IPED Lecture: “Coffee Trading Under Geopolitical Uncertainty”

Kyle Bawot, senior director of trading at Olam, will discuss his role in the trading of coffee as a commodity in the current geopolitical climate. Bawot is an experienced professional in the green coffee trading sector at Olam since September 2014. Kyle’s career at Olam includes roles such as trader, commercial manager for Green Coffee in Colombia, and junior trader. His journey into the world of coffee began during his time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru, where he was first exposed to coffee production and export. Upon his return to the US, Kyle joined OFI (Olam Food Ingredients) and quickly worked his way into a commodities trading role. Kyle holds both Q Grader and ICE Exchange Grader licenses. He continually seeks to deepen his understanding of each facet of the industry, with a special focus on the industry’s sustainability challenges. Kyle attended Skidmore College and Fordham University, from which he earned a BA in Economics and an MA in International Political Economy and Development (IPED), respectively.