Zuzana Čaputová served as the president of Slovakia from 2019 to 2024. A lawyer by profession, she was a strong advocate for the rule of law, environmental protection, and women's rights. As a public interest lawyer, she focused on judicial reform, anti-corruption efforts, and public official accountability, often in collaboration with the non-profit sector. Čaputová also took on cases related to environmental protection and earned the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2016. Čaputová took office on June 15, 2019 and became the first female president in the Visegrád Four. In 2020, she was ranked 83rd on Forbes' list of the 100 most powerful women. During her presidency, Čaputová led Slovakia through crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. She was a strong advocate for human rights, the rule of law, and environmental protection. She supported marginalised groups, worked to combat gender-based violence, and promoted empathy, societal unity, and the defence of Slovakia against populism. After completing her presidential term, Čaputová spent several months at Stanford University as a Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow at FSI. She has received 11 international awards and 6 foreign state awards for her contributions.
