I know that Pema Chodron refers to this in _Bodhisattva Mind_ (at least the CD version of it) I don't know if it was Shantiveda (the book is about his writings _The Way of the Bodhisattva_) who said it or if Chodron was sharing the story of what someone else said. But it is definitely in this the recording of the seminar.
First off, I would say that the any of the people I list here would not consider themselves to be leaders. Monks, nuns and teachers maybe, but not leaders, especially since Buddhism has no central hierarchy. But the most popularly known teachers are: The Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron, The Karmapa, Lama Surya Das.
Thubten Chodron was born on 1950-09-18.
Geoffroy Chodron de Courcel died in 1992.
Geoffroy Chodron de Courcel was born in 1912.
The cast of I Am Pema - 2009 includes: Pema Dolkar
Pema Lingpa was born in 1450.
Pema Lingpa died in 1521.
Pema Rinchen was born in 1986.
Pema Ram was born in 1945.
Kunkhyen Pema Karpo was born in 1527.
Pema Euden has written: 'Coming home'