Teresa Guevara

I attribute my success to my dedication to building strong relationships, continuous learning, and my ability to connect human behavior with strategic business solutions in international trade. For the past 11 years, I have built my career in global commerce at the intersection of trade and economic development in Laredo, Texas, one of the most significant trade corridors in North America. My academic foundation in psychology, followed by a master’s degree in international business, shaped my approach to this industry, allowing me to see trade as more than logistics and numbers, but as a system driven by trust, negotiation, leadership, and cultural understanding. Prior to fully dedicating myself to international commerce, I spent six years working with FEMA, where I developed resilience, crisis management skills, and a strong commitment to public service; I was also honored by the FEMA Emergency Management community for outstanding female support during disaster response efforts for Hurricane Katrina and Puerto Rico in 2018, experiences that reinforced the importance of coordination, communication, and decisive leadership under pressure. Today, I focus on international trade within the automotive sector, working to expand markets, bring new clients into global commerce, and create opportunities for more women to enter and succeed in international trade, because I believe empowering women in global supply chains strengthens economies, improves business performance, and builds more resilient communities. I see myself as a catalyst for innovation, cultural exchange, and economic development, and I remain committed to promoting inclusive leadership and helping organizations and individuals navigate the rapidly evolving global marketplace.

International trade remains overwhelmingly male-dominated. In some sectors, 95% of the workforce is male. I have navigated this environment with determination and gratitude for mentors who believed in me, including my operations manager, Isidoro Russo, whose decades of experience have been invaluable. He has 30 years industry experience.At the same time, I have learned that women bring indispensable strengths to supply chains: resilience, collaboration, strategic risk assessment, and long-term vision.

Empowering women is an economic imperative. Woman-owned businesses are driving global and international trade and provide high wages and better conditions. We need to champion gender-responsible leadership to integrate women into all levels of supply chains for more resilient economies. The international trade needs an inclusive approach for female leadership to navigate complex, rapidly evolving markets. This sector is still, in many places, dominated by men - 95% of this industry is dominated by men. Bringing women and bringing a diverse, innovative approach to the table is how we change the narrative. As a woman, I think I bring the resilience, the attention to detail, the strategic thinking that all women have. Yes, we think different, we see different. When a tiny lady in pink with pearls enters the room, it's a little bit of an advantage. When you enter into a space full of men, they're probably 5'4", 5'5", or 8 feet tall, but their ego is taller than that. Bring who you are and don't back down.

The biggest challenge is that this sector is still, in many places, dominated by men - 95% of this industry is dominated by men. Bringing women and bringing a diverse, innovative approach to the table is how we change the narrative. The opportunity and imperative is empowering women, as woman-owned businesses drive global and international trade and provide high wages and better conditions. We need to champion gender-responsible leadership to integrate women into all levels of supply chains for more resilient economies. The international trade needs an inclusive approach for female leadership to navigate complex, rapidly evolving markets.

As a woman, I bring resilience, attention to detail, and strategic thinking to my work. We think different, we see different, and I bring that to the table. When you enter into a space full of men whose egos are taller than they are, being a tiny lady in pink with pearls can be an advantage - you bring who you are. Beyond my professional life, my roots continue to shape me. I was born in Spain, raised in Mexico, and came to the U.S. by marriage. That multicultural journey informs how I see things. I'm very involved in nonprofits, particularly for animals and for kids with the Boys and Girls Club. My hobbies and my time are with my family, my grandbabies, and my dogs - they're part of my family. Everything around them, my extra time, is around my family.