A version of this article appeared in the November 2013 issue of Harvard Business Review.
“I Try to Spark New Ideas”
Christine Lagarde took over as managing director of the demoralized International Monetary Fund in 2011, succeeding the scandal-plagued Dominique Strauss-Kahn. A prominent French politician who once ran the international law giant Baker & McKenzie, Lagarde, 57, has tried to change the IMF’s culture while also coping with the European debt crisis and a sluggish global […]
Summary.
Reprint: R1311J
At 57, Christine Lagarde has held top jobs in government, in the private sector, and now at a big global institution, the International Monetary Fund, where she became managing director in 2011. It was a doubly challenging time to take the helm: Lagarde’s predecessor, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was embroiled in scandal, and the global economy remained in dire straits.
In this interview with HBR’s editor in chief, Lagarde talks about what it takes to be an effective leader, the differences between “masculine” and “feminine” leadership styles and what women bring to the table in times of crisis, ideas for strengthening the IMF, and opportunities for the Fund and the world’s governments to create a more vibrant global economy.
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Leading People Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Leading People. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
What you need to know about being in charge.