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Impact

Amal Clooney: “change is not only possible—it’s inevitable.”

Photograph courtesy of Associated Press; Alamy Stock Photo

25 Jul '25
By The Shift
25 Jul '25
By The Shift

The Shift highlights women’s stories through the lens of impact. It hopes to contextualize history and inspire action.

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Amal Clooney is an award-winning human rights lawyer, co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, and Professor of Practice in International Law at Oxford University. She frequently represents victims of mass atrocities, including genocide and sexual violence, and has helped secure the freedom of journalists arbitrarily detained for their work.

The Shift:

Who is a woman who has inspired or mentored you, and what lessons from her influence have stayed with you?

Amal:

I am inspired by my clients: women like Nadia Murad, who turned her pain into a force for change; and Maria Ressa, who fights not only for her own freedom but the freedom of all journalists. And I am inspired by my partners: leaders like Melinda French Gates and Michelle Obama, who champion global equality and inspire us all to believe that change is not only possible—it’s inevitable.

 

Amal Clooney and Nadia Murad. Image courtesy of Nadia’s Initiative

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Amal Clooney is honored as part of The Shift’s “90 Plus One” list, which recognizes influential women shaping contemporary culture. With Gloria Steinem featured on the inaugural print cover, the list pays homage to her 91 years of activism by highlighting a powerhouse community of women shifting culture.