"The Goldman Sachs Group... yesterday announced at the United Nations that the firm has partnered with CHF International (CHF) and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to train underserved Liberian women in business and management. ...the program will select and train 300 underserved Liberian women entrepreneurs with the skills they need to develop quality business plans, access capital, and ultimately grow their small and medium businesses.

This is part of the 10,000 Women program "a global initiative that provides 10,000 underserved women, predominantly in developing and emerging markets, with business and management education."

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080926/20080926005358.html?.v=1

Does this program promote gender equality?

Could men benefit from this help, or do they have too much education already?

I would nominate Maria Callas because she changed how opera was performed was simply the quality if the voice to the total performance and emotional involvement in the character.

Possibly Joni Mitchell for being a poet when it comes to lyrics and music.

Madonna for not taking a shit and doing it her way no matter others said. And She did the whole sexuality things in a much classier way than todays pop tarts.

Or Mavis Staples for all her work in civil and human rights.

Dolly Parton for being a songwriter/singer/entertainer/actress/
entrepreneur/business woman

Ofra Haza for defying her poverty and become a cutural hero and icon to the people of Israel.

The same for Edith Piaf and Celia Cruz!

There are a lot of good choices but I want to hear your opinions.