A Woman in the Arena – Valérie Baraban Consul General of France in Houston
Economic diplomacy has never been more vital. Consul General Valérie Baraban took this challenge head on, forging deep relationships with local decision makers. She has been a true trailblazer for our companies and a key partner to the FACC. As she completes her four year tenure in Texas, we look back on her accomplishments, her vision, and how she helped strengthen Franco Texan ties at a pivotal moment.
Q: During your four-year tenure in Houston (2021–2025), you made diplomatic exchange a top priority, notably by initiating a cycle of official visits between France and your constituency. Why this emphasis, and what are your key takeaways?
A: Upon arrival in September 2021, I was struck by the mutual perception gap between France and Texas. France was admired for its culture and art de vivre — but its leadership in economic and industrial innovation was less recognized. Conversely, France often reduced Texas to clichés, overlooking its diversity, dynamism, and global influence.
Facilitating official visits became a powerful tool to reshape perceptions and build trust. These exchanges uncovered new areas for collaboration and allowed both sides to see each other anew — as serious, strategic partners.
A standout moment was Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s visit to Paris on July 14, 2023. He met with President Emmanuel Macron after the Bastille Day parade and attended the state dinner honoring India’s Prime Minister — a leader he had previously met in New Delhi.
The delegation also visited 1 Place Vendôme, the former Texas embassy in Paris — the only one still existing globally. The First Lady and Texas Secretary of State helped pre-inaugurate the restored 18th-century townhouse — a meaningful gesture that revived a little-known history: in 1839, France was the first foreign country to recognize the Republic of Texas, and both signed a Treaty of Amity, Navigation, and Commerce.
This high-level encounter and symbolic moment highlighted a relationship rooted in history, yet full of future potential.
Q: Can you give us some concrete examples of positive outcomes?
A: A notable outcome was the December 2023 visit of Olivier Becht, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Citizens Abroad, to Austin and Houston. Together with the Mayor Pro Tem Castex- Tatum, he led a gathering with 120 local leaders from business, research, and the arts, in the Rothko Chapel – a global landmark commissioned by the French-American iconic couple Jean and Dominique de Menil. This venue symbolizes what France and Houston can achieve together : artistic vision, scientific innovation, and social progress. The discussion focused on how France and Houston can rise to tomorrow’s challenges together. This meeting established a solid foundation for bold, forward-looking developments.
This legacy continues, as Houston became the first international metropolis ever invited to exhibit at VivaTech in Paris last June – a bold step for global innovation. Led by County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the Greater Houston Partnership, and Rice University, the Houston delegation brought space innovation into the spotlight – with Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the Rice Space Institute, The Exploration Company, Interstellar Lab, and the CNES !
These visits further cemented Franco-Texan ties and deepened Texas’s most strategic sectors – from culture to space, healthcare to energy and AI, engaging with France and Europe on a trailblazing agenda.
These breakthroughs are the result of an exceptional collaboration between the Consulate General and the entire Team France network ; Business France, Expertise France, Villa Albertine, French Tech, the Foreign Trade Advisors, the Embassy of France, CNES, CEA, and the French-American Chamber of Commerce.
Such progress would not have been possible without the active support of the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Philippe Étienne made three regional trips in early 2022, visiting cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Bentonville, and Little Rock. His successor, Ambassador Laurent Bili made his first regional visit to Austin shortly after taking office, attending SXSW in March 2023 – the world-renowned innovation and culture festival – alongside French astronaut Thomas Pesquet and a strong delegation of France’s cultural and creative industries led by BPIFrance. He returned in Fall 2024, and again in March 2025 for CERAWeek – the « Davos of energy » – followed by a tour to Laredo and San Antonio, Texas’s second largest city, exploring the U.S.-Mexico border.
Q: One powerful image was the Ukrainian flag raised in front of your residence. What was the message behind that gesture?
A: The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, during France’s EU Council presidency, prompted immediate action. President Macron rallied European unity and international awareness. Locally, as I was coordinating the group of EU Consuls, I acted quickly to reflect France’s and Europe’s clear stance.
Together with my Ukrainian counterpart, I raised the Ukrainian flag alongside the French flag at the Residence of France in River Oaks. European consuls joined with their own flags, along with local elected officials, members of Congress, and the media. The message was clear: solidarity with the Ukrainian in defense of sovereignty and international order.
The Ukrainian flag remained until weather wore it down—just as it still flies over the French Residence in Washington D.C., wrapped around the Statue of Liberty.
