This document highlights how several female world leaders effectively combated the spread of COVID-19 in their countries through honest and clear communication, decisive action, innovation, and showing compassion. It provides examples of Angela Merkel instilling seriousness in Germany, Tsai Ing-wen and Jacinda Ardern implementing aggressive measures in Taiwan and New Zealand, Katrín Jakobsdóttir and Sanna Marin utilizing free testing and social media in Iceland and Finland, and Mette Frederiksen and Erna Solberg holding special press conferences for children to reduce anxiety. In contrast, it notes the slower and more politicized responses of leaders like Trump and Bolsonaro that included deflecting blame and denying the

1. LEADING BY EXAMPLE IN 2020
THESE WOMEN HAVE LEAD THEIR COUNTRIES IN SUCCESFULLY STEMMING THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19
Data from the
European Centre for
Disease Control
(April 12, 2020)

2. HONESTY
ANGELA MERKEL (GERMANY):
“THIS IS SERIOUS…TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.”
“THIS COULD AFFECT UP TO 70% OF THE
POPULATION”

3. DECISIVENESS
TSAI ING-WEN (TAIWAN) - EARLY INTRODUCTION OF 124 MEASURES INCL. LOCKDOWNS | JACINDA ARDERN (NZ) - ISOLATIONS & BORDER CONTROL
CLEAR MESSAGING OF WHY
DECISIVE & AGGRESSIVE
MEASURES WERE REQUIRED

4. INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
KATRÍN JAKOBSDÓTTIR (ICELAND) - FREE COVID-19 TESTING FOR ALL | SANNA MARIN (FINLAND) - UTILISED SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS
Iceland have tested 5x more
people than South Korea
& as a result have not had
to impose lockdowns or
close schools

5. COMMUNICATION & COMPASSION
METTE FREDERIKSEN (DENMARK) & ERNA SOLBERG (NORWAY) HAVE BOTH HELD ‘KIDS-ONLY’ PRESS CONFERENCES
SOLBERG TOLD THE
CHILDREN:
“IT’S OK TO FEEL
SCARED”

6. MEANWHILE…BLAME, POLITICISATION, DEMONISATION, SELF-CONGRATULATION
TRUMP (USA) - SLOW, INDECISIVE RESPONSE; BLAMED CHINA; ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNING | BOLSONARO (BRAZIL)- DENIAL