LEADERS

MELINDA GATES

A fierce advocate for women around the world

By Sheryl Sandberg

Leadership takes many forms. Here’s one: A group of women sit on the ground in a circle. Most of them make less than $2 a day. They talk about their families, their fledgling enterprises, their dreams of better lives for their children. In their midst is Melinda Gates, listening.

You might think, Everyone listens. In fact, women like this are rarely heard, and few listen like Melinda. She listens with her complete attention and total empathy. Then she figures out how to use what she’s learned to make the world a more equitable place.

Her vision for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has helped lift the lives of millions of people. Its work reflects her impatient optimism. Her ability to think big and move fast. Her love of numbers. (Bill’s not the only data geek in the family.) Her passionate commitment to empowering women and girls, seen in the foundation’s support for increasing access to contraceptives in developing countries. Her fundamental belief in human dignity. It’s all there, woven tightly into the DNA of one of the most ambitious and generous philanthropies in history. And with the launch of her new organization, Pivotal Ventures, Melinda has yet another avenue to effect meaningful change.

Her impact will be felt for generations to come.

‘WOMEN SPEAKING UP FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THOSE AROUND THEM IS THE STRONGEST FORCE WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE WORLD.’

MELINDA GATES

Sandberg is the COO of Facebook, founder of LeanIn.org and author of Option B

Juan Manuel Santos

Peacemaker

By Ingrid Betancourt

I first met Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in 1992 when he was Minister of Trade. Appointed as his adviser, I soon realized that he had set himself up to an impossible mission.

While Colombia was waging a dire war against the drug cartels, Santos was looking beyond. Amid death, corruption and political divisions, I remember him saying, “We need to add, not subtract.”

This could well be the parable of his life. Throughout his career, he carefully avoided graduating his adversaries into enemies—and his enemies into bitter foes.

Years later, when then Defense Minister Santos greeted me back to freedom in 2008, he was not only inflicting major defeats on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) but also winning their respect.

Last year Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating an end to the Colombian government’s 50-year war with FARC. And while I watched him accept it, I remembered the words he said to me back in 1992. Indeed he had been adding—bringing together friends and enemies to achieve what once seemed impossible: peace.

I pray that we in Colombia will live up to his legacy.

“REFUGEES ARE NOT NUMBERS,” FRANCIS HAS SAID, CALLING ON COUNTRIES TO OPEN THEIR BORDERS. “THEY ARE PEOPLE . . . AND NEED TO BE TREATED AS SUCH.”

Betancourt is an author, activist and former presidential candidate held hostage by FARC for six years

Pope Francis

A powerful witness

By Cardinal Blase J. Cupich

Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio? Francis told us in his first interview after being elected Pope: “I am a sinner,” he said. “This the most accurate definition.