Countries with Female Leaders: Leading with a Purpose

While there have been many influential female leaders who have made significant contributions and shaped the course of the world, the modern world has its own share of problems. With the rise of Covid-19 and many other issues plaguing the world, we are fortunate to find several countries headed by female leaders. 

While most of us are familiar with the current US vice president, in this article, we will look at some other countries with female leaders and how they are playing a role in shaping their respective nations.    

1. New Zealend - Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern

The incumbent Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Arden, has been a member of the Labour Party since 2017. She became famous for imposing strict gun laws after the Christchurch Mosque Shootings in 2019. She was also lauded for her management to curb the spread of Covid-19 in New Zealand.    

2. Croatia - Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović

Former Croatian President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović was the first woman to hold the position in the country. She was also the youngest person to assume the presidency in 2015. Before that, she also served in several governmental and diplomatic posts like Minister of European Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and European Integration. She is also the recipient of several national and international awards, including the Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Award.  

Read Also: Most Influential US First Ladies

3. Serbia - Ana Brnabic

The incumbent Prime Minister of Serbia since 2017, Ana Brnabic, is not only the first woman but also the first gay person to hold the office. Forbes ranked her 88^th most powerful woman and the 19^th most powerful female political leader in the world in 2019. She has won several awards for promoting tolerance and socially accountable business operation.  

4. Ethiopia - Sahle-Work Zewde

The current President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, is the first woman to hold the country's top office. She was previously appointed the Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Regarded as one of the most powerful and influential women in the world, she pardoned more than 5000 prisoners in 2020 to stop the spread of Covid-19 in Ethiopia.       

5. Namibia - Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila  

The current Prime Minister of Namibia, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, is the first female to hold the office. She is a member of the South West Africa People's Organization and has been a member of the National Assembly of Namibia since 1995. Saara also served as the Minister of Finance between 2003 and 2015. She actively supports gender equality and has spoken actively on the gender pay gap across Africa.         

6. Slovakia - Zuzana Čaputová  

The current President of Slovakia, Zuzana, is a politician, lawyer, and environmental activist. The first woman to hold the position, she also became the country's youngest President when she was elected in 2019. She was involved in the decade-long struggle against building a toxic landfill in Pezinok. Her hometown, for which she was awarded the 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize.    

7. Norway - Erna Solberg 

The Prime Minister of Norway in 2013 and 2021, Erna Solberg, was the country's longest-serving prime minister. She was the 35^th prime minister of Norway and had been serving as the leader of the Conservative Party since 2004. During her tenure, she tightened the immigration policy and reforms. She is presently the leader of the Opposition.   

8. Germany - Angela Dorothea Merkel

She was the chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. A retired politician and scientist, Angela Merkel was the first female chancellor of Germany. She was often referred to as the de facto leader of the European Union and significantly tackled the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 along with the European debt crisis. Arguably, the most powerful woman in the world during her tenure, she was the longest-serving incumbent head-of-state in the European Union.  

9. Republic of China (Taiwan) - Tsai Ing-wen

Tsai Ing-wen has been the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since 2016. A politician and professor, she is the first woman to be elected as the President of Taiwan. She became the chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party in 2020 and made it to the list of Time's most influential people. In 2021, she was named the ninth most powerful woman in the world.    

Read Also: China Charges 28 in Restaurant Attack on Women in June

10. Myanmar - Aung San Suu Kyi

Former State Counsellor of Myanmar and the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, is a politician, diplomat, and author. She played a key role in the transformation of Myanmar from a military state to a democratic nation. Since 2011, she was the chairperson of the National League for Democracy, the ruling party of Myanmar, until it was overthrown by a military coup in 2021. In April 2022, she was arrested on corruption charges and sentenced to five years in prison.      

These are some of the most powerful and influential countries with female leaders in the world today. These phenomenal women are not just leading their respective countries, but they are also setting an example for other women and future generations.