Madeleine Albright might be best known for her important role as the first female secretary of state, but her life before and after that is equally worth knowing and celebrating. Her desire to pursue her passions despite trials makes her an inspiring example to all women.

Early Life

Marie Jana (Madeleine) Korbel was born on May 15, 1937 in Prague. Her family settled in Denver, Colorado in 1948 where her father, Josef, worked as a professor at the University of Denver. Madeleine grew up learning about and being exposed to world affairs. She flourished not just as a student but also as an active member of the school community by being the editor of the school newspaper and further pursued her interest in politics.

It was during a Denver Post internship that she met her future husband, Joseph Albright, a publishing heir. The couple soon married after she had graduated in 1959 – complete with honors – from Wellesley College Massachusetts.

Family Life And The Continued Pursuit For Education

Madeleine and Joseph Albright moved from city to city as Joseph pursued his journalistic career. At the same time, Madeleine took further studies at Columbia University. She earned her certificate in Russian studies in 1968 and completed a doctorate degree in Public Law and Government in 1976.

It was also during this period of pursuing advanced degrees that the Albright family grew, with Madeleine giving birth to twin girls, Alice and Anne, in 1961 and the youngest child, Katherine, in 1967.

The Beginning Of A Political Career

Albright’s foray in the world of politics officially began at the age of 35 as a legislative assistant to Edmund Muskie, a Democratic senator.

In the early 1980s, Albright went through a harrowing divorce and then had to leave her post and move to the private sector when the Democrats lost their power. She has described ‘remaking’ her life post-divorce and spent these initial years in various nonprofit organizations, as well as becoming an international affairs professor at Georgetown University. Her excellent work was recognized in the form of the Teacher of the Year Award, which she won four times. She continued to remain present and relevant among the Democratic elite, who often attended gatherings at her townhouse to discuss the latest issues and concerns. She became Michael Dukakis’ adviser during his presidential bid in 1988.

Rise To The World Political Platform

Albright became the United States’ permanent representative of the UN in 1993 and soon became known as an unwavering force and voice of assertive multilateralism. Her four-year role as UN representative were four years of much groundwork in laying out the Clinton Administration’s leadership style and thrust for multilateral organizations. She worked to expand the military involvement of the United States in the Balkans in the 1990s – a time when it was riddled with conflict. Such lobbying by Albright resulted in publicly locking horns with Colin Powell. This was also the time when she pushed for the United States’ intervention during the 1994 Haitian coup.

Proving Her Expertise In Foreign Policy

Clinton again sought Albright’s help in December 1996, when she was nominated for the position of secretary of state. In January 1997, she assumed the position as the 64th secretary of state. She was also the first woman to have held such a position of esteem and power. True to form, Albright performed her new role with her usual strong will, outspokenness and penchant for problem solving. She also advocated for better democracy and more human rights all over the world. She worked tirelessly to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons that originated from Soviet countries and were to make their way to North Korea and other rogue nations. She was also a NATO advocate who pushed for the organization’s expansion in terms of membership, as well as its military intervention in Kosovo’s humanitarian crisis in 1999.

Being a diplomat, Albright worked to stabilize United States’ relations with nations such as Vietnam and China. In 1997, she was a key player in a Middle East peace mission where she successfully brokered negotiations with many Arab nations on behalf of Israel. Her North Korean trip to meet with Kim Jong Il was particularly important and history-making, as she was the very first secretary of state from the United States to ever do so.

2001 And Beyond

Madeleine Albright left her UN post in 2001 but her life far from slowed down. She became the author of several New York Times bestsellers, such as Madam Secretary: A Memoir (2003), The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God and World Affairs (2006), and Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box (2009). Her most recent work was published in 2012 –Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948.

She also set up Albright Capital Management in 2007. Her private investment fund had the goal of developing emerging markets through long-term investments for the company’s clients. She is also the global strategy firm Albright Stonebridge Group’s co-chair, as well The Hague Institute for Global Justice’s advisory council chair.

More Honors And Awards

Someone with Madeleine Albright’s intellect, dedication and skill naturally received and continues to receive numerous honors, as well as honorary degrees for her work in world affairs, especially in the realm of democracy and diplomacy. These include the U.S. Senator H. John Heinz II Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official in 2001. The Menschen in Europa Award was given to her in September 2006 for all her work in fostering better international understanding. President Barack Obama also awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

Her accomplishments in her field certainly make her a woman worth looking up to: one who has dedicated her life to academic and professional pursuits, bravely weathering personal and professional challenges and doing her part, to the best of her abilities, in making the world a more harmonious place to live in.

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Written by: Arlene Lagman Arlene Lagman is the administration assistant of Woolf Works. She loves inspiring stories about natural beauty, self confidence, personal development, woman empowerment and happy endings.  As a food enthusiast, traveler and writer, she always tries to find time for new experiences and adventures.

_{This post was first published on Woolf Works blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Edited by Nedda Chaplin} 

Image Credit:
MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT by Miller Center
Wikimedia Commons- Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright at Commonwealth Club of California by Commonwealth Club

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