Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Helle Thorning-Schmidt served as prime minister of Denmark from 2011 to 2015 and the leader of the Social Democrats from 2005 to 2015. She is the first woman to hold either post.

Thorning-Schmidt was born December 14, 1966 in Rødovre, Denmark. She earned a master's degree in European studies in 1993 from the College of Europe in Brugge, Belgium and a Candidate of Politics degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1994.

Thorning-Schmidt worked as a consultant for the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions from 1997 to1999 and served as a member of the European Parliament for Denmark from 1999 to 2004. In 2005, she was elected to the Danish Parliament and as leader of the Social Democrats. She was prime minister from 2011 to 2015. She served as the CEO of Save the Children International from 2016 to 2019.

Council of Women World Leaders (n.d.) "Helle Thorning-Schmidt" Council of Women World Leaders. Retrieved September 9, 2022. https://www.councilwomenworldleaders.org/helle-thorning-schmidt.html

Wallenfeldt, J. (n.d.) "Helle Thorning-Schmidt" Britannica. Retrieved September 9, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Helle-Thorning-Schmidt