Hi, I’m Gina
I’m an economist, speaker, and storyteller, bringing clarity to economics, markets, and real-world decisions that shape our lives.
After more than two decades in financial markets, I’ve experienced my fair share of ups and downs alongside the beautiful chaos of growing up, navigating working-mom life, and discovering a deep love for health, wellness, learning, and personal growth.
This space brings those worlds together: economics, mentoring, self-awareness, career development, and the conversations that help us grow into ourselves.
I’m a proud wife, proud mom, and proud South African. I can’t wait to share what I’ve learnt with you but mostly, I look forward to what I can learn from you.
It’s always the economics.
FIRST THURSDAYS
IT’S ALWAYS THE ECONOMICS
Every profession sees the world through a different lens. Journalists ask what really happened. Policymakers ask what should change. Economists ask why people make the decisions they do.
Each month I sit down with someone an economist works closely with, to trace how they got there. From the career journey, to life behind the scenes, and the lessons along the way.
Somewhere in every story, you’ll see, it’s always the economics.
Monthly Conversations
A 1-hour session between Gina and a selected guest discussing their careers, what they do, and how they got there.
Industry Guests
Guests include economists, bankers, policymakers, analysts, and journalists from different fields.
Live Q&A
Each session includes time for audience questions and open discussion.
UPCOMING CONVERSATION
Conversation 7 - Sanisha Packirisamy, Group Economist, Momentum Group
Thursday 3 September 2026
5pm – 6pm SAST | 4pm – 5pm BST
Sanisha and I have worked together for 20+ years. I can’t remember the exact day in 2008 when we met, but she became my client a very (very) long time ago. Soon after however, a friend…
From being lost in Pretoria trying to find the SA Reserve Bank for the first time (we ended up at a shebeen long before Google Maps and Waze!), midnight chats waiting for a rating agency decision, raising puppies and then raising kids… we’ve navigated a lot of life together.
Aside all that, Sanisha has an amazing bio (see below), and writes an ongoing Financial Mail column.
We’ll be talking about the journey Sanisha took, the decisions that didn’t make the headlines, and the life that happened behind the scenes.
We always make time for your questions, so get ready.
Always the economics,
Gina
Sanisha joined RMB Asset Management as an Economic Analyst in February 2008, moving to Momentum Asset Management as an Economist in 2012, where she built a framework for feeding macroeconomic inputs into asset allocation alongside strategy, portfolio and research teams. From August 2015 she provided macro input to Momentum Investments, shaping strategy against a shifting South African and global backdrop. She became Chief Economist for Momentum Investments in July 2024 and Group Economist at Momentum Group in February 2026. She spent ten years on the Momentum Investments Employment Equity Forum, chairing it for two. She sits on the CFA Society South Africa board and writes monthly for the Financial
RSVP by Wednesday 2 September 2026
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
- Please keep in mind that I am doing this in my personal capacity as Gina Schoeman Ackermann (professional/married name), and it has no affiliation to my place of work.
- None of the content is investment advice.
- I will provide advance notification if the first Thursday of each month does not work.
- The session is not permitted to be recorded.
- I will work on a first-come-first-served basis.
- Cameras on and please make your name visible (also indicate student/young professional, and where/location if possible)