Most Prominent Female Political Leaders of All Time
                     MOST PROMINENT 
FEMALE POLITICAL 
LEADERS OF ALL TIME
ANGELA MERKEL
CHANCELLOR OF 
GERMANY
Merkel garnered the full spotlight when 
she was named TIME's person of the year, 
but her notable acts go beyond gracing a 
magazine cover. 
Despite strong opposition, she opened 
Germany's doors to migrants during the 
Syrian refugee crisis.
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ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF
PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA
Sirleaf is the first female president elected 
in Africa. She began her political career in 
1972, with a scathing message against the 
oppressive government at her alma mater, 
then went on to work at the Treasury 
Department and later became its Minister 
of Finance. 
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AUNG SAN SUU KYI
STATE COUNSELLOR OF 
MYANMAR
Suu Kyi took on the role of opposition 
leader against Burmese dictator General 
Ne Win. 
She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 
and was released from house arrest in 
2010. 
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MICHELLE BACHELET
PRESIDENT OF CHILE
Bachelet is the first woman to serve as 
Chile's commander-in-chief. Her calling to 
the political realm was an unfortunate one, 
since both she and her father were 
tortured and exiled under Augusto 
Pinochet's dictatorial rule.
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JUDY SMITH
CRISIS MANAGER, UNITED 
STATES
Known as the real-life Olivia Pope, Smith is 
the inspiration for the TV show Scandal. 
She's the CEO, founder and president of 
crisis management firm Smith & Company 
and has covered cases with Monica 
Lewinsky, Wesley Snipes, Michael Vick and 
Sony.
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HELLE THORNING-SCHMIDT
FORMER PRIME MINISTER 
OF DENMARK
Schmidt is the first female prime minister 
and leader of the Social Democrats in 
Denmark. During her term she loosened 
the strict, anti-immigration laws set forth 
by her predecessors. 
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PARK GEUN-HYE
PRESIDENT OF SOUTH 
KOREA
Park's position as South Korea's first 
female president, among other 
accomplishments, earned her the #11 spot 
on Forbes' Most Powerful Women list (and 
#43 overall).
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ARUNDHATI BHATTACHARYA
CHAIRPERSON OF THE 
STATE BANK OF INDIA
Bhattacharya is the first woman to head 
the State Bank of India, which has been in 
existence for over 200 years.
She's also revolutionizing the bank's male-
dominant history with a female focus: by 
allowing women two-year sabbaticals for 
going on maternity leave or taking time off 
to care for family members.
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CHRISTINE LAGARDE
MANAGING DIRECTOR, 
INTERNATIONAL 
MONETARY FUND
One of the most powerful women in the 
world—in fact ranked #6 by Forbes—
French native Lagarde is a woman of many 
hats. 
She's credited as a lawyer, politician for 
the Union for a Popular Movement party 
and, since 2011, the managing director of 
the International Monetary Fund.
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