Last week I attended the 2026 Macroeconomic Outlook organized by 100 Women In Finance at Scotiabank—and walked away with one conviction:

 

The conversation was anchored by Rebekah Young, Laura Lau and Nan Chen, CFA, FRM 

 

Global growth is holding (~3.2% in 2025), markets are still up, AI momentum is real—and yet:

Job and wage cooling is unmistakable

The disconnect between markets and the real economy is widening

AI is shifting from hype to maintenance capital

Canada sits at a crossroads: invest—or hollow out

 

The mood? Uncomfortably optimistic.

No recession, but no margin for complacency.

 

In this week’s newsletter, I break down:

Why uncertainty is no longer a phase, but the backdrop

Why AI’s biggest winners may not be who you think

Why Canada’s next 24 months are critical

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

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