Kati Suominen

Kati Suominen is a Lecturer in Global Economics and Management at UCLA Anderson School of Management. As a scholar, author, and policy entrepreneur, she focuses on the intersection of trade, digitization, and finance. She founded Nextrade Group, TradeUp Capital Fund, Business for eTrade Development, and co-founded Digital Standards for Trade, contributing to global initiatives like eTrade for All and RTA Exchange. Suominen also serves as adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and senior advisor to the G20-launched World SME Forum.

• MBA, 2009, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
• Ph.D. in Political Economy and International Relations, 2004, University of California, San Diego
• M.A. in International Studies, 1996, Boston University
• B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs, 1995, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Her research addresses barriers to business globalization, emphasizing digitization, trade liberalization, and financial innovation. She explores challenges like digital regulations, customs procedures, and digital divides, aiming to develop data-driven policy solutions. Suominen’s work includes the Ecommerce Development Survey and Index with the World Bank, and she is authoring her 10th book, Making Trade Great Again, to be published by Stanford University Press in 2018.

She has contributed to media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Time, and has published in peer-reviewed journals including World Economy, Global Economy Journal, and Journal of Globalization and Development.

• Life member of the Council on Foreign Relations
• Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (2010–12)

At UCLA Anderson, Suominen advises MBA students to prioritize self-discovery, leverage their strengths, and cultivate professional networks. She previously worked as a trade economist at the Inter-American Development Bank (2003–10) and has launched initiatives such as eTrade for All and RTA Exchange.