Payton Reynolds

Economics & Finance | Johns Hopkins SAIS | NYU Abu Dhabi
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About

I am an incoming M.A. candidate in International Economics and Finance at Johns Hopkins SAIS and a recent graduate of New York University Abu Dhabi, where I studied Economics with a minor in Political Science across Abu Dhabi, New York, and London.

My experience sits at the intersection of global markets, geopolitical risk, and financial strategy. At Marex Capital in Abu Dhabi, I worked on GCC market expansion, clearing strategy, and carbon markets research, supporting client-facing initiatives and regulatory positioning within the UAE financial sector.

Beginning in June 2026, I will join the United States Department of Defense as an Incoming Finance & Acquisition Intern in Washington, D.C.

My broader interests include international finance, commodities and energy markets, sovereign risk, and the economic implications of geopolitical change.

Experience

United States Department of Defense

Incoming Finance & Acquisition Intern | Washington, D.C. | June 2026
  • Incoming intern supporting finance and acquisition-related operations within the Department of Defense.

Marex Capital (AD) Limited

Business Strategy & Development Consultant, Clearing | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Aug 2025 – Jan 2026
  • Advised on market entry strategy, regulatory positioning, and client-facing deliverables for GCC operations.
  • Evaluated regional clearinghouse models including ICE Abu Dhabi and DGCX to support GCC expansion strategy.
  • Presented clearing solutions to institutional clients across the Gulf region.

New York University Abu Dhabi

Research Assistant to Professor Leonid Peisakhin | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Aug 2025 – Dec 2025
  • Conducted regression analysis on large longitudinal civil war-era census datasets.
  • Supported political economy research on identity, conflict, and institutional change.

Marex Capital (AD) Limited

Business Strategy & Development Intern, Clearing | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Jun 2025 – Aug 2025
  • Authored a 60+ page carbon markets strategy report analyzing pricing mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and market structure.
  • Supported FSRA regulatory business planning following Marex’s acquisition of Aarna Capital.
  • Built a GCC prospecting database of 400+ institutional clients.
  • Led Marex’s first clearing event in ADGM attended by banks, hedge funds, and asset managers across the region.

Education

Johns Hopkins University SAIS

M.A. International Economics and Finance | Washington, D.C. | Class of 2028

New York University Abu Dhabi

B.A. Economics; Minor in Political Science | Abu Dhabi, New York, London | Class of 2026
  • Coursework: Calculus III, Econometrics, Decision Models and Analytics, Corporate Finance, Risk Management, Economic Growth, Imperfect Markets, Data Analysis, and Advanced Investments.

Skills & Interests

Skills: R, Python, Excel, Bloomberg Terminal, Econometrics, Data Analysis

Interests: Debate, Golf, Scuba Diving, Emerging Markets, Energy & Carbon Markets