Impact Albright

D16007F017We all know that it takes just one determined woman to change the world. Now imagine what 280 of them can do. Actually, we don’t have to imagine it—it is already happening.

Since 2010, our Madeleine K. Albright Institute ’59 for Global Affairs has had a transformative effect on the 280 Wellesley women who have participated in the Institute as Albright Fellows. We saw this in action on campus last weekend during Impact Albright—a Reunion of our Albright Fellows—especially during a series of “Maddy Talks,” in which seven past Albright Fellows spoke about how they are making a difference in the world. It was powerful to see each speak about their work—in health care, sustainable development, and the media—and I was inspired to hear these alumnae and students talk about the importance of women and women’s networks in their lives.

On Sunday, we held a symposium on Addressing Global Inequality, which included a public dialogue with an all-star panel (as seen in photo): former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright ’59; Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing Director of the World Bank; Mark Malloch Brown, former Deputy Secretary General and UNDP Administrator; and moderated by Heather Long ’04, of CNNMoney.

I was pleased to celebrate with many alumnae and friends all that the Albright Institute has meant, and continues to mean, to Wellesley and to the world. The world is a better place because of what our Albright Fellows contribute to it.