There are many examples of female leaders who are not afraid to take responsibility and openly face the challenges in the worst situations.

From day one, my mantra has been - and will continue to be - that as a government we were there to serve the people, not the other way around.

It was my mother, despite the limitations placed on women of her time by society, who insisted I be allowed to go abroad to study, in sturdy defiance of the male elders of the family, who protested and decided that I should be married off instead.

The world has become more diversified, with women becoming a real power of change.

The precondition of success and entry to the top politics is primarily one's will - that is, making one's own decisions, because it means having to leave your home or move your family, quit social networking and build new contacts, [since] central governments are seated in capitals.

During conflicts and tense situations, women often work in a more collaborative way, include a larger variety of viewpoints, and function more frequently outside traditional hierarchical means. Women leaders often take a consolidated and reconciliatory position in the society.

I don't subscribe to that school of thought that leadership can be altogether defined by gender.