Symbol of resilience: Olena Zelenska enters top of most influential women of 2023
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska (t.me/FirstLadyOfUkraine)
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska has entered the list of the most influential women of 2023. Her name is alongside other influential personalities, such as Margot Robbie, Beyoncé, and Ursula von der Leyen, according to the Financial Times.
Olena Zelenska has become a symbol of resilience
Financial Times compiled a list of the most influential women globally, and Zelenska is among the few remarkable figures in the top 25. Her inclusion is attributed to her significant efforts in implementing important projects for children and women during the full-scale war in Ukraine.
Her influence extends not only to Ukrainians but also resonates globally. She is admired, respected, and stands out among others, which is highly valued.
"What I admire most about Olena Zelenska is her honesty. A screenwriter by profession, she knows how not to mince her words while remaining disarmingly human. Four months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Zelenska told a journalist: “None of us are OK.” She knows what it is like to wake up to see your homeland invaded by an imperialist neighbour; not to know when, or if, you will next see your loved ones; how to find the strength to fight for freedom, despite it all.," said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas about Zelenska.
A symbol of resilience, Zelenska has entered the ranking of the world's most influential women (t.me/FirstLadyOfUkraine)
Kallas also referred to Olena as a symbol of resilience, explaining why she holds this view and emphasizing the importance of the First Lady's work on the global stage and through her example.
"Like her husband, Zelenska has become a global symbol of resilience. Her leadership in addressing mental health for Ukrainians during the war is vital. Her work shining a light on the suffering and deportations of Ukrainian children by Russia brings back memories of my own family history; Russians deported my mother to Siberia when she was a baby. Estonia has partnered with Zelenska’s foundation to build family homes for children whom Russian bombs have turned into orphans. She is remarkable in her attention to detail and her ability to listen," notes Kaja Kallas.
Kallas also adds that now the world should listen to Zelenska and give Ukraine what it needs to defeat Russia and end the suffering.
The list does not have a specific ranking; it features women who have had the most significant impact on global development in 2023.
