Michael Lauenstein

Area Manager-Latin America

Bemis Manufacturing Company

INTERNATIONAL CAREERS

OVERVIEW

• Wearing Many Hats• Internal Battles and

Education• Life on the Road

• Where the opportunities lay

WHICH HAT DO I WEAR TODAY?

• Sales• Marketing• Logistics

• Operations• Translator

Sales Hat

• Communication• Presenting products• Sending Samples /

Catalogs • Pushing Production• Hiring / Firing

Distributors• Finding Prospects• Visiting Customers• Networking

Marketing Hat

• Develop– Prices– Catalogs– Promotions

– Strategies

– Product line

• Market Research

Logistics / Operations Hat

• Documentation• Freight Quotes• Duty Rates

• Order Flow• Credit• Billing

INTERNAL ISSUES

• Small Part of Overall Business

– Fight for recognition– Fight for funding

– Fight for new products

– Fight for new sales materials

INTERNAL EDUCATION

• International is the “Great Unknown”– Teach others not to

be afraid of accents– Customers exist and

are credible– US standards are not

always the best– Pricing is different– Logistics

LIFE ON THE ROAD

• DISADVANTAGES– Gone for long periods– Spend whole days

Traveling– Working 90% of the

time

– Communications

– Accommodations– What to eat?

LIFE ON THE ROAD

• ADVANTAGES– Develop new relationships and

understanding of the world– Learn about cultures, act as an

ambassador of the US– Live the Postcards– Wake up in B.A. Amsterdam or

S.D.– Gain self confidence– Airline frequent flyer miles– Fun side trips

WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES LAY

• Public vs. Private• Size • Where the company

is in the “Int’l Cycle”

• Expat Experiences• Women in Int’l

Business