Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a trailblazing Liberian politician, economist, and author, best known as the first female elected head of state in Africa. Born in 1938 in Monrovia, Liberia, she was educated at Harvard University and later worked with institutions like the World Bank and the United Nations. In 2005, she was elected President of Liberia, serving two terms from 2006 to 2018 and leading efforts to rebuild the nation after years of civil war.

As an author, Sirleaf documented her extraordinary journey in her memoir This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First Woman President. In it, she shares powerful insights into her life—from surviving political imprisonment to managing post-war recovery and fighting for women’s rights, education, and democratic reform. Her leadership earned her the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing her nonviolent struggle for the safety and empowerment of women.

Among Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s most inspiring quotes is: “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” This has become a rallying cry for aspiring leaders around the world. Another impactful statement is: “The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them.” Through her words and work, Sirleaf has become a global symbol of courage, resilience, and visionary leadership, inspiring change far beyond the borders of Liberia.