The Rodolfo Rivas Project

Victor Do Prado

Season 8, Episode 3 — Victor Do Prado, Former Director of Council and Trade Negotiations Committee at the WTO. Victor do Prado is a Member of the International Advisory Board at CEBRI and a longtime professor at Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs. He is a former Brazilian diplomat and spent many years at the WTO, where he worked closely with DG Pascal Lamy as Deputy Chief of Staff. I’ve known Victor for many years and have wanted to bring him on the podcast for a long time. Through a brief visit to Geneva, we finally made it happen. Victor knows the WTO from multiple angles like few others. He began his career as a Brazilian diplomat, posted in Geneva at the very moment the WTO was being created, witnessing firsthand the transition from the GATT during its formative years. He later moved inside the organization itself, where he played a role in shaping its institutional development from within. In our conversation, we explore those early years, navigating the transition, and how the WTO evolved. We also talk about his time as a Chief of Staff and what it looks like from his experience, including the idea of “building its own house” within the Centre William Rappard, which is itself turning 100 years old in just a few weeks. It was a pleasure speaking with Victor. -- The Rodolfo Rivas Project is available on all major platforms or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Please help spread the word by recommending us to your friends or enemies! A small act, like liking, subscribing, or reviewing, is greatly appreciated. Thank you! The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the conversation belong to the individuals who share them and do not necessarily represent their employers. Musical theme by Hugo Torres. Featuring: Victor Do Prado https://cebri.org/en/especialista/81/victor-do-prado https://pt.linkedin.com/in/victor-do-prado-22858a39 Host: Rodolfo Rivas www.linkedin.com/in/rivasrodolfo/ rodolforivas.com/ rodolforivasproject.com/ www.imdb.com/name/nm10789558/ works.bepress.com/rivas_rodolfo/ rivasrod.medium.com/ papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsBy…fm?per_id=1665778 X: @rivasrod About The Rodolfo Rivas Project: Join me in a quest for the perfect conversation. Chronicling International Geneva and beyond. Currently in season eight and going strong! Our guests are talented individuals across various fields (lawyers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, filmmakers, etc.). Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts in the world. Some of our guests include Dr. Willy Mutunga (former Chief Justice Kenya), Dr. Chang-fa Lo (former Constitutional Court Justice), Dr. Grethel Aguilar (DG of IUCN), Dr. Peter Van den Bossche (fmr. Chairman of the Appellate Body WTO), Jesus Seade (Undersecretary for North America Mexico's MFA), Amb. Angel Villalobos (Mexico to WTO), Petros Mavoridis (Columbia Law School & CAS Arbitrator), Johanna Hill (DDG WTO), Edward Kwakwa (ADG at WIPO), Howard Stupp (two-time Pan American gold medalist & fmr. Director of Legal Afrs. at IOC), Marco Aleman (ADG at WIPO), David Bisbee (DPR Mission of US to WTO), Lenka Nahlovska (Secretary Czech Arbitration Court), Barbara Ramos (Chief Research & Strategies ITC), Ralph Ossa (Chief Economist WTO), David Zonana (filmmaker), Amb. James Baxter (Australia to WTO), Amb. Nadia B. Theodore (Canada to WTO), Anna Kazejak (filmmaker), Andreas Koefoed (filmmaker), and Andres Veiel (filmmaker). Available at: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, SoundCloud, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Facebook podcasts, Deezer, Stitcher, etc. Follow Us: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/therodolforivasproject/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/rodolforivasproject Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/403QS0daxl70yRzgVDTkwt Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-…ct/id1449383945 Deezer: www.deezer.com/en/show/2137032?u…7032&deferredFl=1 Amazon: www.amazon.com/The-Rodolfo-Rivas…ect/dp/B08JJSRY8X Pandora: lnkd.in/efzftdth

