Miriam Zapata

About Miriam Zapata

As a strategic Global Trade and Supply Chain Bilingual Leader with over 15 years of experience, I build and direct compliance functions that serve as powerful engines for value creation and risk mitigation for global organizations.My leadership philosophy is centered on integrating compliance strategy with core business objectives, a principle that has allowed me to deliver significant financial and operational results across the pharmaceutical, automotive, and technology sectors. I thrive on building robust compliance frameworks that not only mitigate risk but also create significant value for the business. My career is defined by successfully envisioning and executing complex, high-impact initiatives: Strategic Program Development: I have a track record of building lucrative programs from scratch, including a Maquiladora IMMEX program that delivered $16M in annual duty savings and a new Duty Drawback program that recovered $2.9M on its inaugural claim. Organizational Leadership & Influence: I excel at leading and mentoring cross-functional teams and managing key vendor partnerships. I champion compliance modernization by securing executive buy-in for critical system enhancements, such as a GTM Classification Dashboard forecasted to save over $1M annually. Global Systems & Process Architecture: I possess deep expertise in directing the global deployment and optimization of major trade management systems, including SAP GTS, Oracle GTM, and Thomson Reuters OneSource, to create scalable, efficient, and compliant international trade operations.

Experience

1. Sr Manager Trade Compliance

   Zebra Technologies

   Jan 2023 — Present · Lincolnshire, IL, US

   Spearheaded the end-to-end implementation of the company\'s first Duty Drawback program, managing a partnership with PwC to successfully secure a $2.9M refund on the inaugural claim. Architected and led high-impact system enhancement projects, including a GTM Classification Dashboard (forecasted $1M+ annual savings) and an AES Consolidation Module (projected $200K+ annual savings). Enhanced export compliance by increasing the export record-keeping metric from 28% to over 65% and developing a comprehensive Export Filer SOP and Export Audit Program. Drove significant process improvements, implementing a Broker Select Option (BSO) process saving $35K annually and an AES enhancement preventing $35K in potential annual fines. Pioneered the modernization of performance reporting by transitioning to dynamic Power BI dashboards, enabling faster, data-driven leadership decisions.

Education

• Universidad del Valle de México

  Master, Finance

  2006 — 2008

• Universidad La Salle Laguna

  Bachelor, International Commerce

  2000 — 2004

• NEI NCBFAA

  Certified Customs Specialist, Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician

  2015 — 2015

Skills

• Warehouse Operations
• Strategic Planning
• Inco Terms
• Logistics Management
• Kaizen
• Value Stream Mapping
• Customs Regulations
• Process Improvement
• Import/Export Operations
• International Logistics
• Business Development
• Marketing Research
• Negotiation
• Supply Management
• Management
• Freight
• Trade Compliance
• Operations Management
• Leadership
• Lean Manufacturing
• 5s
• Manufacturing
• Supply Chain Management
• Accounts Receivable
• Automotive
• Customer Service
• Sap
• Account Management
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Logistics
• Immex Maquiladora
• Sales Management
• Nafta
• Import
• Sales
• Shipping
• Continuous Improvement
• Business Process Improvement
• Vastera Annex 24
• Finance