09 May,2011 07:47 AM IST | | The FYI Team
He's Wael Ghonim: The most influential person in the world, according to American news magazine time. Find out how this techie from Egypt inspired millions of his countrymen to start a revolution with pretty much the same tools we have at our disposal: Facebook and rage
Cairo-born, Wael Ghonim (30) once led a dual life. He earned his bread and butter as Google's head of marketing for the Middle East and North Africa, moonlighting as Facebook freedom fighter by night. Ghonim had dedicated a Facebook (FB) page to Khaled Said, a businessman who died in police custody last year, in Alexandria, Egypt.
The 'We are all Khaled Said' page was a campaign against police brutality; a campaign that inspired 4,00,000 followers. According to American news agency, Associated Press, Said was killed after he posted a video on the Internet showing police officers sharing the spoils from a drug bust amongst themselves. The police later issued a statement claiming that Khaled was a drug user, in the likely attempt to 'justify' his killing.
On January 27 of this year, Ghonim 'disappeared' during the nationwide unrest in Egypt, resurfacing 11 days later, thanks to international pressure. In an emotional interview on Egyptian channel, DreamTV, that garnered international attention, the father of two, who is married to an American, praised protesters, and mourned the dead. A leaderless movement started by thousands on January 25, finally had its leader that night. According to reports, the group protesting in Tahrir Square, in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, was so large that it could be seen from space.
Politician and military commander Hosni Mubarak was forced to resign by 12 million Egyptians, based on allegations of corruption. Why is the story of an Egyptian techie inspirational? Because Ghonim has the same tools that we do: rage (against injustice) and Facebook. In the end, it takes one man to start a revolution. Guess that's also why he is the most influential man in the world!
And what about these guys?
Geoffrey Canada
American social activist and educator, president and CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone in New York (the company's goal is to increase the number of high school and college graduates in Harlem)
Amy Poehler
An American comedian and actress, rose to fame on Saturday Night Live, where she was known for her impressions of Madonna, Michael Jackson and most famously, Hillary Clinton
Joseph Stiglitz
Served as the World Bank's chief economist, also the recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, named one of 'America's Best Leaders' by US News and World Report in October 2005
They also feature on American news magazine time's list of 100 most influential people of 2011
