Camille Richardson is Counterpart’s Vice President of Women’s Empowerment. With nearly three decades of experience in diplomatic postings across four countries and on three continents, Richardson has been a force in promoting U.S. exports to diverse regions such as South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.   

Passionate about women’s empowerment, she founded Women Empowered Leave Legacies Through Trade and Investment, a flagship program under the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. The program focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through trade and investment using the U.S. Commercial Service’s global network.   

In her role as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East & Africa, she contributed three years of expertise in shaping policies for the region. Richardson also served as a Commercial Counselor in São Paulo, Brazil, for nearly seven years. She served as the Interim Senior Adviser for International Trade to the Undersecretary for the Minority Business Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Commerce where she crafted a collaboration roadmap between agencies to boost involvement of diverse business owners in international trade. Her past roles as Principal Commercial Officer in Mumbai, India, and Senior Commercial Officer in Nairobi, Kenya, exemplify a consistent dedication to facilitating trade, investment, and economic growth. She is a driving force in women’s empowerment within the field of international trade, creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs and emphasizing inclusivity and diversity.