Rather than compiling its annual list of the most influential people in the world, Time Magazine has instead released a special issue featuring advice and perspectives from individuals who have been previously featured in the “Time 100.” The issue, entitled “Finding Hope,” is part of a larger initiative to consolidate these alumni into a global leadership community. In this article, we summarize some of their most notable insights.
Margaret Atwood
The author of The Handmaid’s Tale took the opportunity to highlight those things that have made her life worth living. This includes restaurants and cafes, bookstores, and arts organizations. An expert in dystopian authoritarianism, Atwood expresses special appreciation for independent newspapers and magazines.
Democracy is increasingly under pressure, since there’s nothing like a crisis to allow an authoritarian regime to toss civil liberties, democratic freedoms and human rights out the window… Don’t let a virus cut out our tongues.
Margaret Atwood
Steph Curry
Twice named the MVP of the NBA, the Golden States Warrior’s guard is considered one of the best to ever step on the court. However, the 32-year-old is also a budding humanitarian. Last year, he and wife Ayesha established “Eat. Learn. Play.” a foundation that seeks to unleash the potential of children in underserved communities. Curry also happened to be the first player in the NBA to be tested for COVID-19 after developing a fever in early March. Fortunately, the test was negative.
Going forward, we’re committed to helping provide nearly 300,000 meals every week to Oakland residents for the next several months… Whether it’s giving blood, donating to your local food bank, checking in on your elderly neighbors or just staying home, our small gestures in times of crisis can end up being the big gestures that made the difference.
Steph Curry, NBA superstar
Sundar Pichai
As the CEO of Alphabet and Google, Pichai has led a massive institutional mobilization against the COVID-19 crisis. Previously, ELEVATION reported on the tech giant’s allocation of $800 million in grants and advertising credits to support small businesses, health agencies, and frontline medical workers. Recently, Alphabet has launched various coronavirus screening and testing initiatives. And Google has formed an unprecedented partnership with Apple “to turn smartphones into contact-tracing devices”
Not everyone has access to the same at-home technology and Internet service, which puts certain workers—and students—at a serious disadvantage. How do we bridge that gap? We have several projects under way, including a partnership with California Governor Gavin Newsom and T-Mobile to get wi-fi hot spots and Chromebooks to under-served communities and school districts here in California.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google
Tsai Ing-Wen
Tsai, the President of Taiwan, recounts impactful measures that her government and private businesses have implemented to protect the 24 million inhabitants of their densely populated island nation. These include widespread disinfection, contact tracing and temperature monitoring. Additionally, the government took over the production and rationed distribution of medical masks. As a result, they are readily available to both health workers and the general public. Taiwan is also donating 10 million masks to hard-hit countries, including the United States. Despite proximity to mainland China, Taiwan has limited the spread of coronavirus to under 400 confirmed cases.
Although Taiwan has been unfairly excluded from the WHO and the U.N., we remain willing and able to utilize our strengths across manufacturing, medicine and technology to work with the world.
Tsai Ing-Wen, President of Taiwan
Jerry Brown
Brown is the CEO of JFK Medical Center in Monrovia, Liberia. He ran one the largest treatment centers in Liberia during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak. In West Africa, that epidemic registered 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths – a 40% mortality rate. Brown is currently spearheading COVID-19 training programs at regional hospitals in Liberia.
The best I can do as a physician is to use my knowledge and available resources to save as many lives as possible… I have learned never to give up on any of my patients until he or she gives up the ghost. The patients you least expect to survive tend to live to tell the story.
Jerry Brown
Mikhail Gorbachev
The last leader of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev oversaw a series of sweeping reforms in the communist nation before its dissolution in 1991. He cooperated with US President Ronald Reagan to reduce nuclear stockpiles and bring an end to the 45-year Cold War. Politically, he advocated for freedom of speech and press and for decentralized economic decision-making. His efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.
While it is the national governments that now bear the brunt of making difficult choices, decisions will have to be made by the entire world community… The overriding goal must be human security: providing food, water and a clean environment and caring for people’s health.
Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union
