Found in Latin, in the present participle praesidentum, in relation to the verb praesidēre, understood as presiding in the action from a high hierarchical position, formed by the elements prae, which refers to something previous or earlier and that in this context indicates being in front, and sedere, interpreted as ‘to sit’, with roots in the Indo-European *sed-(1), for ‘to sit‘; and completed by the suffix -nt, to make it function as a noun.

It is a position that represents the highest authority of the state, as well as at the corporate level, placing the individual in absolute display and prominence, demanding a high degree of responsibility and commitment in the making of their decisions and actions.

The first women to reach command were Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka, 1960), Indira Gandhi (India, 1966), and Golda Meir (Israel, 1969).