COVID-19 is still being discussed as it has a tremendous impact on the economy in all countries worldwide. It has more than a year we life side-by-side with pandemics, yet many countries are still working hard to rebuild their economic situation. 

It's not an easy job as it's one of the crucial parts of developing a country. Interestingly, four outstanding women are successfully able to do this job. These women, and one of them is Indonesian, are "Financial Regulators" who are members of the G20 countries. Proudly, they can prove that women can be equal with men in handling 'hard job'. 

Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia

Sri Mulyani Indrawati is an Indonesian economist who currently serves as the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, a position she has held since July 2016. After serving as the World Bank's Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, she returned to this role, where she was responsible for the Bank's operations worldwide. In this capacity, Sri Mulyani often represented the World Bank Group at the G20. She also chaired the International Development Association (IDA)− the World Bank's fund for the poorest countries.

In 2006, Sri Mulyani was named the “Finance Minister of the Year” from Euromoney magazine and the “Best Finance Minister in Asia” from the Emerging Market Forum. Recently, she won the “Best Minister Award” at the Sixth Annual Gathering of the World Government Summit 2018 in Dubai, UAE. The nomination process to this prestigious award was done by the Summit’s Knowledge Partner “Ernst & Young” based on a multi-dimensional approach and extensive research to cross-check the candidate’s track records and history of high-impact achievements. The winner selection of the “Best Minister Award” resulted from the voting of five independent global judges from renowned public and private sector organizations.

Janet Yellen, USA

Janet Yellen was the first woman of American economist, chair of the Federal Reserve System (the Fed), and the US secretary. She graduated summa cum laude in economics from Brown Univerity in 1967 and received a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University in 1971. There was some controversy surrounding her nomination, mainly because many Republicans believed that she would emphasize reducing unemployment and not enough on controlling inflation. Yellen held an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Brown University and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Bard College. Throughout her academic career, she wrote extensively on various topics, particularly macroeconomics and unemployment dynamics.

Chrystia Freeland, Kanada

Chrystia Freeland is Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Freeland was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre in July 2013. She was elected as Member of Parliament for University Rosedale in October 2015 and re-elected in October 2019. As Foreign Minister, she led and successfully concluded the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In November 2019, Freeland was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. She led Canada’s united response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was appointed Minister of Finance in August 2020. 

Nirmala Sitharaman, India

Nirmala Sitharaman is an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sitharaman is currently the Minister of Defence in the Narendra Modi-led NDA cabinet. Nirmala Sitharaman was born to a middle-class family in Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu on August 18, 1959. Her father worked in the Railways while her mother was a homemaker and a great lover of books. She has her father's disciplinary nature and her mother's love for books. She spent her childhood in different parts of Tamil Nadu as her father's job was transferable. Thus, traveling and being adaptive came naturally to her.

Recalling her life, she says, “I envy the girl I once was. Best advice I ever received? Always choose the middle path and try to maintain equanimity. In other words, never go to any extreme - don't be too suppliant because you will lose your dignity nor be too overconfident and aggressive or you will eventually lose your ground. Remain balanced. That way you can never fall too far."