( CNN ) In a line-up of the world 's financial heavyweights , Christine Lagarde commands attention . At almost 6ft tall , with a head of silver hair and year-long tan , the first female to lead the International Monetary Fund instantly stands out in the notoriously masculine world of finance . When the fifth most powerful woman in the world according to Forbes takes to the stage , journalists make sure their pens are poised . And in a time of economic austerity -- not to mention scandal allegations regarding the IMF 's former managing director -- the media spotlight on Lagarde is fierce . But away from the camera lens , what personal events shaped the 59-year-old financial leader we know today ? Here are five things you might not know about Lagarde . `` Clearly the death of my father when I was 16 was a pivotal moment because you suddenly realize the hardship , the pain , '' Lagarde told CNN 's Gabriella Frias . `` It certainly provided me with a better understanding of how tough it can be for a single mother to raise kids . '' Lagarde won a bronze medal in the French National Championship when she was just 15-years-old . Synchronized swimming might also have more in common with politics than you think . `` It was synchronized swimming that taught me : 'Grit your teeth and smile , ' '' Lagarde told the Guardian . `` It was when I applied to the biggest law firm in Paris and I was told that I would be a great recruit and that I would be given good work to do -- but that I should never expect to make partnership because I was a woman , '' Lagarde told CNN . `` I thought to myself : 'You do n't deserve me , I 'm going . ' And I had that sense of extraordinary freedom , walking down the staircase and thinking to myself : 'What would I do in this firm ? Why would I work with that kind of attitude ? '' `` For a while I felt sort of held back and I decided : 'No , no , no , no , no , no you have to get over it , ' '' Lagarde told CNN . `` You need to try to take the learnings from that failure and ask yourself : 'Why did I fail ? ' Then you learn about it and you move on . '' It 's perhaps fitting that the IMF boss -- who oversees the world 's finances -- was born on such a neat date . The eldest sister to three brothers , Lagarde was raised in Normandy to an English professor father and Latin teacher mother . Watch : Lagarde on leading through crisis . Inspire : The most inspiring women of the year .
She 's the face of the IMF , but how well do you know her ? Five surprising facts about French financial powerhouse , Christine Lagarde . Says death of her father as a teenager was ' a pivotal moment '