Biography
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo was born on June 24, 1962, in Mexico City, Mexico. She studied at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and earned a doctorate in energy engineering. She had a successful academic career as a researcher and professor, focusing on energy and climate change science. Her work also took her to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, adding to her credentials in environmental science.
Sheinbaum transitioned to politics in 1989 when she joined the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). Her background in science was valuable in her government roles, especially as secretary of the environment in the Federal District from 2000 to 2006 under Andrés Manuel López Obrador. During this time, she gained experience in environmental policy and urban governance that influenced her later political career.
In 2014, Sheinbaum left the PRD to join López Obrador's new party, the National Regeneration Movement (Morena). She was elected mayor of Tlalpan borough in 2015, showing her growing political influence. Her key role came in 2018 when she was elected Head of Government of Mexico City, becoming the first woman to hold this position. During her time from 2018 to 2023, she worked on security improvements, public transportation, and social programs while handling significant challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Mexico City Metro overpass collapse.
Sheinbaum's political career reached a new level when she won the 2024 presidential election, defeating Xóchitl Gálvez decisively. She became Mexico's first female president and the first Jewish person to hold the office. As the 66th president of Mexico, she has pushed through major constitutional reforms with the support of her party's legislative supermajority, including making social programs part of the Constitution, changing energy policies to boost state control, and introducing universal healthcare initiatives.
Before Fame
Growing up in Mexico City during the 1960s and 1970s, Sheinbaum saw the city's fast industrial development and the environmental problems that came with it, which later influenced her career. She studied at Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades Plantel Sur and then went on to UNAM, where she became skilled in physics and environmental science.
The 1980s and 1990s in Mexico were times of important political changes, including efforts to move towards democracy and a rise in environmental awareness. These changes opened doors for scientists like Sheinbaum to have a say in public policy, especially as Mexico dealt with the difficulties of city growth and environmental damage in major cities like Mexico City.
Key Achievements
- First woman and first Jewish person to serve as President of Mexico
- Served as Head of Government of Mexico City from 2018-2023, the first woman in this role
- Co-authored over 100 scientific articles and contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Implemented major constitutional reforms as president including universal healthcare and energy sector modifications
- Won the 2024 presidential election in a landslide victory
Did You Know?
- 01.She co-authored over 100 scientific articles and contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, earning recognition as a climate scientist before entering politics
- 02.Forbes ranked her as the fifth most powerful woman in the world in 2025, her first year as president
- 03.She wrote the book 'Problemática ambiental de la Ciudad de México' focusing on Mexico City's environmental challenges
- 04.She has been married twice, first to Carlos Imaz Gispert and later to Jesús Maria Tarriba
- 05.She was named to Time 100 list in 2025 and received the BBC 100 Women recognition in 2018
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| BBC 100 Women | 2018 | — |
| Nobel Prize winner | — | — |
| Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle | — | — |
| Time 100 | 2025 | — |