How to Think Like a Sovereign Debt Investor: Career Lessons from the IMF to Wall Street

Want to break into finance or understand how global markets really work? In this episode of the Market Maker Podcast, Anthony Cheung speaks with Dr. Lupin Rahman - former IMF economist, World Bank advisor, and senior fixed income portfolio manager - to explore the world of sovereign credit, macro strategy, and global investing.Lupin shares how she transitioned from public sector institutions like the IMF and World Bank to the private markets, what sovereign debt investing involves, and why cultural intelligence matters as much as economic analysis. From assessing political risk in emerging markets to negotiating directly with governments, she gives a rare insider view of the forces shaping global debt markets.She also offers clear, practical advice for students and early-career professionals - including the top trait she looks for when hiring and how to approach finance with curiosity, adaptability, and long-term thinking.Packed with real-world insights and career wisdom, this episode is essential listening for anyone interested in macroeconomics, finance careers, or how markets and policy truly intersect.(00:00) Intro: Dr. Lupin Rahman(02:00) Discovering economics at 10(03:24) Choosing finance over medicine(05:25) IMF, academia, or banking?(07:56) Switching to the private sector(09:11) Career moves through conversation(14:02) UK vs US finance culture(19:12) Policy vs profit: mindset shift(24:10) Stress, merit & diversity in markets(28:16) What is sovereign credit?(31:29) Careers in sovereign debt(35:02) The #1 trait Lupin hires for(39:18) Lupin’s book on sovereign debt***Check out Lupin's new book, 'The Sovereign Debt Investor', a Top 10 book on Amazon, designed to give students and new market entrants a practical introduction to this underexplored area of finance.