Laura Liswood, Secretary General of the Council of Women World Leaders has made a difference locally, nationally and a major difference to women around the world. From 1992-1996 as director of the Women’s Leadership Project at Harvard, Laura identified global leadership contributions by women heads of state. She traveled the world and interviewed 15 current and former women presidents and prime ministers, which is chronicled in her book and video documentary, Women World Leaders. Her quest was to find out what it would take for a woman to become President of the United States.

In August, 1996 Laura Liswood co-founded the Council of Women World Leaders with President Vigdis Finnbogadóttir of Iceland, with the secretariat at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and more recently at The Aspen Institute in Washington DC

Laura remains Secretary General of the Council, which is composed of women presidents, prime ministers, and heads of government. The work of the Council expands the understanding of leadership, establishes a network of resources for high-level women leaders, and provides a forum for the group to contribute input and shape the international issues important to all people.

Laura has worked for many years to change the cultural message in the United States about women as leaders. In 1997 Laura co-founded The White House Project, dedicated to electing a woman President in the United States. Obviously we still have a way to go with this one.

Over the years Laura has served in many important roles including CEO/President of the American Society for Training and Development. In 2001 Laura was named Managing Director, Global Leadership and Diversity for Goldmann Sachs. "On behalf of The International Alliance for Women it gives me great pleasure to present this, the 2006 TIAW World of Difference Lifetime Achievement Award”.