Leadership is a process through which a person motivates and influences people around him. Subconsciously this world has been influenced by these world’s greatest leaders and the list is endless. The epitome of their unique leadership qualities can be observed through their contribution to society. All of them had unique qualities and this world celebrates their greatness today. One of the reasons they are inspirational is because they have fought and won battles and conflicts among themselves. Let us throw light on some of the world’s greatest leaders of all time.
1. Stephen Hawking
A person who had every reason to give up in his life but he didn’t and became the most well-known theoretical physicist since Albert Einstein. He is popular by the name Stephan Hawking who proved that determination and positive thinking can triumph over any kind of severe limitations. Hawking had done serious groundbreaking work as a physicist in the field of cosmology, black holes, and quantum physics. He overcame his disability amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and received worldwide acclaim for his thought-provoking theories on the universe.
2. Bill Gates
Bill Gates ranks top on the list of the world’s greatest leaders. The unique combination of aggressive business strategy, incredible vision, and unrivaled work ethic made Microsoft the world’s biggest technology company. Ultimately, he provoked people to become rich by contributing to the world of technology. Even if he has an upper-middle-class family background, it did not stop him from changing the way how the business world works. As a philanthropist, he and his wife have a $44 billion endowment designed to improve healthcare and reduce extreme poverty around the world.
3. Napoleon Bonaparte
A reputed French military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte received vital recognition during the great French Revolution. He served as emperor of France from 1804 to 1814 and conquered large parts of Europe during the 19th century. Napoleon is widely known for his tactical thinking and quick brilliance in desperate situations like Napoleon’s wars (1803-15). He transformed the French legal system by introducing ‘Napoleonic Code’ which is followed worldwide today. His vision of defending principles of revolution and democracy left a great legacy of an ideal emperor behind.
4. Mother Teresa
Popularly known as ‘The living saint’, Mother Teresa had left a lasting dent in humankind. She is a role model for philanthropists, and social activists all over the world and has received notable mention in the hearts of people. Her unforgettable devotion to orphans and disadvantaged sections of society gave her global recognition among the world’s greatest leaders category. She was awarded Nobel Peace Prize and Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize for her endeavors to overcome poverty.
5. Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln rose to be a catalyst of revolution, justice, and emancipation once he became America’s 16th President. He firmly believed America is a land of equality and liberty and sought to abolish the system of slavery and introduced values based on an egalitarian society. His legacy and ideologies are quite profound that his speeches keep impacting current and upcoming generations. Lincoln emphasized education, civil liberties, and individualism. His honesty, intelligence, and affable personality helped him to build a successful career as a politician and become one of the world’s greatest leaders.
6. Dalai Lama
The current 14th Dalai Lama is not just a religious leader but a freedom fighter and political leader of Tibet. His Buddhist teachings and life story is an inspiration for the international community. According to him, the problems we face in our daily lives are mostly created by humans and their origin lies inside us only. His participation in international conferences, scheduling visits to other nations, and creating alliances with them are giving him a huge advantage in becoming one of the world’s greatest leaders.
7. Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was the first president of South Africa, who played the main role in the anti-apartheid struggle of the country. ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, in which he mentioned his experiences in prisons. He successfully managed to unite his country and motivate them for freedom from racism. By demonstrating peaceful protests against the racist South African government, he improved the lives of his people and received Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
8. Winston Churchill
A man, who received Nobel Prize for Literature for being a prolific writer, who came to be known as a political leader during Second World War is named Winston Churchill. He led Britain and Allied nations against the Nazis to defend democracy and built diplomatic relations with USA and Russia. His wisdom, oratory skills, persistence, and upright character led Britain from the brink of defeat to victory. He struggled for 40 years to become British Prime Minister and created history by establishing post-war peace at the universal level on mission mode.
9. Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was an anti-war activist and Indian freedom fighter who fought for their independence rights and values. Originally known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, he led South African people to protest against segregation and discrimination based on racism. He introduced the concept of ‘Satyagraha’ by organizing non-violent protests against the British government and fulfilling the demands of Indians peacefully. Quit India Movement, Non-cooperation movement, and Civil Disobedience movement are some of the examples of ‘Satyagraha’ in India.
10. Malala Yousafzai
The youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai is an international symbol for female education who was appointed as United Nations Messenger in 2017. Shot by a gunman over the face while returning from school did not stop her from leading a battle against the Taliban for girls’ education. Along with her father, she opened up the ‘Malala Fund’ to create awareness about human rights and female education. She used to write blogs for the right to education under the pseudo name but later on, she took bold efforts on the platform of the United Nations and became a global leader.
The world’s greatest leaders are those who create a significant difference in the public domain and get the best out of their followers. What made them great is still applicable today. These 10 world’s greatest leaders are universally accepted and will help to motivate you in life.
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