Manal al-Sharif

Manal al-Sharif is an information technology consultant and a women's rights advocate who gives speeches on the inequality she's faced in Saudi Arabia. In 2011, Sharif started up a campaign to encourage women in Saudi Arabia to drive, despite oppressive societal rules.

Manal al-Sharif is best known for her driving campaign from 2011 and the liberating YouTube videos associated with that campaign, which simply showed her driving. Though women are legally allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, Sharif was detained numerous times and arrested when caught behind the wheel.

Manal al-Sharif's efforts have been acknowledged in magazines such as Forbes, Time and Foreign Policy. She also won the Václav Havel Prize at the Oslo Freedom Forum. Sharif continues to share her story and encourages people to consider the effects of an oppressive government and society.