At the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings, the spotlight turned from global finance to the human stories that shape leadership and resilience. NPR’s All Things Considered host and acclaimed author Mary Louise Kelly joined Sabina Bhatia, Director of the Corporate Services and Facilities Department at the IMF, for a compelling conversation that bridged journalism, leadership, and the personal cost of ambition.

With IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivering the opening remarks, the session set a reflective tone on the importance of integrity and courage in leadership, both in the newsroom and in global institutions. Kelly, drawing from her memoir It. Goes. So. Fast., shared candid reflections on navigating motherhood, moral crossroads, and moments of no return while reporting from conflict zones.

Bhatia offered insight into the IMF’s evolving leadership culture, emphasizing empathy, accountability, and adaptability as central to modern governance. Together, their dialogue revealed a shared truth: whether in global economics or international journalism, leadership is as much about humanity as it is about strategy.