Georgieva was born in 

Sofia into a family of bureaucrats.[16] Her father was a civil engineer who

supervised state road-building projects,[17] and her grandfather was a prominent Bulgarian
revolutionary, Ivan Karshovski.[18]
Georgieva holds a PhD in Economics and an MA in Political Economy and Sociology from the Karl
Marx Higher Institute of Economics (now called University of National and World Economy) in Sofia.
[19][20]
 Her thesis was on "Environmental Protection Policy and Economic Growth in the USA". She
also did postgraduate research and studies in natural resource economics and environmental policy at
the London School of Economics in the late 1980s and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
[21]
 She has written over 100 academic papers and has also authored a microeconomics textbook.[22]
She held a range of academic and consulting positions in Bulgaria and the US, and has lectured
on development topics in universities, including the Australian National University, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, Yale University, Harvard University, London School of
Economics, the University of the South Pacific and others.[23]
Georgieva is fluent in Bulgarian, English, and Russian, and can also speak some French.[24]

1) Early work (1993–2010)[edit]

Georgieva started her career at the World Bank Group in 1993 as an environmental economist for
Europe and Central Asia. Following this, she served in various positions in the bank ultimately
rising to become director of the Environment Department in charge of World Bank's
environmental strategy, policies, and lending. In this role she oversaw around 60% of lending
operations of the World Bank Group. From 2004 to 2007 she was the institution's director and
resident representative in the Russian Federation, based in Moscow.
She returned to Washington, D.C., to become director of Strategy and Operations, Sustainable
Development. Her final position at the World Bank, vice president and corporate secretary,
conveyed lead responsibility for liaison with the members of the institution's board of executive
directors, representing the bank's shareholders (the member country governments). [24] During that
time, she worked on the bank's governance reform and accompanying capital increase. [25]
In January 2010, Georgieva announced her intention to resign from this post in view of her
nomination to the Commission of the European Union. [26]

2) Political career[edit]
European Commissioner[edit]
Nomination and confirmation
After the former Bulgarian nominee for the post of European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and
Crisis Management, Rumiana Jeleva, came under fire during her confirmation hearing
from members of the European Parliament over both her competence and allegations of gaps in her
declaration of financial interests, she withdrew her bid. The Bulgarian government then proposed
Kristalina Georgieva as their new candidate. [2] On 21 January 2010 the European
Commission President José Manuel Barroso met with Georgieva and expressed his approval, stating
that "Mrs. Georgieva has solid international experience and knowledge with which she is going to
contribute significantly in her capacity as a EU Commissioner". [27]
The confirmation hearing of Georgieva took place at the European Parliament on 4 February
2010. She faced questions on her suitability for the portfolio. Georgieva identified Haiti as a
priority, especially the need to provide shelter and health services and to restore the functions
and service of the government, so as to start work on reconstruction and long-term development.
Other key issues raised in discussions with MEPs had been improving co-ordination within the EU
(and within the commission), and between humanitarian and military players in order to meet the
dual challenge posed by expanding needs and shrinking budgets. The need to improve the
effectiveness of EU actions and for better response capacity had also been stressed, together
with the establishment of European Voluntary Humanitarian Corps.[28]
Georgieva was given a warm response by MEPs, with Labour MEP Michael Cashman praising her
"honesty and deep breadth of knowledge". She was applauded by committee members when she
told British Conservative MEP Nirj Deva that she would stand up for the interests of the EU and be
an independent mind.[29] Ivo Vajgl, a Liberal MEP, also praised her, saying: "let me compliment
you on your peaceful manner and the confidence you are exuding today". [30] Her performance at
the hearing was widely publicized in Bulgaria and broadcast live on many national media, where
it was seen as question of restoration of national honor following Jeleva's unsuccessful hearing. [31]
The second college of the Barroso Commission, including Georgieva, was approved by the
European Parliament on 9 February 2010 by a vote of 488 to 137, with 72 abstentions, [3] and she
took office the following day.[4