Thunderbird at ASU alum Kimberly Wiehl to deliver keynote at fall convocation

Kimberly Wiehl, a 1980 graduate of Thunderbird School of Global Management and esteemed expert in the field of international export credit, will deliver the keynote address at the school's fall 2024 convocation. With a career of enduring impact across many countries and continents, Wiehl exemplifies a dedication to increasing access to opportunity for many and advocating for positive change.

Born in Connecticut, Wiehl’s desire to develop a global perspective piqued early in life, graduating a semester early from high school to live with a French family and study at the lycée in Limoges in the rural, agricultural center of the country.

“This was the beginning of my love for language, cultural interactions and lifelong curiosity to explore other countries,” she said.

Wiehl went on to major in French and minor in both economics and political science at Middlebury College in Vermont, studying abroad in Paris and immersing herself in the culture. During that time, she spent much of her time traveling across Europe and developing a love for learning about the world around her.

“After this experience, it was a natural progression to want to pursue international business studies at the master’s level at Thunderbird,” she said.

Currently, Wiehl is a nonexecutive director at UK Export Finance, the national agency of Great Britain, where she develops and drives climate change initiatives and the company’s global impact strategy — one of her great passions.

Throughout her professional life, Wiehl has maintained a deep connection with the Thunderbird community, joining chapter events worldwide and serving as a trustee from 2005 to 2014 and as a member of the Thunderbird Global Alumni Network (TGAN) advisory council from 2015 to 2022.

Wiehl is most active within the school as an executive committee member of the SHARE Fellowship at Thunderbird. For nearly 13 years, she has helped offer scholarship and mentoring opportunities to students from emerging markets and developing countries enrolled in Thunderbird’s Master of Global Management program. 
 
Of her desire to give back and stay involved with the school, Wiehl says it is natural: ”I truly believe in Thunderbird’s mission, that ‘borders frequented by trade seldom need soldiers,’ and in the importance of equipping others with the tools they need to succeed. Anything I can contribute from my own experiences and career is something I’ll always do.”

Recently, Wiehl was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her impact and services to export credit finance and international trade.

This OBE award is part of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, a British order of chivalry established in 1917 by King George V, and rewards contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organizations, and public service outside the civil service. Awards are announced to the public on New Year's Day and the king’s birthday in June. Wiehl’s recognition was published in The King's Birthday Honours List 2024.

According to the UK government’s website, the OBE is awarded to individuals “having a major local role in any activity, including people whose work has made them known nationally in their chosen area.” Public figures such as Ewan McGregor, David Beckham and Kiera Knightly have all been recognized with this distinction for their own contributions in various fields within the arts and sciences.

Wiehl’s dedication to fostering positive change in the world of export finance, credit insurance and investment insurance is evident in every stage of her career. Spending 10 years as secretary-general of the Berne Union, the leading global association for the export credit and investment insurance industry, Wiehl was critical in developing relationships with new members from emerging economies. Under her leadership, membership of such companies doubled.

She is also an experienced board member and uses these roles to champion positive change. As chair of the board of directors for the American Arbitration Association, Wiehl focuses heavily on the ways they can embed cybersecurity, ESG, diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the company.

And, on the Women's Business Development Council, she has advised women entrepreneurs on ways to grow their businesses and achieve their entrepreneurial ambitions.

In her current role at UKEF, Wiehl has been instrumental in helping the organization harness its sustainability strategy, integrating the 2023 Green Finance Strategy with UK Infrastructure Bank, British Business Bank and UK Research and Innovation.

“This incredible recognition is right at the heart of everything I am passionate about,” she said. “I am a firm believer in the positive impact world trade has on the global economy, and to be honored for the work that I believe in so deeply means more to me than I can describe.”

Wiehl received her honor from Princess Anne during an intimate ceremony on Nov. 28 at Buckingham Palace.

Thunderbird will recognize over 272 graduates during the fall 2024 convocation ceremony taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 4 p.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center (South Building) located in downtown Phoenix.

One of Thunderbird's most time-honored traditions is the Parade of International Flags, started by students in 1977. This fall, 21 students are set to carry flags from different nations and introduce themselves as they share their statements about their home countries, including: Afghanistan, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Guam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Thailand, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

A dual U.S./UK citizen, Wiehl had the honor of representing Great Britain in her own graduation ceremony by carrying the Union Jack.

“My favorite memory of Thunderbird was the flag ceremony. It was a great honor to line up together and march among all the other flags. When seeing friendly faces in the crowd, I felt an extra surge of pride to be a participant in this rich Thunderbird experience,” she reflected.

As the newest class of graduating T-birds look to the future, Wiehl implores them to remain close to the Thunderbird network, which is ever-present across the globe.

“I strongly encourage you to not only maintain your current network, but also to actively expand your T-bird connections as you begin the next stage in your career and throughout all the next steps on the ladder,” she said.

“These alums all share the same special experience that you have had. Don’t underestimate what you can gain by keeping up with, as well as developing new ties with, your fellow T-birds. You never know when that special connection could lead to your next career move — it’s happened many, many times before.”