One on One with Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (Part III)

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has held top positions both in Liberia and around the world. In this final portion of our interview with her, she speaks with Woman’s Page editor, Boto Bradford, about what motivates her to succeed, her indignation about corruption, the role of Christianity in her life, motherhood and her philosophy on life.

Driven: Johnson-Sirleaf says she is motivated by a sense of shortcoming on Liberia's part, given all of its rich resources.

BKB: What drives you?

EJS: Success. Wanting to make Liberia a model using the resources that God has given us so amply, and really make this small country a model in all of West Africa; and I’ve been involved in the country’s development process, and I feel a sense of shortcoming. I feel that we can do it. And the fact that we haven’t is a shame. I feel ashamed that we have not been able to use our resources even though we have a little country with a small population and the resources that we have to make it model of success. That drives me. And particularly now with the situation of conflict and deterioration for 24 years, conflict for 14 years, I just feel that we can turn Liberia around and that we can make it a full public success that other countries can point to and say, “yes -- it can be done by African’s themselves.”

BKB: A lot of people have come through, made promises and ascended to power. People like Doe and Taylor. Power tastes sweet, and then corruption sets in. It happens all over the continent. What do you think will be different with you?

EJS: Please do not even put me in that category. I have already excelled. I have already earned my stripes. I didn’t come in like a Doe or a Taylor with zero experience to the head of state. I’ve already worked my way up through the system – both nationally and internationally. I’ve already managed large operations – nationally and internationally. So I bring a completely different experience base to the job.

BKB: Are you a spiritual person? What role does faith play in your life?

EJS: I grew up in a very strong Christian home. My mother was a pastor. I have deep religious beliefs. I grew up in the Presbyterian Church but married into the United Methodist Church. I’m a faithful member of the church; I’m a member of the church council; I pay my dues and go to church regularly; and I feel very confident that I believe in God and that God guides me. I think my life’s story is a manifestation of God’s protection because the experiences I’ve faced would say that I should not be alive today, if there were not some spiritual being out there who has a purpose for my being alive.

BKB: Being an international civil servant and a presidential candidate, what do you do to relax?

EJS: (Laughs) I try to get to the tennis court every weekend if I can, I read, and strangely enough, I do jigsaw puzzles; I’ve got quite a few of them; I frame them and put them in my house. Unfortunately, I haven’t found enough time since I returned home to do as much as I would like to. But I like to swim in the morning.


BKB: Are you close to your children and grandchildren?

EJS: I’m very close to them. As I told you, my four sons are like my little brothers. I’m very close to them. I wish I could spend more time with my grandchildren, but I love them, and they love me; I stay in touch with them on the phone; I’m a family person.

BKB: Were you tough as a mother, and what do you think is the most important thing about motherhood?

EJS: I was tough as a mother, but I still have a sense that I could have done more – that I strayed off between family and profession. I’m not sure whether I gave it the right balance. I think that I’ve always said – and that keeps my relationships with my sons very strong – that it’s the quality of time, not the quantity of time. And I’m happy that the little time I was able to spend with them I consider to be quality time; and that quality time has enriched our relationship until today.

BKB: Are they supportive of your career? Do they worry about you?

EJS: They are very supportive; yes they worry. One or two of them did not want me to pursue this; but at the end of the day my sisters and brothers have all accepted the fact that this is my life’s pursuit, and that they will support me in it. And they have been the pillars of support for which I’m very thankful.

BKB: What would you say brings you joy in life? What makes you laugh or cry? What have been your happiest times and what have been your saddest?

EJS: I get my best joy from succeeding. From setting a goal and achieving that goal. I’m saddest when I’m not able to do things that I know need to be done for whatever reason—whether it’s personal or professional, if the constraints prove to be much more than I had anticipated, I get sad. I’m also very sad when I go back to my ancestral village and I look at the fact that after 50 years (and I’m trying to use my own developmental lifespan), the village has not changed. If it’s changed, it’s changed for the worst. I get very sad because it shouldn’t be that way. These are people who, after 50 years, have had no meaningful improvement in their welfare. So it’s mine and my family’s challenge to do something about it, and we are. But it makes me sad because I know that my village is just an example of thousands and thousands of villages around the country.

BKB: What is your philosophy on life, and what is the most important lesson you’ve learned?

EJS: My philosophy on life is to be at peace with yourself and do what you can to improve the situation around you; to excel in everything you do. Use your time for the achievement of your set goals.