1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 1: When Christine Lagarde was selected to become the first female 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: Managing director of the I m F in eleven, it 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: was simply another first for the French lawyer, whose long 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: career has included experiences in the legal, governmental, and economic 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: fields in both the public and private sectors. Born in 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: France to a family of academics, Legard completed her high 7 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 1: school education at the Holton Arms School in Maryland before 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: attending college in France, where she obtained master's degrees in 9 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,480 Speaker 1: English labor law and social law. After a successful career 10 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: at the Chicago based law firm Baker and Mackenzie, Legard 11 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: held several ministerial positions in the French government, including Minister 12 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: of Agriculture and Minister of Finance, becoming the first woman 13 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: to hold that role in any G eight economy. In 14 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: June of twenty eleven, Lagard was elected to succeed Dominic 15 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: Strauss Khan as the Managing director of the I m F, 16 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: a role she holds to this day. She recently sat 17 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: down with Carlisle Group co founder David Rubinstein. They spoke 18 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: on David reuben Stein's Bloomberg television program Peer to Peer Conversations. 19 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: Many people don't know what the IMF actually is. The 20 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: International Monetary Fund was set up seventy five years ago 21 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: by forty four men who decided that women. There was 22 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: no woman in those days. So forty four men in 23 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: on the eve of the end of the Second World 24 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: War with a view to avoiding major economic crisis, major 25 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: instability in the world, which in the view, led to 26 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: the war. So that's the intention. Where do you get 27 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: your money from? All the membership, every member dred and 28 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: eighty nine members. Every member contributes to the financing of 29 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: this common pot. It seemed to be an informal understanding 30 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: that the World Bank would be headed by an American, 31 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: the IMF by a European, and that has been the 32 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: case ever since then. So am I correct? You know, 33 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: I want to believe that it's going to be headed 34 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: by somebody who has the competence to do the job. 35 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: Also fair observation that it has been a European at 36 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: the Fund and it has been an American at the Bank. 37 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: I think that's how they cut those arrangements in the 38 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: early days at a time when the world looked a 39 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: lot different, Well, the world looked different today. For example, 40 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: Asia's much more significant so did the people from China 41 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 1: or Japan say what about ask the emerging market economies 42 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: are very interested in the institution, and China is certainly 43 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: extremely interested as well. China has a representative on my 44 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: management team. There is a managing director, that's how I'm 45 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: called m d Um. There is a first deputy managing 46 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,399 Speaker 1: director who's an American, and I have three deputy managing directors. 47 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: One is Chinese, one is Brazilian, and one is Japanese. 48 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: So there is a lot of diversity on the on 49 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 1: the management team. Let's go back to how you actually 50 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: came to this position. So you grew up in France, 51 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: I assume, and what did you What did your parents do? 52 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: Were they educators or they in government? They were both professors. 53 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: My father as a professor of English literature at university 54 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: and my mother was teaching um French Grammar, Latin and 55 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: Ancient Greek. So that that's the universe that populated my 56 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: childhood and a lot of literature. So when you're growing 57 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: up with parents like that, I guess you're really good 58 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: in languages. They make sure that you know all those languages. 59 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: I was hopeless. I was really bad. Actively they doubt 60 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: that so you were, I assume a very good student 61 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,799 Speaker 1: and uh where you're also interested in synchronized swimming at 62 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: that time, and can you explain what synchronized swimming really 63 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: is and how you came to be on the national 64 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: team of France. The athletic activities had to do with 65 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: the riots that we had in France in nineteen um, 66 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: you know, students were taking the streets. My parents were 67 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: terrified that I would do that too, so they allowed 68 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: me to go to the swimming pool of the club, 69 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: so I could skip school and spend all my time 70 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: by the pool. And I enjoyed swimming at the time, 71 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: and gradually, you know, one day after the other, I 72 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: became really interested in that synchronized swimming, which brought together girls. 73 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: So it's teamwork that required music and a liking of music, 74 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: and I'd always liked music and uh and and and 75 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: discipline and methods, so I joined the team at the time. 76 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: So with synchronized swimming you came you became a member 77 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 1: of the national team of France, where you won the 78 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: Olympic team as well, because it wasn't an Olympic sports 79 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: at that time, but I did European Championship and many 80 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: international events. You still do swimming or synchronized including this morning. Wow, 81 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: how do you have time for that? I get about 82 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: five o'clock. Oh, that probably helps, so it doesn't open 83 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 1: it until six, so I have to do a bit 84 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 1: of gym before that. What did you study in college? 