Karen Tramontano

Karen A. Tramontano is the Chief Executive Officer at Blue Star Strategies, LLC and provides corporate, institutional and public sector clients with results-oriented strategies. In her previous work experience Ms. Tramontano played a critical role in shaping some of the most important global policy issues of our time, including China Permanent Normal Trade Relations, environmental and labor standards in multilateral, regional and bilateral trade agreements, and world-wide poverty reduction strategies that focus on creating jobs and employing the Decent Work Agenda.

From 1997 to 2001, Ms. Tramontano served as Deputy Chief of Staff to President Clinton and as counselor to Chiefs of Staff, Erskine Bowles and John Podesta. Ms. Tramontano's White House portfolio encompassed a wide range of issues, including international trade, transatlantic relations, and economic and financial issues involving the U.S. Treasury and Department of Commerce. She played a major role in shaping policy concerning the World Trade Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, while handling public policy issues involving the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

In 2001, she served as Chief of Staff for President Clinton’s transition, where she established his office and presence in New York.

Ms. Tramontano continues her work with President Clinton through the Global Fairness Initiative (GFI), of which she is Founder and President. GFI is a non-profit organization working to promote a more equitable and sustainable approach to globalization to ensure its benefits reach all people.

Additionally, she currently serves as Senior Advisor to Guy Ryder, Director General of the International Labor Organization in Geneva, and is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law School. Ms. Tramontano is considered a global trade expert and regular spokesperson on Bloomberg TV.

She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Catholic University Law School and a B.A. from Boston College.


Follow Ms. Tramontano on Twitter @ktramontano.