There are some who stand tall
and stand out no matter where
they are from—whether a large,
densely populated country or a
small island nation. Prime Min-
ister Mia Mottley of Barbados is
one such person. Bold, fearless,
and possessing a great intellect
and wit, the Prime Minister is a
brilliant politician who knows how
to shake things up.
Since she was a young woman
growing up in the Caribbean, Mia
Mottley has always cared deeply
about critical issues impacting
the world. From poverty to debt
to climate change, she is a vocal
advocate on the world stage for
responsible stewardship of our
planet, so that nations large and
small and people rich and poor
can survive and thrive together.
Mia Mottley
Striding boldly
BY NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA
At COP26 in Glasgow late last
year, she chided the world’s lead-
ers for not working more diligently
to limit the potential catastrophic
impacts of climate change, telling
them to try harder. While chair of
the World Bank and the Interna-
tional Monetary Fund’s Develop-
ment Committee, she reminded
the world’s fi nance gurus that
the level of a country’s per capita
income may not always be the
best measure of its wealth. After
all: one climate-change-induced
hurricane can take a signifi cant
toll on that wealth.
Mia Mottley is an icon in her
country, having won re-election by
a landslide. The Prime Minister
strides boldly on the world stage.
She is an embodiment of our
conscience, reminding us all to
treat our planet, and therefore
one another, with love, dignity,
and care.Okonjo-Iweala is the director-
general of the World Trade
Organization