The only confrontation occurred when participants attacked Ciller for not holding to her campaign promises on education and her relationship to the nation's fundamentalist party.
She vigorously defended herself, saying she did the best for her people and the country as a whole.
The founder of the Council of Women Leaders and the former prime minister of Iceland, Vigdis Finnbogadottir, said that both male and female leaders often feel alone.
"Making a decision is a lonely job," she said. "Whatever the advice you are given, you are always alone when you make the decision and you alone bear the responsibility."
The panel ended the forum by anticipating the future when it would be natural, rather than exceptional, for women to lead their countries.
"There are still a lot of cultural barriers," Campbell said. "We have not established the naturalness of women leaders."