Favorite Parts of Being a Head of Emerging Market Sovereign Debt at Abrdn
Edwin, Head of Emerging Market Sovereign Debt at Abrdn, most enjoys the "essential part" of his job: traveling to emerging markets to gain firsthand insights. This includes "conversations with everyday people," enabling a deeper understanding of local politics and economics beyond official government views, shaping investment strategies.
International Travel, Emerging Markets, Economics, Political Analysis, On-the-Ground Research
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Edwin Gutierrez
Head of Emerging Market Sovereign Debt
Abrdn
UC Berkeley
MS Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Political Science, American Studies
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Travel to emerging markets and experiencing new cultures is a significant part of the job and allows for firsthand observation.
2. The role involves intellectual curiosity and learning about new countries, which is considered an essential aspect of the job, not just a perk.
3. Interactions with various people, from government officials to everyday citizens, provide valuable insights into local politics and economics, shaping investment decisions.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your current role?
Definitely traveling to emerging markets. I used to joke that I get paid to travel, and that's partially true. It's all about intellectual curiosity to be able to learn things about new countries. It's something that I always treasure.
It's not just a bonus, but it's actually an essential part of my job. One of the things we missed out on during the pandemic was traveling to these countries in which we invest. We could always get the official view from finance ministers and central bankers.
But what we really missed out on was firsthand observations. Many of our views on investments are shaped not just by conversations with government officials, but also by what we're seeing on the ground. This includes conversations with everyday people, taxi drivers, and visits to local malls. It’s a way to get a sense of what's happening in local politics and economics.