Eugene Theodore

Season 8, Episode 2 — Eugene Theodore, Creative Strategist, Author & Photojournalist Welcome to another episode of season eight—and you’re in for a great conversation. My guest today is Eugene Theodore, a man who truly wears many hats: creative strategist, author, and photojournalist. I’ve known Eugene for quite a while, and we’ve talked about recording a podcast together for some time. We finally made it happen—and the timing couldn’t have been better, as it coincides with the launch of his new book, Built to Collapse. While we do spend some time discussing the book, our conversation goes far beyond it. We talk about Eugene’s upbringing, education, and a couple of defining moments that shaped who he is today. He shares the lessons he took from those experiences and how they’ve influenced both his work and his perspective. It was an insightful conversation that easily could have gone on much longer—and perhaps we’ll have Eugene back on the show again in the future. For now, enjoy our conversation, and be sure to check out his latest book, Built to Collapse. This is me, talking with Eugene Theodore. -- The Rodolfo Rivas Project is available on all major platforms or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Please help spread the word by recommending us to your friends or enemies! A small act, like liking, subscribing, or reviewing, is greatly appreciated. Thank you! The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the conversation belong to the individuals who share them and do not necessarily represent their employers. Musical theme by Hugo Torres. Featuring: Eugene Theodore https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-theodore-storyteller https://www.eugenetheodore.com/ https://www.instagram.com/masterstorytellerofficial/?hl=am-et https://medium.com/@MasterStoryteller Host: Rodolfo Rivas www.linkedin.com/in/rivasrodolfo/ rodolforivas.com/ rodolforivasproject.com/ www.imdb.com/name/nm10789558/ works.bepress.com/rivas_rodolfo/ rivasrod.medium.com/ papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsBy…fm?per_id=1665778 X: @rivasrod About The Rodolfo Rivas Project: Join me in a quest for the perfect conversation. Chronicling International Geneva and beyond. Currently in season eight and going strong! Our guests are talented individuals across various fields (lawyers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, filmmakers, etc.). Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts in the world. Some of our guests include Dr. Willy Mutunga (former Chief Justice Kenya), Dr. Chang-fa Lo (former Constitutional Court Justice), Dr. Grethel Aguilar (DG of IUCN), Dr. Peter Van den Bossche (fmr. Chairman of the Appellate Body WTO), Jesus Seade (Undersecretary for North America Mexico's MFA), Amb. Angel Villalobos (Mexico to WTO), Petros Mavoridis (Columbia Law School & CAS Arbitrator), Johanna Hill (DDG WTO), Edward Kwakwa (ADG at WIPO), Howard Stupp (two-time Pan American gold medalist & fmr. Director of Legal Afrs. at IOC), Marco Aleman (ADG at WIPO), David Bisbee (DPR Mission of US to WTO), Lenka Nahlovska (Secretary Czech Arbitration Court), Barbara Ramos (Chief Research & Strategies ITC), Ralph Ossa (Chief Economist WTO), David Zonana (filmmaker), Amb. James Baxter (Australia to WTO), Amb. Nadia B. Theodore (Canada to WTO), Anna Kazejak (filmmaker), Andreas Koefoed (filmmaker), and Andres Veiel (filmmaker). Available at: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, SoundCloud, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Facebook podcasts, Deezer, Stitcher, etc. Follow Us: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/therodolforivasproject/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/rodolforivasproject Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/403QS0daxl70yRzgVDTkwt Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-…ct/id1449383945 Deezer: www.deezer.com/en/show/2137032?u…7032&deferredFl=1 Amazon: www.amazon.com/The-Rodolfo-Rivas…ect/dp/B08JJSRY8X Pandora: lnkd.in/efzftdth

