Youth Incorporated Magazine

Amidst all the discussions of women empowerment and equality, there are these living inspirations that are leading the world with utmost courage, power and strength.

Here are 10 women leaders that you should know about!

Zuzana Čaputová

Elected as Slovakia’s first female president, Zuzana Čaputová is due to take office on 15th June 2019. From being a member of the Progressive Slovakia party, Čaputová went on to win 58.3% votes after results from 98.1% of the voting districts. Maros Setcovic, a European Commission Vice President had to face defeat after she won the elections this year. She is also recognized for her take on the environment, equality, LGBT rights, and abortion rights.

Tsai Ing-Wen

In 2016, she took oath as the President of Taiwan and has been serving the country with exceptional dedication since then. The 61-year-old Taiwanese politician had made history by becoming the second President of Democratic Progressive Party. She is the seventh president of the Aboriginal and Hakka descent and also the first woman to be elected to the office. She is unmarried and has never held any Mayor or executive post before.

Bidhya Devi Bhandari

She is a woman that is known for her courage to fight and stand up for women rights in Nepal. Her strong persona led her to become the first female President of Nepal in 2015, which was a milestone move for the country as referred to by many great leaders. She had helped her country by working as the defence minister for two years, chairwoman of the All Nepal Women Association and vice chairwoman of the Communist Party of Nepal.

Angela Dorothea Merkel

She had been counted in the list of most powerful woman in the world.  In 2005, this 63-year old was chosen as the Chancellor of Germany. She is popularly known as the de facto leader of the European Union. She has been awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 followed by Person of the Year by Time magazine.

Sushma Swaraj

Born in Ambala Cantt, Haryana, India, she is the second woman in Indian government to become the Minister of External Affairs after Late PM Indira Gandhi. Swaraj has always been a bright mind with a strong oratory skill. She was a Supreme Court lawyer and three times a member of Parliament. Swaraj is recognised for her wit and rescuing 90,000 Indians in last four years. India’s ‘best-loved politician’ is also the most followed female on Twitter.

Sheikh Hasina Wazed

In 2009, she was elected as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Having lived in Refuge and witnessed assassination of her immediate family members, she grew up to become a fearless leaderof her country. She was an oppositional leader before and also been the main leader of the Bangladesh Awami League since 1981.Wazed has received the title of major advocate of democracy and UNESCO Peace Tree award for her courageous leadership.

Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern

She created history by being the world’s youngest female head of the government. This 37-year old has been serving as the 40th and the current Prime Minister of New Zealand. She has been the leader of the Labour Party for two years now and recently, this third female prime minister was in the news for bravely dealing with the massacre by a Russian shooter in a mosque at New Zealand.

Hilda Heine

She is noticed for bringing reforms in her country with help of her outstanding educational background. She is the first and only female leader of Marshall Island, an independent island in Pacific. Heine has been a powerful influence in the politics of her country considering she is one of the few members with a doctorate degree, who also went on to become the education minister of the country.

Ana Brnabić

The Serbian politician, who was earlier the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government of Serbia is now applauded for becoming the first woman and LGBT Prime Minister of the country. She is one of the five openly LGBT head of the government in the world. The “Gay Icon for 2016” had associated herself with public relations programme, agricultural development and various businesses in Serbia.

Joyce Banda

In 2014, she was named the “most powerful woman of Africa” by Forbes. This Malawian politician served as the Minister of women, child welfare and community service from two years and as the Minister of Foreign affairs for three years. From 2009-12 she has served as the Vice-President of the People’s Party. She has won many National and International awards for her consistent initiatives in favour of women empowerment and education. 

All these amazing talented women have showed the world that women hold equal ability as men and can walk with them shoulder to shoulder.