Karen L. Zens
Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs
U.S. Embassy – Mexico City
In April 2005, Karen arrived in Mexico City to begin her assignment as the Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs. Prior to this position, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Operations at the U.S. Commercial Service. In this position, Karen oversaw a worldwide network of more than 150 offices located in over 80 countries that provide export assistance to American companies. Through a headquarters staff of 35, Karen planned and implemented programs and policies for 1100 overseas employees of the US&FCS, including 250 American officers as well as foreign service nationals and contractors who are responsible for enhancing U.S. business interests abroad.
Prior to becoming the Deputy Assistant Secretary in August 2002, Karen was the Senior Commercial Officer & Director, Commercial Liaison in the U.S. Executive Director’s Office of the World Bank, responsible for assisting U.S. firms access the $25 billion market of World Bank-related procurement and other World Bank Group programs. Prior to this position, she was Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy from 1996 until July 2000, where she coordinated Commercial Service programs at five constituent posts (Rome, Milan, Genoa, Florence and Naples.) From 1992-1995, she served as Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate in St Petersburg, Russia, where she opened the U.S. Commercial Service office and American Business Center, the first such business center in Russia. Her activities in Russia were recognized as part of a Commerce Department Silver Medal Group Award. She was Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada from 1989- 91 and her first assignment with the Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce was as Assistant Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain, from 1985 until 1989.
Prior to joining the Commercial Service, she worked for the Ford Motor Company from 1978 until 1985. She initially joined the Ford International Governmental Affairs office in New York City. In 1979 she moved to the Dearborn, Michigan World Headquarters to become International Representative for the Latin American Automotive Operations. In this capacity she coordinated governmental affairs issues and investigated new business opportunities in the Latin American region. Prior to joining Ford Motor Company, she was Research Assistant at the U.S. Council of the International Chamber of Commerce in New York and also conducted research at Columbia University.
Karen was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She graduated from Smith College in 1971 and received a Masters degree in International Affairs in 1973 from Columbia University where she also completed the Certificate program in Russian Studies from the Harriman Institute.
Karen speaks Italian, Russian and Spanish.
Presented by the USC Marshall School of Business
in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce
