Women in ETFs held the third edition of its regional meeting WE South | Offshore 360: The Macro View in Miami, a live event aimed at connecting professionals from the ETF universe and the offshore business around the big questions of the economic cycle. It was an intimate day featuring prominent voices in economics, strategy, and innovation in exchange-traded funds.
Sponsored by StoneX, the event took place on November 19 at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami, with an agenda focused on the macro pulse and its direct impact on portfolio construction. Representing the South Chapter of Women in ETFs were Jan Fredericks, Co-Head of Membership, and Estefanía Gorman, Secretary and Co-Head of Mentorship. Kathryn Rooney Vera, Chief Market Strategist at StoneX, served as Master of Ceremonies and was joined by Christian Prugue, Managing Director and Co-Head of LatAm Securities.
During the first panel, “The Economy Unfiltered: A Debate on the Global Forces Shaping the Markets,” Kathryn Rooney Vera and Jonathan Levin, Markets Columnist at Bloomberg, discussed the outlook for global interest rates, the trajectory of the U.S. labor market, and the impact of rising retail trading on market dynamics.
The experts also analyzed the key drivers reshaping the global market: views on inflation and growth, the expected path of interest rates in the U.S., and how these factors are shifting investors’ risk preferences.
Artificial intelligence and its effects on the economy and asset markets were a key focus of the event. The experts also offered strategic considerations for holding gold in portfolios, in light of opportunities looking ahead to 2026.
The second panel, titled “Market Pulse: Trends, Perception, and Strategic Alignment,” featured April Reppy Suydam, Head of Latin America Distribution at First Trust, and Brad Smith, CFA Analyst & Head of ETF Strategy Americas at Invesco. The panel was moderated by Estefanía Gorman, who also serves as Director of Client Success at Scala Capital.
Guided by Gorman, the experts discussed the “Magnificent 7” and the emerging trends and themes gaining traction.
The session placed special emphasis on the “very promising” opportunities in AI and cryptocurrencies within the ETF landscape. The second panel also covered evidence pointing to a shift from passive to active ETFs, as well as approaches to help advisors and clients become more comfortable with derivatives and options within ETF strategies.
The evening concluded with a memorable sensory experience: a chocolate and wine pairing led by Ricardo Trillo of Cao Chocolates, where attendees enjoyed a curated selection of chocolates, exploring their South American origins, unique flavors, and ideal wine pairings.
For distributors and advisors based in Miami—a city that is becoming an increasingly important hub for Latin America—the conversation delivered a common message: the need to combine macro conviction with agility in implementation amid a backdrop of intermittent volatility.
The South Chapter of Women in ETFs covers the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Beyond market analysis, the gathering reinforced the mission of Women in ETFs to connect, support, and inspire the industry community, providing a space for networking and professional development for all professionals in the sector.
