a brand in a positive light. The brand ambassador’s aim is to increase brand awareness and ultimately sales. We also call them corporate ambassadors.
Brand ambassadors should ideally embody the corporate identity in values, ethics, demeanor, and appearance.
Additionally, a brand ambassador can help jump-start a business by enhancing brand awareness. With the ambassador, the company has the potential for a much broader reach.
When hiring influential people, you must be completely sure that they know the particular brand well. In fact, they should know the brand almost as well as the company does.
In an Entrepreneur article, Jeffrey Hayzlett writes the following about brand ambassadors:
“Your brand ambassador has to be passionate about the brand and able to connect with customers, especially Millennials, on a somewhat personal level.” (Millennials are people born from the early 1980s up to the middle of the 1990s.)
Unlike a celebrity spokesperson, a brand ambassador is somebody who eats, lives, and breathes the brand. He or she is a person with whom customers can connect and engage. Furthermore, brand ambassadors have a well-established, solid presence and a sizable network.
Business ambassador
Governments often have special ambassadors to promote businesses. In 2008, the UK Government created a Business Ambassadors Group aimed at helping SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises).
When traveling abroad, UK Business Ambassadors carry out priority meetings at the Government’s request. In this context, we are talking about the Executive branch of the Government.
Business ambassadors lead events and lobby for market access for SMEs. They also undertake dedicated overseas visits or lead UK trade missions for small businesses.
According to the UK Government: “The Business Ambassadors offer a wealth of business experience and knowledge gained across a range of sectors and geographical markets.”
Ambassador – a diplomat
Ambassadors are individuals from a particular country who represent their country abroad. This representation may occur either in one-on-one government settings or international meetings.
The ambassador should be an expert on foreign policy – a top diplomat. Governments carefully select this person so that they can provide the best representation possible. Above all, they must maintain good relations with the other nation.
Ambassadorships are among the highest positions in the diplomatic services. In the diplomatic service, only the Foreign Minister is a more senior position. In the US, this is the Secretary of State; and the Foreign Secretary in the UK.
The ambassador frequently has meetings with representatives of several different countries. He or she is the single person that a country’s government has chosen to represent it in these meetings. In other words, they are the face of the country.
Sharing embassies
The USA, UK, Germany, France, Japan, and other major economies have one ambassador in each country in the world.
Many smaller nations do not have ambassadors in every country. Along with several emerging economies, they share services with another country.
American ambassadors
A Deputy Chief of Mission, Foreign Service Officers, and Specialists who carry out a full range of mission activities support the US ambassador. Additionally, other US agencies including the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Justice, and Agriculture, as well as USAID provide support.
The personnel of all these US Government agencies report to the ambassador.
The Consul General, who heads a Consulate, reports to the Ambassador. Consul Generals carry out many of the functions in provincial capitals that ambassadors do in national capitals.
Apart from issuing visas and assisting American citizens abroad, embassy personnel interacts with host governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations. They also interact with educational institutions, the media, and private citizens.
The aim of the ambassador is to create positive responses to the US in general and the country’s policy.
According to diplomacy.state.gov: “The ambassador’s residence, which is used for many diplomatic and public functions, is sometimes located on the embassy compound but more often elsewhere in the city. As the public face of the United States of America in the host country, the chancery is usually architecturally impressive—either a historic building or a striking newer structure.”
Ambassadors play a crucial role in cultural diplomacy, using cultural resources to foster mutual understanding and cooperation between nations.
“Ambassadors” in Context
Ambassadors serve as representatives and symbols across a wide range of fields, from diplomacy to business, and even extend into the realm of charity and culture. Here are seven sentences that demonstrate the diverse usage of the word “ambassador(s)” within various contexts:
- “The President will meet with foreign ambassadors to discuss international trade agreements.”
- “As the brand’s ambassador, she attended several high-profile events to promote their new skincare line.”
- “The tech company appointed several industry leaders as ambassadors to mentor startups in their accelerator program.”
- “Celebrities often act as ambassadors for humanitarian causes, leveraging their fame to raise awareness and funds.”
- “Historically, ambassadors were responsible for conveying messages between monarchs and negotiating peace.”
- “In the world of sports, retired athletes frequently become ambassadors for youth outreach programs, inspiring the next generation.”
- “Our university’s student ambassadors play a key role in welcoming prospective students during open house events.”
Video – What is an Ambassador?
This video presentation, from our YouTube partner channel – Marketing Business Network, explains what ‘Ambassador’ means using simple and easy-to-understand language and examples.