Memi Mathias, a Senior Director at Bridgewater, has been selected for the 2026 cohort of the International Strategy Forum (ISF), a fellowship program of the Special Competitive Studies Project, cofounded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. She joins leaders from more than 80 countries working across geopolitics, technology, and public leadership.
Today, Memi focuses on institutional advisory and investment strategies, helping clients build diversified, resilient portfolios. Her investment research has been featured in Bridgewater’s research publications, including Bridgewater Daily Observations, which are shared with clients, asset owners, and policymakers worldwide.
Born in Indonesia and raised across Brazil and Turkey before studying in Canada and the United States, Memi grew up seeing how markets and economic decisions shape everyday life. Moving between countries made the effects of currency swings and policy decisions tangible from an early age—and sparked an interest in understanding the forces driving economies and markets.
“Moving between different countries, I always felt like I was experiencing the outcomes of those choices so acutely,” Memi said. “And that’s exactly what we study at Bridgewater—exactly what we try to anticipate and get in front of.”
Memi first came to Bridgewater as an intern. Six months after joining full-time, she began working for the firm’s then-CEO, now U.S. Senator of Pennsylvania, David McCormick. She went on to represent Bridgewater with institutional investors across the Middle East and the Americas. She later pursued an MBA at Wharton and gained experience in investment banking and venture capital before returning to Bridgewater.
“We truly encourage our talent to speak up, act like owners, and grab things and run with it,” Memi said. “You can shape your own path here.”
Reflecting on what brought her back to Bridgewater, Memi points to both the work and the people: “I really believe we have meaningful work and relationships—both the work itself and who it serves, but also how we do it and who we do it with.”
As an ISF Fellow, Memi is participating in in-person convenings across three countries and collaborating with a global network of more than 400 fellows and alumni, continuing a career shaped by seeking out different perspectives.
Learn more about the International Strategy Forum fellowship and Memi here.