It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of our friend and colleague, Secretary Madeleine K. Albright. Secretary Albright was a founding and longtime Board Member of The Middle East Initiative (MEII). She made a major contribution to advancing our mission of economic prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa.  Her boundless curiosity, bias toward action, and unwavering commitment to women’s economic empowerment, the promotion of democracy, and peace in the Middle East will forever guide us forward.  We will honor her legacy by continuing her work. We express our heartfelt gratitude for her invaluable contribution to the organization and send our heartfelt condolences to her family.

Martin Indyk, longtime friend and MEII Board Co-Chair, said “Madeleine was a passionate and committed public servant who inspired all those who had the honor to work with her. Her leadership of MEII in its formative years put the organization on the map and ensured that it helped so many Middle Eastern entrepreneurs. We owe her a deep debt of gratitude.”