This moment underscores a Consul General’s role : bringing French diplomacy to life regionally, serving as both witness and actor in history. Over the course of my tenure, three major geopolitical events emerged as particularly significant: the Russian aggression in Ukraine; the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel; and the re-election of President Trump. Each shaped global dynamics and echoed in our district. I’ve worked closely with the Consuls General of Germany, Ukraine, Israel, as well as with many other dedicated diplomatic colleagues. I’ve also had the privilege of awarding the Legion of Honor to Holocaust survivors and to American veterans – men and women who paid the ultimate price to liberate France and Europe from nazi tyranny – in ceremonies that were always deeply moving.
Q: You’ve had quite a diplomatic dance card—starting, quite literally, with a waltz with the Mayor of Houston. Can you tell us about that moment and what it symbolizes for you?
A: Indeed ! I invited Mayor Sylvester Turner to waltz with me at the very first consular Ball I attended in Houston. It was a symbolic gesture of trust, partnership, and personal commitment to building a bold, dynamic relationship with the mayor of the fourth largest U.S. city —soon to become the third. Just elected to Congress, Sylvester Turner passed away. Our thoughts are with this remarkable public servant who devoted his life to the public good.
Diplomatic balls are more than social events—they’re instruments of influence. Last April 23, the World Affairs Council hosted a gala honoring France, gathering Houston’s key partners and the international community represented by its vibrant consular corps—the third largest in the U.S., with nearly 90 accredited officials. As Dean of the consular corps, I was particularly proud that this gala was a tribute not only to France’s role but also to the consular corps’s importance in Houston, showcasing our shared commitment to cultural and economic exchange.
Recognizing that four of the ten largest U.S. cities are located here, I prioritized rekindling ties with their mayors. The results were positive: In 2022, Mayor Turner chose France for Houston’s first post-COVID trade mission to Europe. In 2023, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson visited Paris and sister city Dijon. Austin, under Mayor Kirk Watson, continues to nurture its deep relationship with Angers. Earlier this year, San Antonio led a delegation to France as its basketball team – the Spurs – played there, featuring their rising star Victor Wembanyama. In June, San Antonio established a new sister- city partnership with Le Chesnay-Roquencourt, Victor’s hometown, built around shared values of sports and civic engagement. The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs endorsed this initiative in person!
These efforts were bolstered by our Honorary Consuls, notably Liz Wiley in Austin and Jeanne Phillips in Dallas, who recently concluded their mandates after years of remarkable service. Thanks to Jeanne Phillips, former U.S. Ambassador to the OECD in Paris, the first French Trade Office in Dallas opened in 2022 alongside Mayor Johnson – a key milestone. With the support of our Honorary Consul Beatrice Moore in Little Rock, we are exploring the possibility of opening the first Alliance française in Arkansas.
Subnational diplomacy between cities and local governement has been a cornerstone of my work – a practical, people-to-people diplomacy anchored in local realities.
Q: Speaking of the Olympics, we saw Carl Lewis, astronauts, and athletes involved in a live discussion before Paris 2024. What role does Houston play in this Olympic momentum?
A: Texas is a land of pioneers and champions. The Choose France campaign features several with Texas ties: astronauts Thomas Pesquet and Sophie Adenot, basketball player Victor Wembanyama…
To celebrate Paris 2024 from Houston, we invited the legendary Carl Lewis—ten Olympic medals, and now a track coach at the University of Houston—for a special event marking 300 days before the Games. That journey culminated at the Opening Ceremony, where Carl Lewis carried the Olympic flame !
We went further. Astronauts and elite athletes share a drive to push human limits. Just days before the Games, in collaboration with NASA and the Rice Space Institute, we organized a live conversation between two American astronauts aboard the International Space Station and two French Olympic and Paralympic champions on Earth. I participated from INSEAD near Paris, engaging with an international class of master’s students, participating in the dialogue. Thomas Pesquet -having just completed his Master’s degree at INSEAD—and Carl Lewis both recorded personal messages for the experience. A unique, real-time connection between Earth and Space – a powerful, historic moment.
Q: From SXSW with Thomas Pesquet to the France–Texas Space Hub, the space collaboration seems very strong. What’s ahead?
A: Space is a frontier where our two countries truly align. The Space Hub is a launchpad for deeper partnerships—scientific research, startups, sustainability in orbit, education, even the arts. There’s genuine excitement on both sides. Civil nuclear energy is another field worth exploring, as both Texas and France nurture bold ambitions for a nuclear renaissance. Texas and France are global leaders in strategic sectors.
