WASHINGTON – Christine Lagarde went through 18 hours of briefing on her first day as the first woman managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since its creation in 1944.

In addition to more briefings in the coming days, she will undergo ethic training.

On Friday, she will chair the first board of governors meeting. The agenda range from global economic uncertainties, sovereign debt crisis to IMF management and reforms, she told journalists who filled up the conference hall for Lagarde's first press briefing since taking office.

They will also follow up on the discussion of adding the fourth deputy managing director. It is reported that one of the likely candidates is Zhu Min, who has served as special advisor to the managing director since May 2010.

Squeezed in between her busy work agenda are more than 200 media interview requests that have already arrived, Bill Murray, chief of IMF media relations, told China Daily. “And they keep coming.”

Taking the rein of the IMF, the 187-member world organization entrusted to foster global growth and economic stability, has made Lagarde arguably the most powerful woman in the world. Despite questions whether she has – or does not have – enough qualifications, Lagarde has taken up her new job with confidence and ease.

"I am more team-minded,” she said. “My management style is about opening up, reaching out and engaging people working as a team. I can’t do it alone, they can’t do it alone. We have to pull the institution together.

"I’ve come to this job with an open-mind, with my ability to draw resources and willingness to contribute from all… rely on advises of people who know well in their area,” she said.

"Not all conductors know how to play the piano, the harp, the violin, or the cello. I will try to be a good conductor.”