85 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: I had a very classic education. I studied, um, you know, 86 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: the basic basic subjects that I suppose everybody studies, which 87 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: is French mouth, English, geography, history, chemistry, and physics, plus 88 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: some sports which were not so important in those days 89 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: in France, but very often leaders in France. How go 90 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: to certain schools and they go to these very prestigious schools. 91 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: Did you go to one of those schools? Now? I 92 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: failed miserably so. First well, because the first time I 93 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: was I was in love with somebody who was going 94 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: to become my husband, and I did not study very hard. 95 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: And the second year I did study really hard with 96 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: a group of others who studied equally hard, and I 97 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: totally missed the date of registration to actually take the 98 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: various examples. You became a lawyer, though, and what propelled 99 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: you to want to be a lawyer? The death penalty. 100 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: I wanted to participate in abolishing the death penalty. When 101 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: I started law school, the death penalty was one of 102 00:05:54,360 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: the the tools of criminal law and or personal religious 103 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: and other reasons. I wanted to participate in eradicating this 104 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: penalty in in the legal arsenal of France. And unfortunately, 105 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: when I finished my my my law school, and when 106 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 1: I graduated and could have joined that group, the death 107 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: penalty had been abolished, right but nonetheless state as a lawyer, 108 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: and if you practice in France, yes, I practiced in 109 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: France for a few years, and I was doing like 110 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: so many young lawyers in those days. You had to 111 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: do tags, you had to do corporate, you had to 112 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: do antitrust, you had to do labor. Not luckily, the 113 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: French president to be elected was a socialist, and that 114 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: government came out with lots of very very hard label 115 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: or rules to benefit the unions and the workers and 116 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: all of that. Becker Mackenzie. Most of our clients were 117 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:03,239 Speaker 1: international corporates or American companies that had invested in France. 118 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: And and I was really busy. So were there many 119 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: women lawyers in France in those days. No, no, no, no, no. 120 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: One of the reasons actually I joined Becka Mackenzie was 121 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: because the managing partner of the Paris office was a woman, 122 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: and she was then a role model for me. Now, 123 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: for those who don't know, Baker Mackenzie was for many 124 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: years one of the largest law firms in the world. 125 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: Because the largest, yes, and it was based in Chicago. 126 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: So at some point, how did you get to be 127 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: the head of the entire firm? You're a woman, it's 128 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: a male firm, more or less, you're from France. It's 129 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: a Chicago based American firm. So how did you get 130 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: elected to be the managing director of the entire firm 131 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: and moved to Chicago again. I'd love to think that 132 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: it's pure merits and and and quality of the work 133 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: I was doing. I think it's you know, it's interesting actually. Um. 134 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: So I became managing partner of the Paris office, and 135 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: gradually I was I was doing a decent job. I 136 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: was picked up by the nominating committee who was still 137 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: did me to join the executive committee, and I was 138 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: the first woman to be on that on that executive committee. 139 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: And then I went back to practice happily, but they 140 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: came back to get me. Um. By that time, it 141 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: was a mess. Um the i T budget was completely 142 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: out of out of order. The knowledge management system was 143 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: a complete disaster, and management was not really trusted. So 144 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: the nominating committee had a tough time selecting somebody. And 145 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: it's often in those situations that a woman arises. So 146 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: I was selected as chairman of the phone. Okay, so 147 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: you're the head of Baker Mackenzie. You're living in Chicago. 148 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: Was it like a foreign situation because you really were 149 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 1: living in the midwest of the United States. You're really 150 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: from France. Chicago is a fantastic city. Um. I had 151 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: lots of friends and I still have many of them today, 152 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: and I truly enjoyed my uh six years in Chicago. 