Africa’s Last White President
FW de Klerk is best known as the last white president of apartheid South Africa. He freed Nelson Mandela after 27 years in jail, handed power to his former enemies and then shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela – who many still considered a terrorist at the time. He explained his views to us […]
Desmond Tutu: “God Is Not A Christian. Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu…”
In this exclusive interview with Real Leaders, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and social rights activist Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu says he is not threatened by the beliefs of others. He believes the world should become more aware of our shared humanity to avoid future conflicts. You represent a very specific world view, Christianity, yet have […]
The Dalai Lama: The Spiritual CEO Of Happiness Says He Might be Back As A Woman
A global leader with billions of admirers has a simple message for the planet: be more compassionate. The Dalai Lama considers himself an “engaged” Buddhist and is not shy of commenting on serious social problems, or that he might be reincarnated as a woman. Call it Karma, destiny or just plain bad luck, most […]
How Africans Have Hijacked the Bretton Woods Declaration
An historic declaration becomes the inspiration for Africa’s rejuvenation. Okendo Lewis-Gayle is inspired by a meeting with Barack Obama who tells him to “hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself in life.” Young African talent is being enticed out of major multi-national corporations and being put to work in new African startups. Western countries […]
Mao’s Last Dancer
One day in 1972 in the rural province of Qingdoa, China, a delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy arrived at a commune school to find suitable children to study ballet and pledge allegiance to Chairman Mao’s revolution. They walked past a quiet eleven year-old boy named Li Cunxin without taking much notice, but just […]
The Story of Stuff: Why You Should Pay Attention
I always like to remind people that the economy doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it exists on the planet and is a subset of the environment. The economy cannot exist without an environment, without the planet, without resources and without energy. To think of them as either unrelated or, even worse, as a subset of […]
Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel: Building Love, Breaking Barriers
Nelson Mandela left us in 2013, but his wife, Graça Machel, remains an endearing symbol of his generous spirit and leadership. She’s still hard at work in Africa, promoting a vision she shared with Mandela – that we can achieve anything when we work collectively rather than individually. Graça Machel has played an historic role […]
“Sport Has The Power to Change The World” – Nelson Mandela
A unique collaboration between luxury brands and the world’s greatest sporting legends has helped young people around the world overcome challenging social issues such as poverty, homelessness, war, violence, drug abuse, discrimination and AIDS. As Michael Johnson settled into the starting blocks at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 to set a new world record for […]
The Oprah Effect
Born into poverty in rural Mississippi to a teenage, single mother, Oprah Winfrey went on to become the first black woman billionaire in history. Arguably the world’s most powerful woman, she has overcome her adversities to become a benefactor to others. Now she’s producing movies. In August this year The Hundred-Foot Journey produced by Steven […]
Royal Dutch Shell Endorses Shareholder Resolution on Climate Change
Supermajor’s Support for Resolution Co-Filed by As You Sow Sends Signal to Policymakers: It’s Time for Global Accord On Climate. The Royal Dutch Shell Board of Directors has endorsed a shareholder resolution requiring the company to commit to reduce emissions and invest in renewable energy, to do away with bonus systems that promote climate harming activities, […]