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International Career Panel

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Covering the fields of diplomacy, international trade, microfinance and journalism

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Duration: 01:32:35

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ABOUT THE PANEL

The UCLA Burkle Center and the UCLA Terasaki Center are co-sponsoring the 2014 International Career Panel to provide students insight into various fields and professions in the international arena and guidance on how to best prepare for international careers. 


ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

STEPHEN CHEUNG is the first Director of International Trade in Mayor Garcetti’s office. He is responsible for implementing the Mayor’s plan to make Los Angeles a global capital of clean technology by supporting research, development and manufacturing in the Los Angeles Clean Tech Corridor. He also advances the Mayor’s goal to enhance international trade opportunities for Los Angeles-based companies, and to expand the city’s role as a leader in international trade, entertainment, tourism, manufacturing and professional services. Prior to his current role, Cheung served as the Director of International Development for the Port of LA under Mayor Villaraigosa, where he worked with the Port of Los Angeles and the Board of Harbor Commissioners.

BRENT KESSEL is an Acumen Fund Partner and Co-Founder & CEO of Abacus Wealth Partners, which manages socially responsible and sustainable investment portfolios for individuals and families nationwide. The social enterprises invested in by Abacus have provided microfinance loans to over 11 million borrowers as well as funded clean technology and renewable energy projects aiming to slow down climate change, among many other social impacts. As an active Acumen partner, Kessel travels to and meets with members of social enterprises in which they invest. Most recently, he traveled to Nairobi and visited a company that is enabling micro-entrepreneurs in Nairobi’s low-income neighborhoods to buy franchised toilets.

WILLIAM MARTIN
 is the US State Department Diplomat in Residence for Southern California. Martin has 21 years of experience in the Foreign Service with a consular career track and tours in Japan, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Columbia. During his most recent tour in Pakistan, he helped craft U.S. Government relief efforts, both military and civilian, to alleviate the suffering of the Pakistani people following catastrophic floods. His last post was as U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, Pakistan. As a Diplomat in Residence, Martin is responsible for providing guidance and advice to students, professions, and the community about State Department careers.

MIKE SHUSTER is an award-winning diplomatic correspondent and former roving foreign correspondent for NPR News. Shuster covered issues of nuclear non-proliferation and weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and the Pacific Rim. He has traveled frequently to Iran – seven times since 2004 – to report on Iran’s nuclear program and political changes there. He is currently serving as a Burkle Center Fellow.


ABOUT THE MODERATOR

ALEXANDRA LIEBEN holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy with a specialization in international conflict resolution from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is also a certified mediator. Lieben teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in international conflict resolution and international development as well as alternative dispute resolution at UCLA. From 2006 - 2009 Lieben served as Executive Director of the Concord Project at the UCLA School of Public Affairs where she co-designed a graduate concentration and an undergraduate minor to expand conflict resolution and coexistence education in public policy schools. In the past she worked with the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education on developing economic and community development initiatives in the larger Los Angeles area. Lieben's background lies in the film and music industry in the United States and in Europe.