Angelina Jolie
actress, humanitarian, leader
A Symbol of Leadership for the World
There's no such thing as a fleeting cause célèbre for Jolie; since joining forces with the UN's refugee agency in 2001, first as a goodwill ambassador and now as special envoy, she's undertaken 50 field missions to countries including Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan.
"I'm not frightened of anyone's perception of me."
Angelina Jolie made the decision to explain her preemptive double mastectomy in a New York Times editorial, though controversial in some health circles, underscored her willingness to foster hard conversations by taking a public stand.
Why Is Angelina a Good Leader?
"Angelina Jolie represents a new type of leadership in the 21st century," says U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has worked with Jolie on efforts to end a plague of rape in war-torn regions. "Her strength lies in the fact that she is able to influence governments and move public opinion at the same time." That Jolie chooses to use her global influence to highlight neglected human rights and humanitarian issues, adds Hague, "is in keeping with the finest traditions of leadership."