15 Famous LSE Alumni Who Changed the World

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), is a London-based institution which specialises in social sciences and has produced many famous alumni who have gone on to change the world. With political sciences as a core focus of teaching at the institution, it is unsurprising that many of their best known alumni have become politicians and world leaders. This page will discuss 15 of the most famous LSE alumni.

Famous World Leaders and Politicians

John F. Kennedy

John F Kennedy (1917 – 1963) or JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States. Kennedy intended to study at the London School of Economics but after being accepted, was forced to return to the U.S. due to ill health. Following education, he became a hero for his survival and rescue of others in the Second World War and began a career in politics. After serving in office under a number of other roles, Kennedy was elected President of the United States in 1961 and served until his assassination in 1963.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

Bhimrao Ambedkar (1891 – 1956) was an Indian politicial and economist who achieved a PhD degree in economics from the London School of Economics in 1923. Ambdebkar quickly became known for his writings and activism for the social freedom of India’s ‘untouchables’. He then engaged in a 15 year long career in Indian politics where he crafted India’s Constitution. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956 but died later that year. Posthumously, he was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1990.

Annalene Baerbock

Annalene Baerbock is a German politician who earned her Master’s degree in public international law from LSE in 2005. Baercock subsequently entered politics and became a member of the Alliance 90/The Greens party. In 2021, she was appointed Minister of Foriegn Affairs under chancellor Olaf Scholz, a position she still holds.

Tsai Ing-wen

Tsai Ing-wen is a Taiwanese politician who studied law at the London School of Economics, earning her PhD there in 1084. Ing-wen has become a successful politician, serving as the Chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party three times from 2008 to 2022. In 2016, Tsai Ing-wen was elected as the 7th President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), sitting in office until May 2024.

Pierre Trudeau

Pierre Trudeau (1919 – 2000) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as Canada’s 15th Prime Minister. Trudeau studied under social economist Harold Laski at LSE before returning to Canada in 1949. After working in a range of politican roles, Trudeau was elected Prime Minister of Canada in 1980 and was in office until 1984. During his presidency, Trudeau is known for decriminalising homosexuality and legalising abortion.

Kwame Nkrumah

Fancis Kwame Nkrumah (1909 – 1972) was a Ghanian politician and revolutionary. Nkrumah enrolled at the London School of Economics as a PhD candidate for Anthropology in 1945, however withdrew after one term. After his studies, Nkrumah returned to the Gold Coast to begin his politican career, forming the Convention People’s Party which was highly successful. In 1952, he became Prime Minister and declared independence from Britain five years later. Once the new constitution was approved, Nkrumah was once again elected to lead the country and became Ghana’s first President.

Ed Miliband

Ed Miliband is a British politician who is currently serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. Miliband studied at the London School of Economics and graduated with a Master’s in economics. After a career as a television journalist, Miliband moved into politics and was elected to the House of Commons in 2005. Ed has worked in a variety of roles within the Labour party and led the party himself from 2010 to 2015 but was unsuccessful in being elected Prime Minister.

Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen is a German politician who is currently serving as President of the European Commission. Leyen graduated from the London School of Economics in 1978 before obtaining a medical degree from Hannover Medical School. Upon her return to Germany, Leyen became involved in local politics and rose to become a cabinet minister of Lower Saxony in 2003. Ursula achieved great political success and after serving several roles in the German government, she was appointed President of the European Commission in 2019, a role she continues to hold.

Famous Scientists

Talcott Parsons

Talcott Parsons (1902 – 1979) was an American sociologist known for his work in social action theory and structural functionalism. Parsons studied at the London School of Economics for one year in which he networked with many influential individuals After gaining his PhD, Parsons served on the faculty at Harvard University and was instrumental in establishing the university’s Department of Social Relations. Throughout his career, Parsons developed theories within sociology with great success and in 1949 was elected president of the American Sociological Society.

Famous Philanthropists

George Soros

George Soros is a Hungarian-American businessman and philanthropist. After surviving the Nazi occupation, Soros moved to the UK and studied at the London School of Economics where he earned a Bachelor’s in philosophy in 1951 and a Master’s in Philosophy in 1954. Soros has had a highly successful career as a businessman and investor and accumulated huge wealth from hedge funds. Soros is better known for his philanthropy however, having donated more than $32 billion (64% of his fortune) to the Open Society Foundations. He has been named the ‘most generous giver’ by Forbes magazine.

Famous Musicians

Mick Jagger

Sir Michael Jagger, better known as Mick Jagger is an English singer and frontman of the rock band The Rolling Stones. Jagger studied finance and accounting at the London School of economics before leaving to focus on his career with his band. Along with guitarist Keith Richards, Mick Jagger wrote most of the band’s songs which has become widely recognised as one of the best rock bands in history having sold more than 250 million copies. In 1989 Jagger was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Famous Entrepreneurs

David Rockefeller

David Rockefeller (1915 – 2017) was an American economist and investment banker who served as chairman and CEO of Chase Manhattan Corporation. Grandson of Standard Oil founder J.D. Rockefeller, David studied economics at the London School of Economics in 1935 before receiving his PhD in economics from the University of Chicago. Rockefeller was a highly successful banker and also had wide ranging political connections. At the time of his death, his fortune was estimated at $3.3 billion.

Famous Writers 

Zygmunt Bauman

Zygmust Bauman (1925 – 2017) was a Polish sociologist and philosopher who studied sociology at the London School of Economics. Bauman dedicated his career to sociology and later became Professor of Sociology at the University of Leeds focusing on how the poor and dispossessed are affected by social change. Throughout his career, he was also a distinguished writer, covering a range of issues such as the Holocaust and postmodern consumerism.

Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis is an American author and financial journalist who received a Master’s degree in economics from the Londn School of Economics in 1985. Following this, Lewis worked on Wall Street throughout the 80s where he was prompted to write his first book Liar’s Poker. He then took a break from writing but returned in 2003 with Moneyball which was adapted into The Big Short film in 2015. Lewis’s books have won two LA Times Book Prizes and have frequently hit number one on the New York Times Best Sellers Lists.

Famous Actors

Thomas Piketty

Thomas Piketty is a French economist who earned his PhD in economics from the London School of Economics. Throughout his career, Piketty has focused on public economics, particularly on income and wealth inequality and has written multiple books on the topic. Piketty is now Centennial Professor of Economics in the International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics.

Spend your Summer at LSE

To start your journey at the London School of Economics and Political Science, you can take part in one of their Summer School Programmes. Ranging in eight different subject areas, these programmes will give you an insight into what life at LSE is like while helping you develop knowledge and skills in your chosen subject. Taking part can also fuel the personal and academic growth needed to one day also become an LSE alumni world changer.

Looking to study at LSE? Look no further than our comprehensive guide How to get into LSE in 2024.

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