The COVID Diaries: SSA 1

The following interview is with a funding executive at a European issuer in the supranational, sovereign and agency sector. It was conducted on 19 March 2020.

Are you working from home? If so, how challenging has the change been?

I am working from home and it works relatively well. Remote access to my computer was enabled surprisingly quickly. I will definitely work from home next week and consider this an option as long as the virus keeps spreading at its current speed.

How close do you think the market will get to business as usual if we are in a period of social distancing for multiple months, including working from home and little or no face-to-face interaction?

I think people and markets will adapt fairly quickly. However, we still could be up for a couple of weeks of increased volatility and lack of liquidity. Afterwards, a new rhythm will be established. This is, after all, not Armageddon.

What other changes are you making in your personal and professional life?

Personally, I’m not taking a vacation, am practising social distancing and am not commuting or going out shopping. Professionally, we are challenging paradigms more often than before. We also have a more deliberate focus on good communication to ensure that everyone is in the loop and does not feel left behind.

“So many things prove to be less significant and even dispensable in times such as this. I wonder if we will all take some lasting lessons. I am not sure I will be boarding as many planes next year as last year, even if I am able.”

What are you most worried about in this period, personally or professionally – and how worried are you in general?

Generally speaking, I am not that worried. This is pretty ugly in many respects, but something good will come out of this as well. I am more worried about other people, where jobs and lives are at stake.

So many things prove to be less significant and even dispensable in times such as this. I wonder if we will all take some lasting lessons. I am not sure I will be boarding as many planes next year as last year, even if I am able.

What is the latest article you have read in relation to COVID-19 and what did you like/not like about it? Can you provide a link?

I follow the map and stats of Johns Hopkins University.

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