Data-Driven Root-Cause Analysis with Erika Trujillo of SEIA
Show notes
Mike & Brent welcome Erika Trujillo, Managing Director of SEIA (“say-a”), who with her company brings advanced data analytics solutions to solving trade compliance problems. Mike and Brent discuss Erika’s background and the services SEIA provides (00:14); how advanced data analytics can help with export controls risk assessments by, among other things, bringing to bear data from across multiple departments (which is particularly important under U.S. law’s collective knowledge doctrine and the “high probability” standard) (02:10); the importance of differentiating between your company’s “internal data” and the “external data” and of identifying and leveraging what internal data might be sitting within reach (05:03); the importance of contextualization, i.e., taking a holistic perspective at potentially interesting data points that only become informative in the context of other data points, for example data suggesting that EAR99 items that otherwise would not require an export license might be exported for prohibited end-uses or to prohibited end-users (06:53); the need for companies to have the courage to engage with their own data, especially since they are making statements to various governments in any case about their trade flows (09:21); how small- and medium-sized companies can start, step-by-step, to get a handle on their internal data (10:53); how to respond to reports or allegations (i.e., “red flags”) of potential export control violations (12:18); common data pitfalls to avoid (13:51); the importance of prioritization not just in terms of data cleanup projects (14:28); why praying to the accounting platform gods and hoping everything is OK is not sufficient (16:00); the full definition of knowledge (including an awareness of a high probability) and what opportunities that presents for risk-based approaches to trade compliance (16:35); how a data-driven approach to trade compliance can help improve relationships with colleagues in sales and operational functions (18:39); how to overcome the fear of what you might find by taking a deeper dive into your company’s data (19:28); and how a data-driven approach can help with c-suites and boards of directors (20:13). We conclude with a surprise twist in the ever-popular segment, Brent Carlson’s “Managing Up” in exploring Erika’s mission and purpose in co-founding SEIA.
More about SEIA: https://www.seiatech.com/aboutseia
Contact or Book a Demo with SEIA: https://www.seiatech.com/contact
Contact Erika: [email protected]
More about Brent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-carlson-41ba692/
More about Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhuneke/
Mike & Brent’s “Fresh Looks” series: www.hugheshubbard.com/fresh-looks