Rittener Reflections

Matt Bell Episode 36 brings Jeff together with Matt Bell, founder of TradeCompliance. Software, for a timely look at the fast‑changing trade tech landscape. After two decades in consulting and enforcement, Matt built Matt’s List as a passion project — mapping more than 200 compliance tools and AI solutions to a resource designed to help companies […]

Event details and registration for the: WIT‑NC, TTRA, & PAEI 2026 Global Trade Compliance Best Practices Conference — October 14, 2026: Leading the Trade Community brings together three respected association leaders — WIT‑NC, TTRA, and PAEI — for a candid conversation about the trade profession today. Host Jeff Rittener speaks with Gabrielle Griffith, Ken Montgomery, and […]

Jeff previews the 2026 NFL season with a ten‑point primer, a training‑camp field clip, and a warm, story‑rich conversation with two close friends, Robin and Scott. Together they reflect on decades of 49ers history, unforgettable games, and remarkable personal moments that emerged naturally as the discussion unfolded. It’s an episode filled with authenticity, nostalgia, and […]

Inspired by a toolbox passed down from his grandfather, Jeff uses Episode 33 to unpack the real tariff tools the President is reaching for in 2026. With IEEPA gone and decades‑old authorities suddenly back in play, this episode explains how each tool works, why it matters, and what companies should expect next. A clear, structured […]

This episode follows Jeff’s month‑long experience of the 2026 World Cup as lived across the Bay Area. Along the way, he reflects on a World Cup journey that now spans twelve tournaments, connecting early memories from Switzerland with the sights and sounds of this one. He enjoys matches with friends, family, and fans from around […]

Geostrategy is an inflection point; a way for companies to think strategically, act proactively, and neutralize surprises. In Part II, Jeff and Jeannette shift from the strategic environment to the operational realities inside companies, where resilience depends on the systems, decisions, and relationships built long before a crisis hits. Join us as we explore choke […]

Jeff Rittener sits down with national‑security strategist Jennette Chu for a two‑part conversation on geo‑strategy; the discipline of connecting geopolitical reality to corporate decision‑making. Together, they explore how national security, economic statecraft, and technology leadership are reshaping the global operating environment. Part I examines the strategic forces driving this shift, while...

In this solo episode, Jeff records from inside his own Airbnb condo on Main Street in Fuquay‑Varina, North Carolina, to mark one year as a short‑term rental owner and host. He tells the full story: what led him to buy the condo in the first place, the scramble of those first bookings, the guest moments that made him laugh and problem‑solve on the fly, and what he’s learned about hospitality, syste...

Europe's export control system is evolving quickly, creating new challenges for global companies operating across borders. In this episode, Jeff speaks with Anna Goncz, founder of the Export Compliance Academy, for an inside view of how EU rules are developing — from the post-Ukraine shift in European posture to the practical realities of dual-use licensing, member state divergence, and the growin...

With clarity on the forces shaping the profession, this second episode turns to what it takes to ride the rollercoaster with confidence in 2026. Bruce Jackson and Karen Murphy return discussing the capabilities, leadership qualities, hiring priorities, and practical improvements that define strong trade teams today and what it now means to lead with clarity, judgment, and strategic influence in a...

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 that now sits closer to...

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, and resilient trade operations. They explore how modern technolo...

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 and sovereign AI offer leaders transparent, system‑le...

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 next phase of U.S. trade policy —...

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 miles from home.

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.

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 shaped the experience in ways no itinerary...

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 is about living through it. With this episode, I...

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 the trip and how I approached each day, and in many ways this episode continues...

This one is special: I share my journey from San Francisco to Valencia, Spain — culminating in my victory at the Valencia Marathon.

Episode 19 arrives just before Thanksgiving: lessons from a lopsided mug and a turbulent year.” A lopsided mug from my childhood has become my metaphor for this ugly year in trade and in life. In this episode, I share its story, the turbulence of 2025, and five lessons worth keeping. I’ll leave you with a gentle invitation: What “ugly mugs” have you kept? What stories do they hold? And stay tuned—...

Welcome back to Rittener Reflections Episode 18 and to Part 3 of our series on export controls which I have called, “I can see clearly now” (Not!) You see, we’ve looked back, we’ve looked around—and now we look ahead. But clarity is elusive. Will the world split into two economic spheres? Can AI help automate classification? Should we revive old licensing models? And what is the key to success in...

Welcome back to this three-part series of Rittener Reflections where we seek to understand the complex, critical and ever-changing world of export controls, the past, present and the way forward. In Part 1, which I called The Long Strange Trip, we explored the historical arc of export controls. Today, we turn to the present—and it’s complicated. From China’s tech ambitions to Russia’s impact on mu...

The Long Strange Trip. In this first session, I’m joined by Bruce Jackson*, a longtime practitioner and friend whose depth of experience spans government, industry, and the multilateral frameworks that define this space. Bruce has not only witnessed the evolution of export controls—he’s helped shape how companies and policymakers respond to it. We will trace the long, strange trip: from the Cold W...

Welcome to a special episode of Rittener Reflections. Today, I’m stepping away from my usual format to share something deeply personal. Last month, my mom passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family. A few days later, I gave a talk at her memorial service—a tribute honoring her faith, family, and the things she loved most. This episode begins with that recording. It’s also about my dad, w...