In the quiet town of Vagharshapat, Armenia, home to ancient history, Diana Gasparyan made history of her own. In 2018, following Armenia’s Velvet Revolution, she became the country’s first elected woman mayor.

“Being authentic and drawing on one’s full range of interpersonal skills creates more effective leadership than conforming to stereotypes about professional performance.”

Politics wasn’t always in Diana’s plans. It came later, born from a desire to drive change. When her political party suggested she run for mayor, her first response wasn’t confidence. “I asked, ‘Do you really believe I can do this?’ And I told them, ‘Ejmiatsin will never elect a woman mayor.’” But she agreed—with one condition: that she could step down anytime. That three-month trial turned into six years.

The momentum of that revolutionary period, combined with Diana’s determination, quickly turned into action. Within just a few months, people began to see results. In 2021, they re-elected her, not for what she symbolised as the country’s first elected woman mayor and a voice of change, but for the tangible progress she had delivered.

For Diana, the real milestone was something deeper: the trust and opportunity to improve people’s lives. Her leadership scaled with the newly formed Vagharshapat Community, an expanded mandate that brought new challenges, from budget constraints to centralised decision-making. Yet she stayed focused: faced with tight budgets and limited decision-making power, she prioritised collaboration, trust-building, and community voice — showing that leadership is not about holding control, but about sharing it.

“I am firmly against micromanagement; I believe leaders should delegate responsibility and hold people accountable for their work.”

Under her leadership, fairness, inclusion, and opportunity took centre stage. Young professionals, especially women, found space to grow and thrive. Diana’s leadership was grounded in empathy, not ego. 

During Diana’s journey as mayor, the UNDP Gender Equality Portfolio supported several of her initiatives. These included the establishment of “Integrity Islands” to prevent corruption and enhance the efficiency and fairness of municipal service delivery. Additionally, a Women and Youth Advisory Council was created to amplify the voices of women and youth at the community level. Diana was also featured as a young woman leader in many women’s empowerment events organized by UNDP.

For Diana, this support enabled her to navigate complex challenges and amplify women’s leadership at the local level.

With strong local leadership and co-financing secured through various partnerships, Diana’s team renovated kindergartens, enhanced public spaces, and realised a long-held dream: a new, modern library that now stands as a proud symbol of progress in Vagharshapat.

Since 2022, over 700 teenagers have engaged with the new Ejmiatsin Youth House, funded by the community budget and shaped by young people themselves. Her municipality also collaborated with the Vagharshapat Youth Union and grew sports infrastructure to offer more opportunities for youth.