( CNN ) -- Traveling in a plane soaring 2,400 meters above the ocean when the door in front of you suddenly swings open , is many things : terrifying , disturbing , dramatic . For former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark , it was also `` a bit annoying . '' If it seems like the understatement of the century , then that 's because you get the impression there is n't much that rattles the 63-year-old , who is now the third most powerful person at the United Nations . Back in 2005 , the then-prime minister was flying along the south west coast of New Zealand when her six-seater plane hit turbulence , forcing the door to swing open . After some scrambling the rogue door was closed , and Clark -- today the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program -- landed safely , though with a badly bruised elbow . That was the `` annoying '' bit , she said . Eight years later , securely seated in the United Nations office in New York , one of the longest serving female prime ministers of all time says `` nothing '' scares her . Well , apart from a few extreme sports . `` I think I 've conquered fear , '' she said . `` Except I 'm not going into a parachute jump . I do n't want to go into a bungee jump -- wonderful revenue earner for New Zealand tourism that it is . And I do n't want to do a deep sea dive , '' she said . `` So there 's three things off my list but I 'll try almost anything else . '' Small country , big ambition . Almost a decade before German Chancellor Angela Merkel was toasting a third consecutive term in office , Clark was on the other side of the world celebrating her own successful third election . Clark , the leader of the New Zealand Labour Party , led the country for nine years , from 1999 to 2008 . That 's just two years less than British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher . And six years longer than recently ousted Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard . Since leaving politics and joining the United Nations in 2009 , Clark 's international profile has continued to grow -- this year Forbes ' ranked her as the 21st most powerful woman in the world . `` I could not have credibly done this job [ at the United Nations ] if I had not had the experience of leading a small country , '' she said of New Zealand , which has a population of around 4 million . `` There 's no greater accountability than having to face your own electors every three years . So I like to think this has been a preparation for this position now . '' Women of the world . Clark is also the first female to head the United Nations Development Program , overseeing 8,000 staff in 177 countries , and an annual budget of $ 5.8 billion . Her vision is a big one : `` Eradication of poverty and tackling exclusion and inequality in our world -- and doing it in a sustainable way . '' Where does one start with such an immense goal ? For Clark , part of the answer lies in the empowerment of women . `` If you ca n't inherit the family property , if you ca n't borrow money , if you ca n't hold title to land or a rental title because you 're a woman -- this is n't fair , '' she said . `` Oftentimes attitudes towards women can be the tremendous unseen barriers -- people do n't see a woman doing certain jobs . I 've had a lot of experience of crashing my head through glass ceilings so I know it can be done , but it 's not something you do by yourself . You have to build support networks . '' Force of nature . Growing up on a farm in New Zealand , Clark learned to be self-reliant from a young age -- a trait she 's held throughout her career . `` We slaughtered our own meat , we grew our own vegetables . I think I come from generations of extremely resilient people who tend to survive through thick and thin , '' she said . To illustrate her point , Clark recalls meeting another head of state on the steps of New Zealand parliament one day : `` I had the keys in my hand and I said 'come along with me . ' I unlocked the door to the private lift and took him up . He was astonished . Where was the army of functionaries who were opening the door pressing the lift button ? '' When her party suffered a devastating defeat at the 1990 elections , Clark was down , but not out . `` I became well known in New Zealand for saying 'let 's move on , ' '' she said . `` Another door will open if you look for it . '' And while leading the United Nations Development Program has been one of her greatest achievements , it has come with sacrifices , such as working on the other side of the world from husband Peter Davis . `` I do n't necessarily want to be remembered as the most popular girl on the block , '' she said . `` I want to be remembered as the girl who made a difference . ''
Helen Clark opens up about being third most powerful person at U.N. Former NZ Prime Minister now head of U.N. Development Program . Score: 6