She served as president of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights (1956–1968), member and vice chairman of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (1969–1975), Minister of Government Administration and Consumer Affairs of Norway in Korvald's Cabinet (1972–1973), leader of the Liberal Party (1974–1976) and as Norwegian Gender Equality Ombudsman (1978–1988), the first gender equality ombudsman worldwide.

[3] She served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway from Oslo during the terms 1957–1961 and 1965–1969.

On the local level she was member of the executive committee of Oslo city council from 1960 to 1975.

[2][4] Kolstad was a Commander of the Order of St. Olav and received the Medal of St. Hallvard in 1986.

[2] She was married to the lawyer and Assistant Director General in the Ministry of Justice, Ragnar Kolstad.