Torild Skard: Reflections on a personal leadership journey Norway – a small country in northern Europe Åse Gruda Skard with twin daughters 1936: Torild (Skard) and Målfrid (Grude Flekkøy) A Norwegian family, Oslo, 1960 Åse Gruda and Sigmund Skard with children Åsmund, Målfrid, Anne, Torild, Halvdan Torild Skard received the Royal Norwegian St. Olav’s Order 2011 Male dominated Norwegian society, Parliament in the 1950s-60s Norway’s delegation to the UNCIO San Fransisco 1945 At school in Norway I was harassed because I was an active girl. I lived with my grandparents, who were pioneers for equality. Teacher Karen Grude and historian Halvdan Koht With family support I graduated. Åse Gruda Skard, Karen Grude Koht and Torild Skard, Oslo, 1954 A female politician needed a male mentor, the 1960s. The second feminist wave came in the 1970s. Women organised and took political action. Oslo, 1971 I became member of the Norwegian Parliament 1973-77. I was elected as the first woman president of the Upper House. A female politician was ridiculed and put to shame. People with power use dominance techniques to maintain their position. Berit Ås, 1981… To make progress for women knowledge and organisation are needed. First Director for Women’s Issues UNESCO, 1984, with the M’Bows 1986: First female Director General, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs UNICEF Executive Board with Richard Jolly and Audrey Hepburn First female Regional Director, UNICEF West and Central Africa, 1994-98. In Senegal with Samir Sobhy Book about women and children in West-Africa Women Heads of State and Government Globally 1960-2010 Discussion: • How can the career growth of women be promoted and their role in decision- making strengthened?.