During her studies she became a member of the national board of Danmarks Liberale Studerende.

From July 1997 to January 2002 she worked as a lawyer at the law firm Lokdam, Kjellund & Partnere in Århus.

Her political career culminated in 2002 when she became the first female and non-social democratic mayor of Aarhus.

In 2005 Venstre lost the election and Louise Gade stopped as mayor although she received a record 42.697 personal votes.

[3] In 2009 Gade left Aarhus city council and became vice-president for human resources at Aarhus University and in 2015 she became president of VIA University College.