Podcast: Rittener Reflections
Worldwide trade has become increasingly complex, risky and unpredictable. Those who engage in cross-border trade have been forced to change long-standing practices and adjust their supply chain to continue providing the world with desired goods at an optimal cost. This coming year will continue to present those who engage in cross border trade with uncertainty and challenge. This podcast is intended to offer my reflections on this critical topic.
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EP28: Part One: The New Rollercoaster Moment
Cross‑border trade is being reshaped by geopolitical tension, new regulatory demands, and rising expectations inside global companies. In this opening episode, Bruce Jackson and Karen Murphy join Jeff Rittener to explore the new rollercoaster moment facing trade professionals — why the role is shifting, what’s driving the volatility, and how teams can navigate a profession…
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EP27: Know Your Data: Trade’s New AI Reality
Trade has become a strategic driver of the bottom line, and the team’s leading it are being asked to move faster with greater accuracy than ever before. In this episode, Angela Aaron, Vice President of Trade Compliance at KlearNow.AI, joins Jeff to explain why “knowing your data” is now the core requirement for efficient, compliant,…
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EP26: Trustworthy AI for a Fragile Supply Chain
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Baz Khuti, CEO of Sustain360, to explore what trustworthy AI really looks like in a world where supply chains are becoming more fragile and more exposed. They discuss why traditional tools can’t keep up with climate shocks, policy volatility, ownership complexity, and critical‑minerals risk — and how agentic…
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25: Tariffs, Refunds, and Uncertainty
This episode examines the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the IEEPA‑based tariffs and the confusion it created for importers. Jeff Rittener speaks with Beth and Evelyn about what the Court decided, why refunds remain unresolved, and how companies should navigate protests, PSCs, liquidation, and exposure. The episode also looks ahead at the tools shaping the…
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24: Super Bowl LX – An Unforgettable Day at Levi’s
I captured five live moments from Super Bowl LX with my daughter as we moved through the day at Levi’s — from arriving early to the final whistle — and added my reflections to bring the story together. A thread that began in Episode 14 comes full circle as a champion is crowned just ten…
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23: Intentional Leadership in Global Trade
2025 kept global trade on its heels. 2026 demands a different posture — one built on intentionality, clarity, and smart offense. In Episode 23, I break down the forces reshaping global trade and the mindset and moves leaders need to navigate the year ahead.
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21: Part 2 People in Portugal
Portugal has become one of the world’s most talked‑about destinations — and after spending time there, I understand why. Last week, I shared Pathways in Portugal, a reflection on how Lisbon and Porto revealed themselves through movement and stillness. This week, I’m focusing on the people — the conversations, small moments, and unexpected connections that…
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22: 2025, the Year of the Unexpected
The final episode of Rittener Reflections for 2025. When I launched this podcast back in January, I opened with five certainties I believed would shape cross‑border trade in the year ahead. What I didn’t anticipate—what none of us anticipated—was just how unpredictable 2025 would become. If Episode 1 was about preparing for volatility, this episode…
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21: Pathways to Portugal
Portugal has become one of the world’s most popular destinations — a place people are visiting, revisiting, and in many cases choosing to call home. After hearing so much about it, especially from my daughter who traveled there last year, I finally had the chance to explore it myself. Her insights shaped how I planned…
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20: Victory In Valencia
This one is special: I share my journey from San Francisco to Valencia, Spain — culminating in my victory at the Valencia Marathon.
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