Quotes by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, First Female President of Liberia
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the former president of Liberia and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. She was the first woman in Africa to be elected as president in a democratic election. She is a respected leader who has worked for freedom, peace, justice, and women’s empowerment. Sirleaf led Liberia after a long civil war and during the Ebola Crisis, receiving praise for bringing positive changes to the country. She is known as “Africa’s Iron Lady.”
Profile of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was born in Monrovia, Liberia, on October 29, 1938. Born Ellen Eugenia Johnson, President Sirleaf is the granddaughter of a traditional renowned chief in western Liberia and a market woman from the southeast. She had her education in the U.S. and holds a master’s in public administration (MPA) from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of
Government. She also earned a degree in accounting at Madison Business College in Wisconsin and received a diploma from the University of Colorado Economic Institute. She is a prominent Liberian politician and economist who served as the 24th President of Liberia till 2018.
Leadership and Achievement of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became President of Liberia in 2005, just after the civil war ended. She made history as the first woman in Africa to be elected as a head of state through a democratic process. Before becoming president, she was part of the transitional government, where she led efforts to reform governance and fight corruption. She was reelected in 2011.
During her time as president, Sirleaf focused on rebuilding Liberia. She attracted over $16 billion in foreign investment and more than $5 million in private funding to rebuild schools, clinics, and markets and provide scholarships. She also negotiated the forgiveness of $4.6 billion in external debt and the lifting of UN trade sanctions, which helped Liberia rejoin the global economy. She implemented significant reforms to strengthen governance, combat corruption, and improve human rights. Under her leadership, Liberia made strides in improving the country’s infrastructure, education system, and healthcare services1. Her presidency also marked a significant milestone for gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa.
Awards Received by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Sirleaf has received many awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, for her courage and dedication to improving the lives of Africans. She has also received the highest public distinction in France and is named among the 100 most powerful women in the world. She was also named the Most powerful woman in Africa and among the ten best leaders in the world in 2010. She also recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award in March 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
Top 10 Quotes by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Quote 1: Ambitious Goals
“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them.”
The quote suggests that we should aspire to set ambitious goals beyond what we believe we can accomplish. It encourages us to push ourselves beyond our comfort zones continuously. By dreaming big and setting goals that surpass our current abilities, we are motivated to grow, learn new skills, and expand our capacities. Also, setting dreams that exceed current capabilities often requires thinking outside the box, finding innovative solutions, exploring new possibilities, taking calculated risks, and embracing creative approaches, which can lead to breakthroughs and advancements in various fields.
Many people underestimate their potential and limit themselves based on their abilities. This quote challenges individuals to go beyond their self-imposed limitations and believe in their capacity for growth. It serves as a reminder that true potential can only be realized by dreaming bigger than what one currently thinks is achievable.
Quote 2: Women Uplifting Women
“The success of every woman should be an inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all, be humble.”
President Sirleaf emphasizes the importance of women supporting and uplifting one another. She suggests that when women celebrate each other’s achievements and use them as inspiration, it creates a culture of empowerment and encouragement and fosters a sense of unity and solidarity among women. She also encourages women to be courageous in pursuing their goals, to exhibit strength in overcoming challenges, and to demonstrate kindness towards others.
President Sirleaf also emphasizes the importance of humility in the pursuit of success. It suggests that despite achieving success, women should remain humble and grounded. Humility fosters empathy, openness to learning, and the willingness to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of others. It encourages women to stay connected to their communities and to recognize that success is not solely an individual accomplishment but also a reflection of collective efforts.
Quote 3: Inspirational Leadership
“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you are an excellent leader.”
Quote 4: Inclusivity and Participation
“The success of any society depends on the full participation of all its citizens, including women.”
President Sirleaf suggests that for a society to thrive and succeed, it must ensure all citizens’ active participation and engagement in decision-making, regardless of gender. As a female former president and change maker, she proves that women’s participation is vital for society’s overall development and progress. Therefore, by providing equal opportunities, rights, and resources, societies can fully utilize women’s skills, knowledge, and contributions. When women are empowered and encouraged to participate in all aspects of society, including education, politics, economy, and leadership, the entire society benefits from their diverse perspectives and expertise. President Sirleaf recognizes that a society can only reach its full potential when it values and embraces its citizens’ diverse experiences, ideas, and talents. By actively involving women in decision-making processes and providing them with equal opportunities, societies can become more inclusive, resilient, and adaptable to change. Additionally, empowering women socially and economically has a ripple effect on their families, communities, and future generations.
