Kersti Kaljulaid

Kersti Kaljulaid served as the President of Estonia, transitioning from roles in finance and auditing to become the nation’s first female head of state. After establishing a distinguished career in finance and public service, Kersti Kaljulaid made history as the first woman to lead a power plant in Estonia, serving as the director of Iru Power Plant, a subsidiary of Eesti Energia, from 2002 to 2004. Kaljulaid earned a cum laude degree in biology from the University of Tartu in 1992, followed by an MBA in business management from the same institution in 2001, where her thesis focused on improving state-founded foundation management systems. Her early career in the business sector included roles as a sales manager at Eesti Telefon from 1996 to 1997, a project manager at Hoiupanga Investeeringute AS from 1997 to 1998, and in investment banking at Hansabank Markets from 1998 to 1999.

Following her presidential term, Kaljulaid continued her commitment to societal progress by co-founding the President Kaljulaid Foundation in 2021, an organization dedicated to advancing democracy and addressing the societal impact of digitalization. In 2023, she was appointed co-chair of the UN High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, further extending her global impact on education policy and professional development. Most recently, in 2024, Kersti Kaljulaid was elected President of the Estonian Olympic Committee, showcasing her ongoing dedication to national development and public service through sports and international engagement.