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Women in Trade

Women in Trade

By Women in Trade

Hear from women leaders in International Trade and learn about trade concepts and new developments.
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Amy Morgan - Chief Product Officer and Innovator

Women in TradeSep 30, 2019

00:00
49:10
Suzanne Bullit - Senior Director of Trade, Nike
Feb 01, 202132:55
Patricia Marseille - Director, Supply Chain Management
Dec 01, 202040:37
Executive Assistant Commissioner at CBP - Brenda Smith
Aug 19, 202044:18
Darie Achstein - Trade compliance in technology
Mar 10, 202037:22
Maria Åsenius - Head of Cabinet for the EU Commissioner of Trade
Nov 13, 201944:28
Amy Morgan - Chief Product Officer and Innovator
Sep 30, 201949:10
Janice Gilbert-Early - Director Global Trade Compliance & Regulatory Affairs
Sep 23, 201932:08
Lila Landis - Certified U.S. Export Compliance Officer and Licensed Customs Broker
Sep 02, 201952:28
Mary Breede - Solution consultant at Thomson Reuters

Mary Breede - Solution consultant at Thomson Reuters

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:  womenintradepodcast@gmail.com

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

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

Aug 26, 201959:05
Deiadra Swartz - Lawyer and professor

Deiadra Swartz - Lawyer and professor

Career Path:  Trade compliance was not her initial practice area right out of law school.  Midway through her career she found an interest in trade compliance and has been in the industry now for 9 years.

US export compliance compared with other countries:  US export regulations are far more reaching than other country's regulations.  Deemed exports and secondary sanctions are unique to US regulation.

Academic side of trade compliance:  She teaches law and trade compliance to law students and also teacher through the Denver World Trade Center.

World Trade Center:  There are 330 World Trade Centers around the world and while each of their mission statements are different, they offer similar services such as education, networking, and assistance to exporters.

Mentoring:  Networking and finding a mentor helps you to find out what jobs are actually available in international trade.  Mentors are not there to give you a job, they are there to introduce you to people in the industry and weigh opportunities that come your way.  The job of a mentor is to expand horizons not narrow them.

Three divisions of international trade:

  • policy
  • transactions
  • compliance


How can you get a global view when you just learn your country's law? 

  • US subsidiaries and affiliates need to be trained on US law
  • Many countries' regulations are based on the same international agreements so they are more similar than you think


Should a trade compliance team report to the business or to the legal team?

  • Legal should be separate so they are free to advise independently
  • Business people look at risk differently than a compliance person
  • Best case would be to have a compliance team independent from both 


Contact us:

Email:  womenintradepodcast@gmail.com

Twitter: @Tradepodcast


Full episode transcript available on my website: Season 1: Episode 2 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)




Aug 19, 201941:26
Cindy Deleon - Trade Compliance Consulting

Cindy Deleon - Trade Compliance Consulting

SHOW NOTES Cindy Deleon is the principal of Deleon consulting.  She started as entry level auditor (requires accounting bachelors degree), then a senior auditor, then an assistant field director of the Chicago office.  In 2007, she moved to Texas and started doing consulting work while waiting for government transfer paperwork.   Importers come to Deleon trade because (1) they have received a “request for information” from customs and need to respond to an issue or (2) they are being audited or (3) least commonly, are being proactive. Two general types of audit (1) single issue audit (classification, value, or FTA eligibility) or (2) focused assessment.  There is a misconception that customs isn't doing focused assessment anymore but she can attest that they are. The objective a focused assessment is to determine whether the company has adequate internal control and written procedures to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. 5 components of internal control: Controlled environment Controlled activities (written policy) Risk assessment (to focus limited resources on the greatest risk)  Information and communication (within company and with brokers and suppliers) Monitoring (internal audits) Importance/usefulness of Automation: no matter how good the provider it all comes down to whether it's used properly and what systems the importer/exports has and what data is accessible. Deciding a career path: don’t worry about deciding your whole career now many different paths auditing, brokerage, importer get a brokerage license Mentoring:  every hurdle can be solved with food be prepared, have questions, truly interested  most people want to give back Professional organizations & Certifications: National customs brokers and freight forwarders association: cert customs specialist and certified export specialist (Federico zunida) - National education institute OWIT - Houston not active but other cities are active and are fantastic License customs broker certification Do you have to choose a speciality within International trade compliance?(import or export) It takes a certain personality to be a compliance person because there is so much detail start out in brokerage help with paperwork and learn, then move to work for an importer with gradually increasing responsibilities many people start in logistics and move to compliance as responsibilities expand then more formal training should follow Educational background required for this career path: Many different degrees are relevant:  supply chain, accounting, finance, Legal, or no college degree its really a manner of continuing education and making sure your skill set and background is well suited for your responsibilities 



Contact us:

Email:  womenintradepodcast@gmail.com

Twitter: @TradePodcast



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

Aug 11, 201933:26