PRESSING FOR PEACE
ROYA RAHMANI | 41
Because of the fraught U.S. history
in Afghanistan, the position of Afghan
ambassador to Washington carries
immense responsibility. So when Afghan
President Ashraf Ghani appointed Roya
Rahmani as his country’s first female
envoy to the U.S. in 2018, he wasn’t
just sending a message about his
government’s commitment to women’s
rights at the very moment when U.S.
negotiations with the Taliban threatened
to unravel them, he was also entrusting
his nation’s American relationship to a
fierce advocate for peace on Afghan terms.
Rahmani has spent her tenure arguing
for Afghan inclusion in the talks that will
decide her country’s future. The Taliban,
she says, “are not our representatives.”
Ending the war “should be decided by
the people who are most affected by this
process.” —Aryn Baker
INDONESIA’S
ENTREPRENEUR
NADIEM MAKARIM | 35
In late October, the Indonesian
entrepreneur Nadiem Makarim left
the helm of his company, Gojek—
whose popular app offers services
ranging from making online payments
to ordering food—to take a position
in President Joko Widodo’s Cabinet.
He is now Minister of Education and
Culture, putting him in a position to
shape the future leaders of the world’s
16th largest economy. Says Brian
Harding, a deputy director at the
Center for Strategic and International
Studies: “Makarim will bring
youthful, entrepreneurial savvy into
the Cabinet.” —Amy Gunia
SERVING HIS CITY
FRANCIS SUAREZ | 42
By Marco Rubio
Public service isn’t about grabbing
headlines, but about solving real problems
facing those who live and work in our
communities. While federal policymakers
play an important role, local government
leaders are often on the front lines of these
issues. Francis Suarez understands and
relishes this civic duty.
A Miami native, Francis is a passionate
advocate for the community he represents.
While his efforts to solve the big
problems—everything from sea-level
resilience to solutions to gun violence—
are clear, I personally witnessed his
commitment to solving problems that fly
under the radar when we visited public-
housing complexes together in Miami’s
Liberty City neighborhood.
Miami has a unique set of advantages
and challenges. But Francis’ desire to serve
his community has consistently guided the
city toward a promising future.
Rubio, a Republican, is a Senator from
Florida
PORTRAIT-ILLUSTRATION BY GLUEKIT FOR TIME; RAISMAN: DINA LITOVSKY—REDUX; MAKARIM: AP; SUAREZ: SHUTTERSTOCK
