[6] After concluding her education, Čaputová worked in the local government of Pezinok, first as an assistant in the legal department, and later as a deputy to the town mayor.

[7] She later moved into the non-profit sector at the Open Society Foundations, where she handled public administration and the issue of abused and exploited children.

Subsequently, she worked as a project manager at the civic association EQ Klub on local community development.

[9] In Pezinok, for more than ten years, she was at the forefront of a public campaign against the authorization of another landfill that would aggravate pollution of the soil, air, and water in the city and its surrounding areas.

[11] As a co-founding member[12] of Progressive Slovakia, a non-parliamentary liberal party, Čaputová served as its deputy chair until March 2019, after which she resigned due to her presidential candidacy.

[15] In a press conference held on 29 March 2018, Čaputová announced her bid for the Slovak presidency in the 2019 presidential race as the candidate of Progressive Slovakia.

[26] In 2023, Čaputová was mentioned as a possible candidate to replace NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg following his expected retirement that same year.

[27] On 20 June 2023, Čaputová announced that she would not run for re-election, citing the stress created by four major crises during her term: the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, and soaring inflation.

She campaigned for the police force to be an independent institution without political influence, headed by an impartial professional with proven service.

[31][32] Climate change mitigation is one of her highest priorities, and for that reason she is ending subsidies for coal and other fossil fuels.

"[34] Čaputová supports maintaining the status quo regarding abortion and reproductive rights, saying: "If there is an extreme situation and the dilemma is between deciding whether to adopt a legal norm that will intrude upon the personal lives of citizens or leave it to women's responsibility and their personal choice, I choose the responsibility of a woman.

[36] Laureates of this prize are selected by an international jury and experts from around the world who have distinguished themselves for having a lasting and significant impact on environmental protection.