I wouldn't call Michaelle Jean Canada's most influential woman. However, her being the Governor General of Canada is quite significant to Canada in that she is the first person of Carribean heritage and the third woman to serve as Canada's "Governor General" (of course, whether Canada needs a "Governor General", a supposed representative of the Queen of England, is another issue ... ). Michaelle Jean's predecessor was Adrienne Clarkson, a Hongkong immigrant.
Michaelle Jean was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Prior to becoming Governor General, Jean was an award-winning reporter, filmaker, journalist, and broadcaster on the CBC. She has won many prizes, such as the Amnesty International journalism award.
She is fluent in French, English, Haitian Creole, Spanish, and Italian. She can also read Portuguese.