Eighty-one votes in the Riigikogu secured Kersti Kaljulaid the presidency of Estonia on 3 October 2016, making her the first woman to serve as head of state since the country declared independence in 1918. At age 46, she entered office as the youngest person to hold the post in Estonian history.
Early Career and Education
Born in Tartu in 1969, Kaljulaid attended Tallinn Mustamäe Gymnasium before graduating from the University of Tartu with a degree in biology. She later returned to the institution to earn an MBA, focusing her research on the management systems of state-founded foundations. Her early professional life included roles as a sales manager at Eesti Telefon, a project manager at Hoiupanga Investeeringute AS, and a position in the investment banking division of Hansabank Markets. By 1999, she transitioned into governance, serving as an economic advisor to Prime Minister Mart Laar until 2002. She subsequently led the Iru Power Plant, a subsidiary of the state energy firm Eesti Energia, becoming the first woman in Estonia to manage a power plant.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →European Service and Rise to Presidency
In 2004, Kaljulaid began a long tenure as Estonia's representative at the European Court of Auditors. While serving as a state official, she also held academic leadership roles, including chairperson of the board at the University of Tartu. When the 2016 presidential election resulted in a deadlock, a council of elders from the Riigikogu approached her as a potential consensus candidate. Following her nomination on 30 September 2016, she was elected in the sixth round of voting.
Policy and Political Outlook
Self-identified as a liberal conservative, Kaljulaid focused her political advocacy on supporting a robust civil society with limited state interference. Her platform included liberal stances on immigration and social issues such as LGBT rights. Beyond her domestic duties, she remained active in international diplomacy and institutional governance. In 2020, she became a candidate for Secretary-General of the OECD, though she withdrew from the process in 2021 to prioritize her duties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her term concluded in 2021, and she subsequently founded an NGO focused on democratic advancement.
Fast facts
- Born: 1969, Tartu
- President of Estonia: 2016-2021
- Education: University of Tartu, Tallinn Mustamäe Gymnasium
- Languages: Estonian, French, German, Finnish, English, Russian
- Notable Awards: Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class
- European of the Year: 2009
- Citizenship: Estonia
Questions readers ask
Was Kersti Kaljulaid ever re-elected for a second term?
No. Although she confirmed her intention to run in 2021, she did not receive the 21 parliamentary endorsements required to stand for a second term.
Did Kaljulaid hold executive power as president?
No. Under the Estonian Constitution, the president serves a ceremonial role, while executive authority is vested in the government.
Achievements
- President of Estonia (2016–2021)
- Collar of the Order of the National Coat of Arms — 2016
- Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry — 2019
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic — 2018
- Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class — 2021
- Educated at University of Tartu and Tallinn Mustamäe Gymnasium
.jpg)
