While many countries continue to grapple with escalating COVID-19 outbreaks, two have declared theirs effectively over: New Zealand and Iceland. It is no coincidence that both countries’ governments are led by women.New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Icelandic counterpart Katrín Jakobsdóttir have both received considerable – and well-deserved – praise for their leadership during the COVID-19 crisis.

Sexist posters by the Women and Family Development Ministry (KPWKM) in Malaysia have gone viral and made international headlines. As the country is currently in a partial lockdown, also known as Movement Control Order (MCO) since 18 March, the KPWKM has released a few posters with tips on how to avoid marriage conflicts during the MCO which is set to end on 14 April.

Nancy Pelosi is the highest-ranking elected female politician in the history of the United States (US). Theresa May is only the second female British prime minister. Amal Clooney is a world-renowned human-rights lawyer. Serena Williams is arguably the greatest female athlete of all time.All four are succeeding in environments where high-achieving women are the exception rather than the rule.