It’s this shared history that I sought to rekindle. The Schlumberger brothers, who came to Houston during the 1920s oil boom, helped shape a golden era in Franco–Texan relations. One of their heirs, Dominique de Menil, left a lasting mark on this legacy with the creation of the Menil Collection. Exceptional museum directors such as Gary Tinterow in Houston continue to champion French art and culture across Texas.
Who will be the Dominique de Menil of the 21st century – bold enough to reimagine capable France’s presence in Texas through lasting visionary initiaves ? Where is America heading in this era of disruption and political transformation ? And how can the France-Houston relationship evolve accordingly ?
The Alliance Française of Houston — founded in 1923 by mathematician Edgar Odell Lovett, a friend of Henri Poincaré — was a cornerstone of that first golden age. I have worked to revive it, with the unwavering commitment of the current team, because it will be a major asset at the heart of the second golden age that is now taking shape.
Q: You’ve highlighted education through the Label FrancÉducation, and the French presence in San Antonio with Victor Wembanyama. What message do you hope that sends?
A: That French language and culture are alive—and evolving—in Texas and beyond. French is a global language of innovation, creativity, and ambition. French for All : for anyone who dares to dream big and help shape the world of tomorrow.
Victor Wembanyama embodies that spirit—excellence, humility, global reach. He’s an inspiration for the next generation. And Education is long-term diplomacy.
That’s why, with Rice University’s School of Social Sciences and the Baker Institute, we created the D.I.P.L.O. Program – Diplomatic Immersion, Policy Learning, Observation. It allows students in the Master of Global Affairs to shadow diplomats and receive mentoring from the consular corps.
We’re also launching a new initiative to promote women’s leadership in diplomacy. Here in Texas, I’ve met extraordinary women who are true ambassadors of French language and values—especially Dr. Ruth Simmons. She was the first Black woman to serve as president of an Ivy League university, born in Texas during segregation. For her, discovering French was not just an academic breakthrough—it was a moment of emancipation. In her own words, French gave her the freedom to think otherwise, and the strength to become herself. She is, in every sense, a model of courage and inspiration. This year, France made her an Officer in the Legion of Honor.
Q: Bastille Day with Barbara Butch? That’s unexpected!
A: Exactly—and that’s the point! Barbara Butch is an iconic French DJ who helped shape the Paris 2024 soundtrack. She will be performing in Houston for the first time—and she’s inviting the whole city to dance. We will host an open-air concert, blending Olympic anthems (Gainsbourg, Dalida, Rita Mitsouko, Mylène Farmer, Stardust, Darude…) with Texan country – a vibrant mix that reflects Houston’s energy and celebrates a modern Franco-Texan cultural connection.
Barbara Butch brings a powerful message of liberty, diversity, and joy. Save the date: Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the Alliance Française and in Montrose. A heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors who made this event possible.
Q: Finally—what stands out most from your time as Consul General?
A: So many firsts. I was the first woman to serve as Consul General of France in Houston. The first time that France has held the position of Dean of the Consular Corps. The first meeting between a French President and a Texas Governor.
I asked to come to Texas—and I’m glad I did.
There’s a pioneering spirit here. People embrace your energy and ideas. If you’re a doer, not just a talker, they welcome you as one of their own.
It reminds me of a speech Theodore Roosevelt gave at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1910, just after his presidency. In “The Man in the Arena,” he shares his vision of citizenship in a republic—the value of personal courage and civic responsibility: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles (…). The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.”
A New World leader, speaking in the heart of the Old World – and still so relevant today, as democracies are tested. This speech is also a tribute to Franco-American friendship and shared values: “You and I belong to the only two republics among the great Powers of the world… A calamity to you would be a sorrow to us… In the seething turmoil of the history of humanity, certain nations stand out as possessing a peculiar power…”
As I prepare to leave office, outstanding gestures of friendship – like proclamations from the Mayor of Houston, the Texas House of Representatives, and the Texas Senate, or the resolution of the Harris County – are rewarding and profoundly moving. Some of them were supported by the newly established Texan chapter of the French-American Cultural Foundation.
This, to me, is the very heart of my mission. To stand in the arena and act – with the unwavering support of my exceptional and dedicated team at the Consulate. To help shape, day after day and through the turbulence of history, the lasting friendship between France and the United States.