Quote 5: Leadership and Followership
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.”
The quote suggests that true leadership goes beyond holding positions of authority or power. Leadership is seen as a service-oriented role where the leader focuses on their team or followers’ needs, growth, and development. The quote underscores the importance of prioritizing the welfare and interests of those being led. It implies that a leader’s success is measured by their ability to nurture, guide, and empower their team members rather than merely exerting control or dominance.
The quote highlights the significance of building trust and cultivating positive relationships with those in one’s charge. When leaders genuinely care for the individuals they lead, they foster an environment of trust, open communication, and collaboration. This, in turn, promotes loyalty, engagement, and a sense of belonging among team members.
Quote 6: Trust and Believe
“You can be a leader and deliver the right message, but in the end, the people have to believe in you.”
The quote suggests that leadership effectiveness is not solely dependent on having the right message or skills but also on establishing credibility and gaining the trust of the people being led. It implies that a leader’s words and actions must align and be seen as trustworthy and authentic by their followers. It acknowledges that while leaders can deliver compelling messages, the people’s belief in the leader ultimately determines their willingness to follow and act upon those messages.
It implies that when people believe in their leader, they are more likely to engage, collaborate, and contribute to collective efforts actively. Hence, leaders need to demonstrate authenticity and integrity in their words and actions to gain the belief and support of their followers. When individuals have confidence in their leader, they are more likely to be motivated, receptive to guidance, and committed to achieving shared objectives. A leader who is trusted and believed in can drive positive change, rally support, and effectively lead their team or organization.
Quote 7: Emergency response
“If we follow the same inconsistent, inefficient, and inequitable approach as we did to COVID-19, we risk not only a significant global health threat but also economic, political, and security catastrophe.”
This quote highlights the potential consequences of repeating the mistakes made in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in other areas. It highlights the lack of uniformity or coherence in how different regions or countries handle crises and the shortcomings in addressing the COVID-19 crisis. This includes delays in implementing effective measures, inadequate resource allocation, or failure to collaborate effectively, leading to certain communities or countries being disproportionately affected due to systemic inequalities.
The significance of this quote lies in its warning about the broader implications of repeating these patterns in future crises beyond just health emergencies like COVID-19. It emphasized that failing to adopt a more coordinated, efficient, and fair approach could lead to the emergence or exacerbation of other health, economic, and political crises with potentially severe consequences.
Quote 8: Peace Attainability
“We must all believe that peace across our continent is attainable by 2030, but this will only happen if we collectively take all the actions toward the achievement of that goal.”
Ellen Johnson emphasizes that with a shared belief that peace is achievable, individuals will be motivated to take the necessary actions to make it a reality. For without belief, there is no inspiration to take action. Also, she reiterated that cooperation, collaboration and coordination among stakeholders are necessary to achieve peace. However, she created a sense of urgency by highlighting 2030 as a timeline to achieve peace.
Quote 9: Women Leadership
“I dare say, when it comes to honest, courageous, committed leadership, women stand out.”
President Sirleaf, being the first African woman to be democratically elected as president, believes that women often excel in demonstrating qualities such as honesty, courage, and commitment when it comes to leadership. She proves that women are often more honest in their leadership approach by being straightforward, sincere, and transparent. Also, women are viewed as courageous leaders who are willing to take risks and stand up for what they believe in, even in the face of adversity or criticism.
Quote 10: Peace, Security, and Stability
“We must continue to pressure each other to achieve the peace, security, and stability needed for democratic governance and to spur sustainable and inclusive human development.”
This quote implies that the journey toward peace, security, and stability is ongoing and requires persistent effort. It suggests that individuals and nations must remain vigilant and proactive in pursuing these goals, as societies may struggle to function effectively and address the needs of their citizens without these elements. It indicates that achieving and maintaining peace, security, and stability is closely linked to democratic principles and practices. Finally, it emphasized the importance of inclusivity to ensure that development activities benefit all members of society.
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By: Huzeima Mahamadu (Researcher and Storyteller)