153 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: All right, So you were doing that and all of 154 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: a sudden, Nicholas Sarkozy gets elected president of France. Did 155 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 1: you know him? It was just it was the year. 156 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: It was two years before that. It was Chirack was 157 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: still the president and Villepin, the Prime Minister was the 158 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: prime was was in charge, and he's the one who 159 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,559 Speaker 1: called me. He called you to be Minister of trade. Yeah, okay, 160 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 1: so he called you to be Minister of Trade, and 161 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,559 Speaker 1: you went back and you served as Minister of Trade 162 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: for a couple of years and how did you like 163 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:32,599 Speaker 1: that job? I loved it. I really loved it. Um. 164 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: It was a massive change in my life geographically, socially, 165 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 1: financially as well. I assume the income was not the 166 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: same as you had. It was like divided by ten, 167 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: That's what it was. Um. But I loved it because 168 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: it was I think it was a job that I 169 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: most enjoyed in government, actually because I was selling France 170 00:09:56,160 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: around the world. And I think President Shirack he knew 171 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: that I was this strange animal coming out of private 172 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: sector and private life and corporate life. But I think 173 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: he had a lot of respect for me, and I 174 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: had huge respect for him. And then Sir Sarkozy does 175 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: get elected president of France. He asked me to be 176 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: Minister of Agricultulture, which I had no clue about, but 177 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: I was prepared to learn. But you did that for 178 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: just a few months. I did that for two months, 179 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: because then he asked me to become Minister of Finance. 180 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: I think he asked me to be Minister of agriculture 181 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: because he knew that it was going to be a 182 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: hot w T O potato and he wanted somebody who 183 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: was acquainted with difficult international Either did such a great 184 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,079 Speaker 1: job your promoted for two months, or such a bad 185 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: job and for two months they said give her another job. 186 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 1: One of those two. Probably you did such a good job, 187 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: they gave you that and there was reshuffling caused by elections. Well, 188 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: you're the first woman to be a finance minister of 189 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: a major country in Western Europe. Yes, yes, I was. 190 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 1: I was the I was the first fundance minister for 191 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: G seven country and of you know, of many countries actually, 192 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: So you were a lawyer by training, um, and all 193 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: of a sudden you're in charge of the finances for France. Um. 194 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: Did you have any background or you're worried about not 195 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: having that kind of background or did your job before 196 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: as a minister of trade help you. I think the 197 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: whole background helped me. But I recognized right from the 198 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: get go that I was going to have to learn 199 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: enormously and and learn from the team from the Treasury Department. 200 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: I had to work very hard. Okay, So you did 201 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: a very good job there by all accounts, and then 202 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: I m F managing director position opens up. Did you 203 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: really want the job or did you have to be 204 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: persuaded to move back to the United States. It's you know, 205 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: so many things in my life happened sort of out 206 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: of the right timing, the right people, um, and my 207 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 1: sense of all right, let's try it, let's do it. Um. 208 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: You know, when I returned back to France as as 209 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,839 Speaker 1: a as a minister, I had not thought for a 210 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: second about my pension, my compennsation, the reporting lines, how 211 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 1: would work out. I just I just wanted to do it. 212 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to help the country as finance minister. I 213 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,439 Speaker 1: don't think that I anticipated at all that two months 214 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 1: into the job the beginning of the financial crisis would 215 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: loom as a result of the closure of the two 216 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:20,839 Speaker 1: BNP accounts. But you just rule your sleeves and and 217 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: and work and and and team up with people who 218 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: know what they're doing and who have a good moral compass. 219 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: I think it's combinational for that. Now you've done a 220 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: very good job at the imp by all accounts. One 221 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: of the things that you have to worry about is 222 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,599 Speaker 1: not just countries that are not doing that way I 223 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: need some money, but the economy of the entire world. 224 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: Because your job is to help promote stability and development 225 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: and also employment how do you think we are better 226 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: prepared around the world for another financial collapse of the 227 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: type we had ten years ago. No, I think we're 228 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: a bit better prepared. We're better prepared because at least 229 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: in certain areas we've learned the lessons. When you look 230 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: at the bankings term, when you look at the ring 231 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,359 Speaker 1: of supervisors, when you look at the set of regulations 232 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: that apply, I think that in that particular sector we 233 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 1: are much better prepared. You know, the banks around the 234 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 1: world are most solid capital ratio's, liquidity, ratio's leverage in 235 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: on all those fronts, I think we've made significant progress. UM. 236 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: There are areas though, because risks tend to to sort 237 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,559 Speaker 1: of travel to the fringe. UM and if you look 238 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: