In his address, Carter thanked Dr. Kulkarni for her time serving as the Consul General of India, Atlanta. Dr. Kulkarni, whom he noted initially aspired to pursue a career in medicine, made a pivotal shift to Foreign Service. Outlining her service over diverse locations such as Oman, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, Carter said Dr. Kulkarni, understanding the "responsibility of representing a country with a flourishing economic profile and a population constituting one-fifth of the world, she realized the importance of looking beyond her own community.