Gita Gopinath, former First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has opened up about the gender bias she encountered during her tenure as the institution's chief economist. She shared a striking incident where she was directly challenged about her rightful place at a high-level meeting.
“You're In The Wrong Chair”
Gopinath recounted an episode during a meeting with a central bank delegation from an unidentified country. As the head of the IMF delegation, she took the seat designated for her, directly opposite the central bank governor, following established diplomatic protocol.
Before the governor arrived, a woman seated nearby questioned Gopinath's position. "She looked at me, and she said, 'I think you're in the wrong chair'," Gopinath recalled. The woman then pointed to a male colleague of Gopinath's, suggesting he should occupy her seat. Gopinath's colleague quickly intervened, affirming, "No, no, she's where she should be." Gopinath then introduced herself, stating, "Well, I'm the chief economist of the IMF. I hope that's okay with you." Moments later, the central bank governor arrived, took his seat, and remarked, "I'm so great to meet you because we have a phenomenal female empowerment going on at the central bank."
Criticism of All-Male Summits
Beyond personal experiences, Gopinath also voiced strong criticism regarding a meeting between then-US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where none of the approximately 40 officials present were women. She shared a photograph of the gathering, labeling it "a painting of the end of meritocracy."
Gopinath emphasized that the absence of women in such critical forums is not merely a diversity issue, but a fundamental question of merit. "The reason I did is that for me, when I see a room like that, and I see there aren't women there, it's not the point that we need women because we want a diversity of opinion. Very often, the woman is the better person for the job," she explained. She highlighted the disparity, noting, "We are in 2026, and you have a room with 40 people. It was not like five or six people. 40 people. The two largest economies of the world... Half of them are women who are contributing to that economy. And somehow you end up with not one single woman at the table."
Fewer Second Chances for Women
Gopinath also addressed the broader issue of women being judged more harshly in professional settings. She cited scientific evidence indicating that women often receive fewer second chances after making mistakes compared to their male counterparts. This reality, she advised, necessitates that women prepare even more rigorously.
"My advice to all the women is that, please, you are going to prepare extra hard because you are not going to get too many chances to mess up. I want to be the person who has read every piece of material better than the other person has, and I show up."
She pointed to studies, including those involving doctors, which demonstrate that female professionals often face steeper penalties for errors, underscoring the need for exceptional preparedness to overcome inherent biases.