Immigrant Impact Spotlight: Celebrating the People Powering America’s Progress

Leadership & Diplomacy: “A Voice for the World”

Behind every diplomatic negotiation and every stride toward peace, there are voices that shape history.  Among the most influential was Madeleine Albright, an immigrant who became the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State and one of the most respected figures in American foreign policy.

Born Marie Jana Körbelová in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1937, her family fled the Nazi occupation during World War II, finding temporary refuge in London.  After the war, they returned briefly to Czechoslovakia, but in 1948, as communism took hold, her family once again sought safety—this time in the United States.

They settled in Denver, Colorado, where Albright began the path that would lead to her historic career in American government.

Albright became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1957.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and a PhD from Columbia University, building a reputation as a sharp scholar of international relations.  She taught at Georgetown University before entering public service, first as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton.

In 1997, she made history when President Clinton appointed her as Secretary of State, the highest-ranking woman in U.S. government at the time.  In this role, she shaped American diplomacy at the close of the 20th century—championing NATO expansion, advocating for human rights, and speaking out against tyranny worldwide.

“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” 

Her journey from refugee to America’s chief diplomat embodies the resilience, intellect, and determination that immigrants bring to public life.  Albright’s legacy continues to inspire women, immigrants, and leaders around the world to use their voices with courage and conviction.

Did You Know?

Immigrants make up over 13% of the U.S. population but have been disproportionately represented in leadership roles across government, science, and business.  Madeleine Albright paved the way for women and immigrants in American politics, proving that a voice once silenced by war can become one of the most powerful in the world.