In this episode, Suzanne summarizes research she conducted while getting her masters degree from Loyola University.  Suzanne recently completed a Master of jurisprudence in enterprise risk management and shares the results of her thesis research on the effects of export sanctions requirements on exporters as well as best practices for companies setting up an export compliance program.  She shares her career advice for up and coming professionals and best practices for setting up a mentoring relationship.  

Contact:

Email:  [email protected]

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

The full transcript of this episode can be found on my website: Season 1: Episode 11 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

Ms. Patricia Marseille discusses her entry into the field of international trade and how she was able to transition between many different sectors such as micro-electronics, defense technology, oil & gas, textiles, and now consumer goods.  She explains how a benchmarking activity early on in her career really gave her that broad understanding of compliance work and how company culture plays into the perception of the trade compliance role.

It is evident throughout this episode that she has a passion for leadership development.  Her executive leadership coaching aims to ease career transition from “operations” to “managing” by developing key leadership skills.  Find out more at her website:  https://www.pmmarseille.com/

The membership in organizations discussed in the episode can help build or expand a career and can be found at these websites:

- International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA):  https://www.icpainc.org/

- The Society for International Affairs (SIA)  https://siaed.org/

Contact:

Email:  [email protected]

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

The full transcript of this episode can be found on my website: Season 1: Episode 10 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

In this episode, the Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade, at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Brenda Smith, shares her insight on the field of international trade.  In welcoming the next generation of trade professionals, she says, "Come on in the water's fine!"  Listen in as she shares her advice for choosing a career path and for creating mentor/mentee relationships.

Information on the Executive Assistant Commissioner role can be found here:  https://www.cbp.gov/about/leadership-organization/executive-assistant-commissioners-offices

Guest Bio:

Brenda Smith is the Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade, at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Since 2014, Ms. Smith has overseen a diverse portfolio of trade enforcement, security, and facilitation matters to enable legitimate trade, contribute to American economic prosperity, and protect against risks to public health and safety. Her work ranges from enforcing over 500 U.S. trade laws, to overseeing 14 trade agreements with 20 countries, to directing CBP’s seven Priority Trade Issues. She oversees national compliance audits and the management of trade data, along with CBP’s regulatory process for administering trade and border operations.

Contact: 

Email:  [email protected]

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

The full transcript of this episode can be found on my website:  Season 1: Episode 9 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

Darie Achstein has many years of experience in industries such as textile, wine, and medical devices but her primary focus has been in the technology field. She describes compliance as an “insurance plan” to help goods get to where they need to go. In this episode, she shares her insight about building a trade compliance career, why it is such a dynamic career path, and how it has changed in the last 5 years. Listen in to hear some great stories and lessons she has learned along the way. 

Contact us: Email:  [email protected] 

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

Full episode transcript can be found on my website: Season 1: Episode 8 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

Maria (Mia) Åsenius talks about the highlights of her 5 years as the Head of Cabinet for Cecilia Malmström (EU Commissioner of Trade). She discusses the "Trade for All" initiative and how it helped to guide the negotiations of the bilateral agreements negotiated under their administration:  EU - Singapore (re-visited and split into FTA an investment agreement), EU - Vietnam, EU - Japan, EU - Canada (CETA), and EU -MERCOSUR (concluded but not ratified).

Maria discusses what goes into negotiating these agreements and why Commissioner Malmström has been so successful in doing so.  Other topics include the WTO dispute settlement body, geographical indicators, and the future of EU trade.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2014-2019/malmstrom/team_en

https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2015/october/tradoc_153846.pdf

Contact us:

Email:  [email protected]

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

The full transcript of the episode can be found on my website:  Season 1: Episode 7 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

Anna currently works as an independent customs consultant advising on Brexit for the British Chambers of Commerce and on trade facilitation issues for the International Trade Commission.  Anna has a PHD in Free Trade Agreements and details the path of her career and provides advice to those interested in pursuing a similar career! 

   Contact us: 

Email:  [email protected] 

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

The full transcript for this episode can be found on my website:  Season 1: Episode 6 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

Janice Gilbert-Early is the Director of Trade Compliance and Regulatory Affairs at an importer/distributor/manufacturer of food serviceware. Her role includes trade compliance, quality assurance and product stewardship.

She first gained her trade knowledge while working for an import broker and then made the switch to using that knowledge to work for an importer. She discusses what she learned while working for the broker and how the rolls are different.

Other discussion topics:

how her industry is regulated by FDA and the struggles of ensuring compliance with FDA regulations.

how to ask for additional responsibility and gradually expand your skill set

what to ask in an interview to gauge the company culture and if it would be a good fit

how to get TC to be more involved in business decisions

how section 301 duties have impacted her work and company.

Contact us:

Email:  [email protected]

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

The full transcript of the episode can be found on my website:  Season 1: Episode 5 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

Lila Landis talks to me about her career path through multiple different industries and roles.  She discusses what she looks for when hiring a trade professional, her leadership style, and her thoughts on mentoring.

Contact us:

Email:  [email protected]

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

A full transcript of the episode can be found on my website: Season 1: Episode 4 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

Mary started out as a master scheduler and project manager. She was brought in on a project to close an on-site customs audit that had been dragging on excessively (3 years). She learned about Ch 98 or Ch 99, drawback, country of origin, marking, classification, valuation audits, and compliance improvement plans. Then her career just expanded from there, gaining experience in multiple industries: high-tech, consumer electronics, chemicals, and apparel and footwear. Today, as part of the customs insight team at Thomson Reuters she evaluates clients processes and how software could help them improve efficiencies and lower risk.

To further our discussion we define “international trade”, “global trade compliance”, and “regulatory compliance”.

International trade – everything that is required to conduct business in multiple countries. This involves the financial, tax, currency, supply chain, sourcing, procurement, transportation and organizational structure of a company. It is not necessarily just the movement of goods across borders.

Trade compliance/Global trade management – cross border transactions and compliance with the applicable regulations. Moving goods across borders while adhering to each countries local laws and taking advantage of duty reduction policies where applicable.

Regulatory compliance – Complying with the different governmental organizations that are involved in the import, export, and storage process for specific products such as agriculture (FDA and USDA) or chemicals (EPA).

Why trade compliance is interesting: The industry and regulations are constantly in flux and to be successful you must always be learning. It is like a puzzle to put together the inbound and outbound customs rules each time the product moves across a border.

On technology in trade compliance: global trade management software, block chain, artificial intelligence, process automation, and computer learning.

Technology is helpful:

- for record keeping facilitating a faster response in customs inquiries

-managing/auditing all the data points required in a transaction

-predictions to help with business decisions

On mentoring:

-Find a mentor that can remove roadblocks for you, expand your connection in the company, and introduce you to people that might expand your knowledge base as well as your network circle.

-A mentor doesn’t necessarily have to be someone within trade compliance.

-don’t just ask to learn something, ask to participate in a project and gain practical experience.

Contact us:

Email:  [email protected]

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

Full episode transcript available on my website here:  Season 1: Episode 3 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)