Madeleine Albright in Washington, DC

1978: Madeleine Albright is invited to work as the National Security Council’s congressional liaison in the Carter administration, beginning her career in Washington.

1992: Albright is assigned with helping transitioning the National Security Council under a new administration.

1993: Then-president Bill Clinton names Albright the US ambassador to the United Nations.

1997: Albright becomes the first female Secretary of State in US history. During this time she had an important influence in the country’s involvement with the conflict in what was then Yugoslavia, advocating military involvement. She also represented the US at the transfer of Hong Kong’s sovereignty.

2001: Albright’s term as Secretary of State ends. She founds the Albright Group, an international consulting agency with clients such as Coca-Cola and Dubai Ports World. From this point forward, she becomes involved with a number of organisations, including the Brookings Doha Centre and the Truman Scholarship Foundation, of which she is president.