President Grabar-Kitarović: Press for gender equality and support each other
President Grabar-Kitarović discussed with Hanken Professor Mats Ehrnrooth about her vision on leadership, gender equality and global security. Grabar-Kitarović has broad experience in politics, diplomacy and security studies, not just as a former president but also for example as member of the Croatian Parliament, Croatia´s Minister of Foreign Affairs, ambassador to the United States as well as Assistant Secretary General of NATO.
Grabar-Kitarović, who was the first female president of Croatia, encourages to press for gender equality and pave the way for others.
“Unfortunately, women can be pressed by the system to eliminate any kind of competition in order to proceed in their own careers. Imagine for example if we would have a female secretary-general in UN. Any women would then not be appointed deputy secretary-general because ‘we can´t have two women’. Nobody would say that about men.”
Grabar-Kitarović says there are some advantages to being a female leader in a man´s world. You might for example get recognized more easily. But the superficiality is a real problem.
“Look at how female leaders are exposed in the public. Instead of focusing on what we do, the focus is on our looks and clothes.”
With such an impressive career, Grabar-Kitarović was also asked about her best career advice.
“Most importantly, when you haven’t succeeded: go on, don’t be discouraged. Instead, focus on the opportunities that are in front of you and dream big. I like to quote the former president of Liberia, madame Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: if your dreams don´t scare you, they are not big enough.”
Currently President Grabar-Kitarović is a Special Advisor to the Dean of the Zagreb School of Economics and Management. She is writing her PhD thesis in the field of international relations and security studies on the responsibility to protect. Considering her NATO background as well, the discussion turned to the war in Ukraine – and a female leadership in this context.
“We deplore the human suffering and we are all hoping and pressing for a diplomatic solution to this war. Women have to be included in the peace process. There is so much more of a chance for the peace process to succeed in that case.”
Text: Jessica Gustafsson