Women in leadership face gender bias, such as being judged differently for their actions compared to men. They may be criticized for taking vacations while men are not, and may be advised to adopt more masculine traits. There is a perception that women leaders must fit into a predefined mold. However, women and men bring different life experiences to decision-making, and both are needed for balanced decisions. Treatment by journalists and parliamentarians can also differ based on gender, with women being asked inappropriate and gender-specific questions. Despite these challenges, progress is being made in recognizing that women can succeed in leadership roles.
Kaja Kallas is the current Prime Minister of Estonia – and the first woman to hold the position. Her perceptive communication and bold action against the threat of Russian authoritarianism has bolstered her reputation as a leader we should all be paying attention to. The Prime Minister talks to Adam about what we can learn from the past when thinking about future consequences, the risks of being inauthentic, and what qualities distinguish the best leaders from the rest. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts