As the first African American woman elected to the United States Senate, Carol Moseley Braun blazed a trail for others to follow. In a recent exclusive interview with Chicago's DuSable Museum of African American History, she shares some of the lessons she's learned during her career—along with advice for those considering public service.

After an introduction by DuSable Museum president and CEO Perri Irmer, education director Dr. Kim Dulaney kicked things off by asking Moseley Braun about the responsibilities she felt upon being sworn into the Senate in 1993.

"The people of Illinois were ready to elect me because the times had changed—they were ready to vote for a woman who's Black on top of that," she says. "I just put one foot in front of the other and tried to do my job, which I saw as being a legislator, because I wasn't there to be a rock star."

With a youth shaped by the civil rights movement and a political science degree from the University of Illinois, Mosely Braun knew she was living in a unique moment filled with opportunities to move the country forward.

"I had marched with Dr. King, I played cards with Fred Hampton, and I was around all these activists working for the liberation of Black people and for the liberation of women," she explains. "It was two different constituencies and I happened to be part of both of them, so I engaged as best I could to push the agenda and work with like-minded people to try to make things better."

Moseley Braun is proud of the progress women have made in ascending to positions of power but looks forward to a time when it's no longer unusual.

"We all have a role to play in changing the culture so that it is accepting of the talent that women bring, and we're going to get to where it's not remarkable anymore," she says. "Women are now stepping into leadership positions to make their contributions, whether it's in corporate America or the courts or in the legislature, and I think it's wonderful."

After making history as a senator, Moseley Braun went on to become US ambassador to New Zealand ("I got assigned to paradise," she says with a laugh.) It was a dream posting that enabled her to help break another barrier, this time for the indigenous Māori people. Embassies always hire local staff, and she was disappointed to learn that no Māori had ever been employed in the US embassy—a situation she fixed right away.

"I hired the first Māori [people] in our embassy to help set up a security force," she says with pride. "I was even made an honorary Māori."

After her time as a senator and ambassador, Moseley Braun turned her attention to shaping the leaders of tomorrow by serving as a political science professor at Chicago's DePaul University and Atlanta's Morris Brown University. The former senator is also taking the time to add to her prized art collection. 

"I had actually wanted to be an art historian, but my father told me I couldn't make a living as an art historian and encouraged me to go to law school," she says. "In hindsight, I could have made money as an art historian, but my father was relating his generation's experience."

Her advice to young people starting out? Stay positive.

"My parents raised me to focus on the possibilities and not the limitations," she says. "Find inspiration in the fact that you're making a difference."