The Growth Mindset

Trade Finance Career Spotlights: Edward Stoltenberg

How do seasoned trade finance professionals get to where they are? In this Spotlight, we sit down with Ed Stoltenberg — regulator and former trade banker — to talk lessons learned, product launches, and the challenge of building solutions that scale.

Looking back, how did you first come into this business — and what do you think originally drew you to it?

I began working in trade in 2016 as a BSA/AML in-business risk advisor. The team I supported had great leadership that sought growth with a strong compliance perspective. The prospect of being a part of, and eventually leading, a high performing team working on the digitization of trade was an exciting opportunity.

Over the course of your career, what has changed most in how you see the industry or your role within it?

The increasing speed in which transactions are received, processed, reviewed, and completed. As the intensity of global trade increases so has the demand for faster back-office processes and a skilled workforce.

As the intensity of global trade increases so has the demand for faster back-office processes and a skilled workforce.

I view myself as needing to work with my industry colleagues as an advocate for simplification and automation in a responsible fashion.

What has kept you engaged in this field over the long term, even as the work and the rules have evolved?

The implementation of AI/ML, and the global impacts of trade. There are a multitude of problems and enhancements in trade finance where there is no shortage of driven people wanting to meet these challenges head on.

Is there a particular moment, case, deal, or decision that meaningfully shaped how you approach your work now?

The first day of the successful launch of an AI document screening compliance platform in 2019. It showed the consumption of vast amounts of global data could be successfully employed for trade automation. Especially when leadership and a dedicated team was let loose to explore solutions without the overburden of bureaucracy. This reinforced my mindset of striving to find a unique, clearly defined problem to solve first, then determine its scalability. 

What responsibility do experienced professionals have to the next generation entering trade finance and compliance?

Trade finance is an exciting, complex field ripe for change. Here we should support people with their new ideas and be understanding it is okay to fail. Reinforce learning, reading, and a professional growth mindset.

Fun one to end: What’s the last song you listened to on repeat?

To assist in keeping in a concentration flow, Flute Concerto in D: Polacca: Allegro brillante.