On December 5, at historic Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., a diverse group of seven leaders notable in their respective fields, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and Nobel Prize-winning scientist Ahmed Zewail, took to the stage to discuss their views of the qualities that make a leader. All seven received the 2011 Top American Leaders Award from the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Washington Post Live, honoring those who motivate people to “ work collaboratively to accomplish great things.” “It’s important to signify to others what is exemplary about people who make a difference in our lives,” said Michael Useem , a Wharton management professor and director of the Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management , who served on the award’s selection committee.…