Jennifer Nordquist

Season 8, Episode 1. — Jennifer DJ Nordquist, Deputy Director General at the WTO. Welcome to the first episode of our eighth season—and you’re in for a real treat. My guest is Deputy Director-General Jennifer Nordquist, who was appointed to her role at the World Trade Organization last year. She brings more than 30 years of experience in economics and public policy to the WTO. Her career includes roles at the Council of Economic Advisers in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, as well as serving as Executive Director for the United States at the World Bank Group, among many others. Jennifer holds degrees from Stanford University and Northwestern University. I first met her through our shared affiliation with Stanford, where she remains closely involved as an alumna. We talked about her work with Stanford alumni—something I also enjoy being involved in—but we also explored her long professional career and the lessons she has learned along the way. It was a real pleasure speaking with DDG Nordquist, and I’m certain you’ll enjoy this conversation. Season eight has some fantastic guests lined up—you won’t want to miss it. This is me, talking with DDG Nordquist. -- The Rodolfo Rivas Project is available on all major platforms or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Please help spread the word by recommending us to your friends or enemies! A small act, like liking, subscribing, or reviewing, is greatly appreciated. Thank you! The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the conversation belong to the individuals who share them and do not necessarily represent their employers. Musical theme by Hugo Torres. Featuring: Jennifer DJ Nordquist https://www.linkedin.com/in/dj-nordquist/ https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/dg_e/ddgs_e.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Nordquist Host: Rodolfo Rivas www.linkedin.com/in/rivasrodolfo/ rodolforivas.com/ rodolforivasproject.com/ www.imdb.com/name/nm10789558/ works.bepress.com/rivas_rodolfo/ rivasrod.medium.com/ papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsBy…fm?per_id=1665778 X: @rivasrod About The Rodolfo Rivas Project: Join me in a quest for the perfect conversation. Chronicling International Geneva and beyond. Currently in season eight and going strong! Our guests are talented individuals across various fields (lawyers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, filmmakers, etc.). Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts in the world. Some of our guests include Dr. Willy Mutunga (former Chief Justice Kenya), Dr. Chang-fa Lo (former Constitutional Court Justice), Dr. Grethel Aguilar (DG of IUCN), Dr. Peter Van den Bossche (fmr. Chairman of the Appellate Body WTO), Jesus Seade (Undersecretary for North America Mexico's MFA), Amb. Angel Villalobos (Mexico to WTO), Petros Mavoridis (Columbia Law School & CAS Arbitrator), Johanna Hill (DDG WTO), Edward Kwakwa (ADG at WIPO), Howard Stupp (two-time Pan American gold medalist & fmr. Director of Legal Afrs. at IOC), Marco Aleman (ADG at WIPO), David Bisbee (DPR Mission of US to WTO), Lenka Nahlovska (Secretary Czech Arbitration Court), Barbara Ramos (Chief Research & Strategies ITC), Ralph Ossa (Chief Economist WTO), David Zonana (filmmaker), Amb. James Baxter (Australia to WTO), Amb. Nadia B. Theodore (Canada to WTO), Anna Kazejak (filmmaker), Andreas Koefoed (filmmaker), and Andres Veiel (filmmaker). Available at: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, SoundCloud, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Facebook podcasts, Deezer, Stitcher, etc. Follow Us: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/therodolforivasproject/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/rodolforivasproject Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/403QS0daxl70yRzgVDTkwt Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-…ct/id1449383945 Deezer: www.deezer.com/en/show/2137032?u…7032&deferredFl=1 Amazon: www.amazon.com/The-Rodolfo-Rivas…ect/dp/B08JJSRY8X Pandora: lnkd.in/efzftdth

Kelly Ann Shaw

Season 7, Episode 10. — Kelly Ann Shaw, Partner at Akin Gump. I first met Kelly Ann when I was beginning my own work in international trade. At the time, she was my counterpart in the U.S. Delegation, handling disputes and other complex issues. Since then, her career has soared—spanning the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. House of Representatives, and even the White House. We recently reconnected during the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, a gathering of some of the most influential thinkers, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of trade. There, I had the opportunity to sit down with Kelly Ann to discuss her career, her perspectives on the current state of international trade, and what the future may hold. With her wealth of experience and unique vantage point, she brings insights you won’t want to miss. Beyond her impressive résumé, Kelly Ann is also a warm and engaging conversationalist, with a fascinating life story that makes this conversation both thoughtful and enjoyable. So, without further ado, here’s my conversation with Kelly Ann. -- The Rodolfo Rivas Project is available on all major platforms or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Please help spread the word by recommending us to your friends or enemies! A small act like liking, subscribing, and/or reviewing is greatly appreciated. Thank you! The views, thoughts, and opinions shared in the conversation belong to the individuals sharing them and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers. Musical theme by Hugo Torres. Featuring: Kelly Ann Shaw https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/kelly-ann-shaw https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ann-shaw-7312555/ https://www.csis.org/people/kelly-ann-shaw Host: Rodolfo Rivas www.linkedin.com/in/rivasrodolfo/ rodolforivas.com/ rodolforivasproject.com/ www.imdb.com/name/nm10789558/ works.bepress.com/rivas_rodolfo/ rivasrod.medium.com/ papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsBy…fm?per_id=1665778 X: @rivasrod About The Rodolfo Rivas Project: Join me in a quest for the perfect conversation. Chronicling International Geneva and beyond. Currently in season seven and going strong! Our guests are talented individuals across various fields (lawyers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, filmmakers, etc.). Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts in the world. Some of our guests include Dr. Willy Mutunga (former Chief Justice Kenya), Dr. Chang-fa Lo (former Constitutional Court Justice), Dr. Grethel Aguilar (DG of IUCN), Dr. Peter Van den Bossche (fmr. Chairman of the Appellate Body WTO), Jesus Seade (Undersecretary for North America Mexico's MFA), Amb. Angel Villalobos (Mexico to WTO), Petros Mavoridis (Columbia Law School & CAS Arbitrator), Johanna Hill (DDG WTO), Edward Kwakwa (ADG at WIPO), Howard Stupp (two-time Pan American gold medalist & fmr. Director of Legal Afrs. at IOC), Marco Aleman (ADG at WIPO), David Bisbee (DPR Mission of US to WTO), Lenka Nahlovska (Secretary Czech Arbitration Court), Barbara Ramos (Chief Research & Strategies ITC), Ralph Ossa (Chief Economist WTO), David Zonana (filmmaker), Amb. James Baxter (Australia to WTO), Amb. Nadia B. Theodore (Canada to WTO), Anna Kazejak (filmmaker), Andreas Koefoed (filmmaker), and Andres Veiel (filmmaker). Available at: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, SoundCloud, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Facebook podcasts, Deezer, Stitcher, etc. Follow Us: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/therodolforivasproject/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/rodolforivasproject Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/403QS0daxl70yRzgVDTkwt Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-…ct/id1449383945 Deezer: www.deezer.com/en/show/2137032?u…7032&deferredFl=1 Amazon: www.amazon.com/The-Rodolfo-Rivas…ect/dp/B08JJSRY8X Pandora: lnkd.in/efzftdth

