Take control of your financial future: In Conversation with Christine Lagarde

Our podcast has a new name – welcome to Euro Matters! In the first episode of our In Conversation series, President Christine Lagarde shares her own path to financial knowledge and explains why knowing about money matters – especially for women. Recorded on 17 February 2026 and published on 3 March 2026. In this episode: 01:10 – Why do financial topics make people feel uncomfortable? 02:15 – President Lagarde’s early experiences with managing finances 03:15 – Why is low financial knowledge a problem in Europe? And why does it matter for women in particular? 05:38 – How can women build confidence and take ownership of their finances? 06:40 – President Lagarde talks about the first time she realised that financial independence matters 07:50 – President Lagarde’s first jobs 08:55 – The best financial advice President Lagarde has ever received 09:52 – The financial advice President Lagarde would give to her younger self 10:25 – President Lagarde shares her hot tip ECB web page on the gender gap https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb-and-you/financial_literacy_europe/The-gender-gap-in-financial-literacy/html/index.en.html Financial literacy in Europe https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb-and-you/financial_literacy_europe/html/index.en.html ECB Instagram https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/ EuroSteps Walking Challenge https://www.walk15.app/en/download