Angela Merkel's early career was shaped by her experiences growing up in East Germany. She earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry, giving her a strong scientific background that informed her analytical approach to politics. The fall of the Berlin Wall and Germany's reunification played critical roles in her political emergence. Merkel entered politics after the reunification and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the first female Chancellor of Germany. Her experiences in a divided nation and her scientific training greatly influenced her pragmatic and methodical leadership style.