Christine Lagarde

Christine Lagarde

The first woman president of the CEB

Summary

• Timeline

• Early career at Baker & Mckenzie

• Functions at the French government

• The First woman of the CBE

• Continuation of her Career

• Achievements

• Christine Lagarde, an inspiring woman

• Conclusion

Official portrait of Christine Lagarde as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (2011)

June 1st, 2019

Firts woman President of the ECB

Timeline

2011

Managing Director of the IMF

Key moments in Christine Lagarde's professional life

2007

Minister of Economy under Nicolas Sarkozy

1981

Lawyer at Baker & Mckenzie

January 1st, 1956

Date of Birth

Early career at Baker & Mckenzie

• In 1981, Christine Lagarde joined Baker & McKenzie, a major international law firm specialising in labour law, antitrust and mergers and acquisitions.

• She became a partner, one of the first women to reach that level within the firm, and in 1995 she was appointed to the firm’s Executive Committee, marking her growing influence in international legal practice.

• Under her leadership, the firm increased its turnover by 50% in 2004.

• Then, she became the first female Chair of Baker & McKenzie, leading the firm globally.

Baker & Mckenzie headquarters, Paris

Function in the French government

• 2005 - Minister of Foreign Trade, focusing on boosting France’s competitiveness and international presence.

• 2007 - Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries for a brief period.

• 2007–2011 - Serves as Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry, becoming:
• the first woman to hold this position in France,
• the first woman of a G7 country to be Finance Minister. She leads France through the 2008 global financial crisis, advocating coordination and structural reforms.

Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, in Paris. (2007)

Continuation of her career

• In 2011, she is appointed Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

• She becomes the first woman to lead the IMF.

• Her tenure focuses on stabilizing economies post-crisis, supporting emerging markets, and promoting gender-inclusive economic policies.

Christine Lagarde with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at IMF headquarters (2017).

The First woman President of the CBE

• In 2019, she is elected President of the European Central Bank (ECB).

• She is the first woman to occupy this role.

• She steers the ECB during challenges such as low inflation, COVID-19 economic shocks, and the energy-price crisis.

Christine Lagarde, President of the CBE (2019)

Achievements

• Appointed Knight of the Legion of Honor in July 2000
• 2002 Ranked 5th most powerful European businesswoman by the Wall Street Journal Europe

• 2007 Forbes 12th most powerful woman in the world, 3rd in Europe, and 2nd in France

• 2009 Financial Times best finance minister in the eurozone

No title for this slide, it speaks for itself

Christine Lagarde, an inspiring woman

Christine Lagarde is currently the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), where she guides monetary policy for the eurozone. She focuses on managing inflation, strengthening financial stability, integrating climate concerns, and promoting digital innovation such as the digital euro. Today, she is widely regarded as a highly inspiring woman, known for her leadership, resilience, and her ability to break barriers in global finance.

Christine Lagarde in Washington, ELLE magazin. (2020)

Conclusions

Christine Lagarde is widely recognized as a truly inspiring woman. By becoming the first woman to lead institutions such as the IMF and the ECB, she has opened doors for future generations and proven that women can excel at the highest levels of global governance. Her journey reflects courage, ambition, and a commitment to empowering others.

Beyond her professional success, Lagarde is known for her discipline, clarity of thought, and calm yet determined leadership style. Her ability to communicate complex economic issues with precision and confidence has earned her the respect of colleagues around the world. She embodies resilience, elegance, and integrity in everything she does.

Christine Lagarde’s career is marked by exceptional achievements across international law, government, and global finance. From her rise at Baker & McKenzie to her leadership roles in the French government, the IMF, and the ECB, she has consistently taken on positions of immense responsibility and shaped major economic decisions at both national and international levels.

“Never give up on your ambitions"

Christine Lagarde - ELLE Magazin

Thank you !

Caricature of Christine Lagarde by Charlie Hebdo in an article about the increase in credit costs.

Sources

Time

Charlie Hebdo

Forbes

ELLE Magazin

Le Monde

European Central Bank

Baker & Mckenzie France

International Monetary Fund

Europa.eu