Women of Influence (U)

<p>A key actor in the Liberian peace movement in the early 2000s, Leymah Gbowee has established herself as an international symbol of peaceful conflict resolution and the power of women as leaders and agents of change.

<p>As the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Naomi Tutu struggled to find her own place in the world. As a human rights advocate, she pulls from her personal challenges of growing up black and female in apartheid South Africa.</p><p>The Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu knew from early in life that the one thing she would never be is a priest. She has always said, “I have my father’s nose, I do not want his job” However, after years spent as a development consultant, educator and race and gender activist she accepted her call to ordained ministry.

<p>Céline Cousteau is an internationally recognized explorer, award winning filmmaker, environmental advocate, life fulfillment coach, and transformational speaker working at the intersection of sustainability, leadership, and integral wellness. </p><p>As a third generation explorer carrying forward her family’s legacy, Céline blends field experience from the Amazon to Antarctica, a background in psychology and intercultural relations, award winning storytelling, and a profound understanding and commitment to human and ecological wellbeing.

<p>Author of the best-selling memoir<i> Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics</i>, her witty style and innovative political strategies have earned her the respect of colleagues as well as adversaries. </p><p>Inspired by participation in a successful political campaign at age 9, Donna Brazile holds a lifelong, fiery passion for political progress. She was honored to become the first African American to manage a presidential bid, leading Al Gore’s campaign in 2000.

<p>A Native American activist, Harvard-educated economist and author, Winona LaDuke has devoted her life to advocating for indigenous people’s rights and environmental justice.</p><p>In 1985, LaDuke co-founded and co-chaired the Indigenous Women’s Network (IWN), a coalition dedicated to empowering women to take active roles in tribal politics and culture. In 1989, she founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project (WELRP), a tribal land re-acquisition and environmental advocacy effort and one of the largest reservation-based nonprofits in the country.

<p>Editor-in-chief of<em> The Economist </em>and named one of the "Most Powerful Women in the World” by <em>Forbes</em>, Zanny Minton Beddoes is a renowned global economics expert, sought-after for her authoritative perspectives on the world economy.</p><p>The first female editor in <em>The Economist’s</em> 170+-year history, Minton Beddoes previously served as the publication’s business affairs editor, economics editor and emerging-markets correspondent.

<p>Over almost two decades, award-winning journalist and web and TV host, Laura Ling has dedicated herself to exposing the world to critical global issues, including slave labor in the Amazon, the drug war in Mexico, Internet censorship in China, and women’s rights in Turkey.</p><p>As the Director of Development for Discovery Digital Networks, Ling oversees the creation and production of original web series.

<p>Bree Newsome rallies your spirit with her impassioned message about racial equality and illustrates how, with courage, zeal and the support of others, ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference. </p><p>This contemporary civil rights icon first garnered national attention for her daring act of peaceful disobedience in June 2015.

<p>Dr. Joan Morgan is an award-winning journalist and author, and a provocative cultural critic. Morgan's passion and commitment to the accurate documentation of hip-hop culture combined with adept cultural criticism placed her at the forefront of music journalism.</p><p>She was one of the original staff writers at <i>Vibe</i> magazine and a contributing editor and columnist for<i> Spin</i>.

<p>With more than two decades of experience in groundbreaking storytelling, Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Lisa Ling shares stories of her dramatic career to educate and inspire audiences to live without limits.</p><p>Over a twenty-year career in media, journalist Lisa Ling has dedicated herself to shedding light on stories impacting the world in which we live. She joined CBS News in 2023 after 15 years with CNN, where she hosted This Is Life with Lisa Ling.