at other areas, you know, asset management, pension funds, UM, 239 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: fintech developments, those are areas where I'm not sure that 240 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: we have the same the same added security that we've 241 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: developed in relation to the banking sector. Now, there are 242 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: other numbers that are much more worrying. When you look 243 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: at debt. The weight of debt on corporate, sovereign and 244 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: household has has gone up by virtue of the stimulus 245 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: and the indebtedness that had to develop as a response 246 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: the crisis. Now, when the Euro was created, it was 247 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 1: started by some at the time that it might become 248 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: a reserve currency. Why do you think it really has not. 249 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: I think because the job is largely unfinished. It's very advanced, 250 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: and I think the Great Financial crisis as has moved 251 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: the Euro and it's in its institutions in the direction 252 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: of consolidating, you know, with a stronger backstop, with a 253 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: stronger set of institutions, and with more unity amongst the 254 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: nineteen members of the EU Area. But the job is 255 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: not finished yet. Banking union is not yet completed, and 256 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: and there is still too much uncertainty in the fiscal 257 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: policies that should be common to all, or at least 258 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: to share the same objective. So let's talk about Brexit 259 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: for a moment. When do you think that will be resolved? Um? 260 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: I think we will know on on on March, because 261 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: that's the cutoff date. When either there is a brutal 262 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: exit which would be extremely costly and and detrimental to 263 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: both the UK particularly and the EU too to a 264 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: lesser degree, or there is an arrangement that deals with 265 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: the period of transition into this new regime which can 266 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: be a variation of free trade agreement between the UK 267 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: and the European Union, which can go from the Norwegian 268 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: model to the Swiss model to the Canadian model, and 269 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: which will have to respect one thing which is a 270 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: big redline for many, and that's the Irish border, which 271 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: was agreed in this Good Friday agreement. But if Great 272 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: Britain does get out of the EU, do you think 273 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: that will deteriorate the European economy in a significant way. 274 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: I think it will be um net negative in all cases. 275 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: The variability of net will depend on the brutality of 276 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: the exit. The more brutal, the more negativities, and I 277 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: think it will be in any circumstances most severe for 278 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: the UK, then it will be for the rest of 279 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: the European Union. And within the European Union you have 280 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: a few countries that will be more exposed than others, 281 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: those that deal frequently with the UK, such as Ireland, 282 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: probably Belgium, probably the Netherlands. So have you noticed that 283 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: when there's a very difficult problem, sometimes the men don't 284 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: want to do, which they give it a woman to do. 285 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: So you said it not me well that the Prime 286 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: Minister of Great Britain as a woman, and none of 287 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: the men seem to want to take that job because 288 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: they know it's a very difficult, no wind, no win situation. 289 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: Now they're probably prepared to come and take the job afterwards. 290 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: So yeah, probably the case. Okay, let's talk about another 291 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: part of the world, China. Do you worry about Chinese 292 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: growth going down? You have worried about Chinese debt or not? 293 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: Chinese growth has been going down regularly for the last 294 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 1: ten years or so. Remember the days when it was 295 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: a double digit So it's gradually come down. And every 296 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: time it was moving from a ten to a nine, 297 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: to an eight to and seven, there was always trepidation. 298 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: And I've heard so many times that China was going 299 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: to collapse. It hasn't collapsed. It has certainly held a 300 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 1: great deal at the global world economy at the time 301 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: of the financial crisis, because it was certainly one of 302 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: the first, if not the first, country to come out 303 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: with a huge package of stimulus in order to kick 304 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: start the economy. So, yes, it is heavily indebted. Um, yes, 305 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: they're trying to bring that in. But at the same time, 306 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: it's a country that has a huge population which has 307 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: massive transition issues to deal with, and we're um the 308 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 1: necessary reduction of growth that we're seeing by virtue of 309 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: the size of this economy now has to be monitored, 310 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: has to be under control in order to tame any 311 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: any risk of conflict. That that's how I see it. 312 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 1: What about the tariffs. President Trump has been talking about 313 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 1: imposing terroriffs and has imposed tariffs against and some other 314 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: parts of the world. Do you think that's a plus 315 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,719 Speaker 1: for the global economy or you think it's not. I 316 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: think that tariffs are not a good idea in general 317 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:16,479 Speaker 1: if they impact trade to the point that trade no 318 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 1: longer plays the key role as an engine for growth. 