This article sketches the leadership skills and lifetime commitments to peacemaking of three individuals: Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. The choice of the personalities is based on the fact that they not only made a difference in the lives of communities and nations, but they also made contributions in the advancement of a field of academic study: conflict resolution and peacemaking. Based on the literature review we conducted, these three leaders appear to share Drucker's characterisation of effective leaders. A sketch for each is provided, which starts with a critical incident in the life of each that symbolises his leadership style. This is followed by a brief description of the transformative attributes they share, and concludes with a table depicting the meaning of the accomplishment of each.