The International Business Podcast

#60 East-West Supply Chains With Kimberly Kirkendall

June 14, 2021 Leonardo Marra Season 3 Episode 60
The International Business Podcast
#60 East-West Supply Chains With Kimberly Kirkendall
Show Notes

On this episode Leo interviews Kimberly Kirkendall, CAP. She has over 30 years of international business experience in multiple regions, with a focus in Asia. She began her career in China, moving there in 1986 after graduating from Ohio State University. She lived in China for five years, where she ran two factories and managed the regional office of a U.S. parent company. In those first ten years she also had direct responsibility for manufacturing and sales in greater Asia – frequently in China, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, S Korea, etc. She also lived and worked in Germany and France, and has also had client work in Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, and other countries.

Professionally she spent the first ten years of her career in operations, manufacturing and supply chain. The second ten years began with her becoming a CPA, working at a CPA firm in traditional accounting practice and consulting on operations projects, and then starting her own business as a consultant, both as interim executive for some companies (CFO, VP Operations, General Manager) and as an advisor for others.

Her company, International Resource Development, Inc  improves operations and communication for clients with business in both the U.S. and China. Recent Projects include: Establishing Accounting & HR Systems for a new Chemical Factory, Negotiating and Structuring a Joint Venture, Target Search and Negotiation for an Merger/Acquisition in China, Identifying and Establishing a Distributor Network, Market Analysis & Product / Channel Plan, etc. Clients range from publically listed to SME and are in various industries: appliance, industrial chemical, manufacturing equipment, electronics, consumer products, etc.

 Self-learning is of paramount importance in the business world, listen to your international peers and step up your game.