Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

About the Author

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has dedicated her life to advancing democracy, economic development, and women's rights in Liberia and beyond. Born in Monrovia in 1938, she rose through the ranks of international finance, serving at the World Bank and as Liberia's Minister of Finance before enduring exile, imprisonment, and the ravages of civil war. Elected president in 2005, she led her nation through reconstruction, earning global acclaim for her resilient leadership. In her memoir This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President, Sirleaf chronicles her journey from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of power, offering profound insights into perseverance, governance, and the fight for equality in a turbulent world.