Jody Williams, the American activist and teacher, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her work to ban landmines through the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which shared the Peace Prize with her. She has been a life-long advocate of freedom, self-determination and human rights.

Working for peace, she says, is not for the faint of heart. "It's hard work every single day. To stand with other people who share your feelings and being willing to put yourself on the line to bring change – that's not easy."

From an early age, Jody Williams embraced natural roles of activism and empathy while defending her deaf brother.

The influence of her family resonates deeply in her life-long mission to bring change and cultivate empowerment at the grassroots levels.

Through her career spanning activism and education from Central America to Africa – and now through the Nobel Women''s Initiative – Jody Williams continues to fight for disempowered people worldwide.