319 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: What do we see in the last third years. We 320 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: see trade growing faster than growth, so it's been a 321 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: driving engine for growth. We see lots of people taken 322 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 1: out of poverty. We see the cost of living in 323 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,360 Speaker 1: advanced economies, including in the United States, lower by virtue 324 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: of cheaper refrigerator, cheaper television sets, cheaper telephones, and so 325 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: on and so forth, because they are made in countries 326 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: were cost so much lower. So there has been huge benefits, 327 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,479 Speaker 1: not only benefits, but there have been huge benefits and 328 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: I don't think we can dispense of those benefits going forward. 329 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,959 Speaker 1: So my take on that is fix it, don't break it. 330 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: Because trade needs fixing, there's no question about it. And 331 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: I think that President Trump has put the finger right 332 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 1: where it hurts. There are issues about the trade rules 333 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,879 Speaker 1: and organizations that need to be addressed and dealt with. 334 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: Let me ask you this, Um, you have spoken about 335 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: the fact that women should be in corporate boards more 336 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 1: than they have been, core board boardrooms and CEOs, and 337 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: perhaps you think you've made a lot of progress, And 338 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,719 Speaker 1: why do you think women should be more represented in 339 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: these positions. I think there's a very clear economic case 340 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 1: now that more moment on the board, more women on 341 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: the executive committees and management teams, actually generate better returns, 342 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: better results, and better profits. So if even if you 343 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: have a very very um cold heart, no moral imperatives, 344 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: and no sympathy for women and for the principle of 345 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: in inclusion, even if you were that person, you have 346 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 1: to consider including women and bringing them to the table 347 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 1: and to all the tables. Have we made progress? Some? Yes? 348 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,160 Speaker 1: And when I look at numbers, it tells me that 349 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:20,919 Speaker 1: we have made progress altogether. Do we still have a 350 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: long way to go. Yes, as well. Now, did you 351 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,200 Speaker 1: experience a lot of discrimination because you were a woman 352 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:27,919 Speaker 1: as you were rising up in your career and you 353 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 1: feel you're still experiencing it today. I did experience discrimination 354 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,959 Speaker 1: from from the you know, the first day when I 355 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 1: interviewed with with law firms, where I was told back 356 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: in those days that I would never make partnership because 357 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,959 Speaker 1: I was a woman, Or when I was regarded by 358 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 1: Japanese clients, for instance, in those days as as a 359 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: woman who can serve coffee, when I was actually a 360 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:59,199 Speaker 1: practicing attorney, drafting contracts and negotiating for them. And and 361 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: they are still instances when you know, I walk in 362 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 1: a room full of men and I can just tell 363 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: that there is this little smile about their face, which 364 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:15,880 Speaker 1: is either here she goes again, she's going to talk 365 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: about women, or I wonder what she has to say. 366 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: It's less so the case, for sure, But when you're 367 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 1: in a minority, that's what you experiment. What is the 368 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: greatest pleasure of being the head of the I m 369 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 1: F working with the teams, and what's the worst part 370 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:38,360 Speaker 1: of it? Having to sit through meetings which endlessly repeat 371 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: the same things and end up nowhere. Okay, well, least 372 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 1: she didn't say interviews that asked the same questions. You're 373 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: nice enough not to say that. I'm sure you've been 374 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:51,239 Speaker 1: asked these questions before. But just before we wrap up, 375 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: you've said you're going to finish your term here. When 376 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: you do finish, you'll still be relatively young by most standards. 377 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:00,679 Speaker 1: So have you thought what you might do when you 378 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,360 Speaker 1: finish your term at the I m F. No, I'll 379 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: come and talk to you, David. Okay, you'll give me 380 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: some good advice. Now, when you're in the head of 381 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: the I m F and you go to have let's say, 382 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 1: lunch or breakfast and a restaurant in Washington or other 383 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: famous cities, do people come up for selfies they bother you, 384 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: or you can kind of go where you want to 385 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 1: go without being bothered. No, No, I'm recognized you. They 386 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: recognized me. They ask for selfies. They are very most 387 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: of the time, they are very very nice and flattering 388 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: and complimenting and and some and and it's very nice, 389 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 1: and it's it's a lot of ego food which I 390 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: take and store for the hot days. Any regrets about 391 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: your career, No, No, regrets like Poff would say, Okay, well, 392 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: thank you very much for taking the time with us, 393 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: and thank you for the great job you're doing at 394 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: the I m F. Thank you, David