Sally Bardayán Rivera

Season 7, Episode 9. — Sally Bardayán Rivera, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Mission of Panama in Geneva, Switzerland In a remarkably short time, Sally has established herself as one of the most active and respected delegates in Geneva. Her openness, empathy, and collaborative spirit have earned her admiration across missions and institutions. She approaches complex issues with clarity and creativity, but also with a sense of humanity that makes people feel heard and included. In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Sally soon after her appointment as Deputy Permanent Representative of Panama. We spoke about her path into diplomacy—the interests that first drew her in, the challenges she has overcome, and the successes that have marked her journey to Geneva. She reflected on what this new role means to her and how she sees it as both a responsibility and a vote of confidence in her abilities. It was a true joy to record this episode with her. Sally embodies the best of what diplomacy can be: intelligent, principled, and compassionate, with an energy that uplifts those who work with her. I trust you’ll enjoy our conversation as much as I did. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes. Here is my conversation with Sally. -- The Rodolfo Rivas Project is available on all major platforms or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Please help spread the word by recommending us to your friends or enemies! A small act like liking, subscribing, and/or reviewing is greatly appreciated. Thank you! The views, thoughts, and opinions shared in the conversation belong to the individuals sharing them and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers. Musical theme by Hugo Torres. Featuring: Sally Bardayán Rivera https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-barday%C3%A1n-rivera-a3299764/ Host: Rodolfo Rivas www.linkedin.com/in/rivasrodolfo/ rodolforivas.com/ rodolforivasproject.com/ www.imdb.com/name/nm10789558/ works.bepress.com/rivas_rodolfo/ rivasrod.medium.com/ papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsBy…fm?per_id=1665778 X: @rivasrod About The Rodolfo Rivas Project: Join me in a quest for the perfect conversation. Chronicling International Geneva and beyond. Currently in season seven and going strong! Our guests are talented individuals across various fields (lawyers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, filmmakers, etc.). Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts in the world. Some of our guests include Dr. Willy Mutunga (former Chief Justice Kenya), Dr. Chang-fa Lo (former Constitutional Court Justice), Dr. Grethel Aguilar (DG of IUCN), Dr. Peter Van den Bossche (fmr. Chairman of the Appellate Body WTO), Jesus Seade (Undersecretary for North America Mexico's MFA), Amb. Angel Villalobos (Mexico to WTO), Petros Mavoridis (Columbia Law School & CAS Arbitrator), Johanna Hill (DDG WTO), Edward Kwakwa (ADG at WIPO), Howard Stupp (two-time Pan American gold medalist & fmr. Director of Legal Afrs. at IOC), Marco Aleman (ADG at WIPO), David Bisbee (DPR Mission of US to WTO), Lenka Nahlovska (Secretary Czech Arbitration Court), Barbara Ramos (Chief Research & Strategies ITC), Ralph Ossa (Chief Economist WTO), David Zonana (filmmaker), Amb. James Baxter (Australia to WTO), Amb. Nadia B. Theodore (Canada to WTO), Anna Kazejak (filmmaker), Andreas Koefoed (filmmaker), and Andres Veiel (filmmaker). Available at: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, SoundCloud, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Facebook podcasts, Deezer, Stitcher, etc. Follow Us: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/therodolforivasproject/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/rodolforivasproject Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/403QS0daxl70yRzgVDTkwt Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-…ct/id1449383945 Deezer: www.deezer.com/en/show/2137032?u…7032&deferredFl=1 Amazon: www.amazon.com/The-Rodolfo-Rivas…ect/dp/B08JJSRY8X Pandora: lnkd.in/efzftdth