Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first female President of Liberia and Africa’s first democratically elected female leader. She lined her path to the presidency with determination and hard work. Her achievements have inspired many and shown that women can lead in Liberia and beyond.

Born Ellen Eugenia Johnson on October 29, 1938, in Monrovia, Liberia, she has worked tirelessly to inspire women to get involved in peacekeeping, political leadership and the rebuilding of Liberia after its civil war. She made good success of these efforts herself and earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.

From Monrovia to the World Stage

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf grew up in Liberia, which shaped her future. She attended the College of West Africa and moved to the United States for further studies. She returned to Liberia and started her career in the Ministry of Finance. She soon got into confrontations with the country’s leaders due to her strident views against bad leadership. She was imprisoned and eventually went into exile, remaining committed to progressive change. Activities like the coup d’état led by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe only made her more determined to fight for women’s rights and democracy in Liberia.

Her story shows the reward of never giving up. She became Africa’s first elected female head of state, inspiring many, including women, to take on leadership roles. The highlights of her career journey include:

• Receiving 59 per cent of the vote in the 2005 presidential election runoff.
• Serving as Liberia’s first female finance minister.
• Appointed as the first woman to run the United Nations development programme for Africa.
• Awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2011.

Time in Exile

For 12 years, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf lived in exile, splitting her time between Kenya and the United States. During this period, Liberia was engulfed in a brutal civil war. Despite being away from home, she made a name for herself as a respected economist, working with prestigious institutions such as the World Bank and Citibank. From 1992 to 1997, she held a significant position as the Regional Bureau for Africa director at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), solidifying her expertise in economic development and governance.

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