U.S. News Media Group and Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership Announce Endeavor Co-Founder & CEO Linda Rottenberg as one of the 2008 America’s Best Leaders

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Endeavor’s Co-Founder & CEO Linda Rottenberg was named one of America’s Best Leaders 2008 www.usnews.com/leaders for her work identifying and supporting high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets www.endeavor.org. Released today, the 2008 edition of America’s Best Leaders is available online and on newsstands Monday, November 24.

“At Endeavor’s helm, Linda is helping high-impact entrepreneurs transform their business, their industries and ultimately their economies. This is not only high impact – it is the best path to sustainable economic development.”

Linda Rottenberg receives this honor along with Lance Armstrong, Jeff Bezos, Marian Wright Edelman, Robert Gates, Indra Nooyi and Steven Spielberg among others on behalf of the U.S. News Media Group, one of the nation’s leading sources of news analysis and service journalism, in association with the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School (CPL).

“These leaders are creatively working to address the country’s most pressing needs,” said Brian Kelly, editor of U.S. News & World Report. “Consider Marian Wright Edelman’s advocacy for the disadvantaged, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s work in transforming the field of medicine and public health, Lance Armstrong’s fight to inspire and empower cancer patients—these leaders demonstrate innovation and perseverance at an important time in the nation's history.”

“I couldn’t think of a more appropriate recipient,” says Endeavor Global Board of Director’s Chairman and Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. about Rottenberg. “At Endeavor’s helm, Linda is helping high-impact entrepreneurs transform their business, their industries and ultimately their economies. This is not only high impact – it is the best path to sustainable economic development.”

“I’m motivated by the many Endeavor Entrepreneurs with great ideas, who need just a helping hand to get to the next level,” says Rottenberg. “It is an honor to receive this award alongside some of the people who have inspired me.”

In a collaborative effort between U.S. News and Harvard’s CPL, the leaders were selected by a nonpartisan and independent committee, convened and organized by the Center, without the participation of U.S. News editors. The selection criteria used by the committee in choosing the honorees included the ability to set direction, achieve results, and cultivate a culture of growth.

About Endeavor

Endeavor breaks down barriers that prevent emerging-market entrepreneurs from reaching their high-impact potential. Hailed by NYT columnist Thomas Friedman as the "mentor capitalist" model, Endeavor identifies entrepreneurs leading high-growth innovative companies in emerging markets. These entrepreneurs are given world-class strategic advice, access to key networks and other tools that will catapult them to success. With Endeavor's guidance they become “high-impact” – expanding employment, generating wealth and inspiring others to innovate. Often overlooked, these local entrepreneurs are now jumpstarting private sector development in their countries.

As of 2007, Endeavor Entrepreneurs throughout Latin America, South Africa and Turkey have created over 86,000 new jobs and generated over $2.51 billion in revenues. For more information, visit www.endeavor.org or follow us on http://twitter.com/endeavor_global.

About the Center for Public Leadership

Established in 2000 through a generous gift from the Wexner Foundation, the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School provides cutting-edge teaching and research as well as hands-on training in the skills of leadership for people in government, nonprofits, and business. For more information, go to: www.hks.harvard.edu/leadership

About the U.S. News Media Group

The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes U.S. News & World Report magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money & Business, Education, and Public Service/Opinion, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. The U.S. News Media Group’s signature franchises include its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its “America’s Best” series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, health plans, and more.