Where in the World? Trulaske ITC Alumni Spotlight: Colleen Merideth

Colleen Merideth’s interest in all things international has been lifelong, and when she chose to focus her studies at the University of Missouri in International Studies with a minor in business, it provided the solid foundation she was seeking. Colleen’s International Studies degree required that she complete a semester studying abroad, and as such she spent the Spring semester or 2015 at Florence University of the Arts. With her appetite of travel ignited and seeking a final opportunity to both study and complete an internship with an international focus  before graduating, Colleen jumped at the opportunity to intern with the International Trade Center and the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske Sr. College of Businesses Study Abroad Program in Shanghai China. With that internship, Colleen had the opportunity to work with a Missouri company interested in expanding sales into the Chinese market, to assist them in evaluating market entry and industry-specific opportunities.

Illustrating that one’s career pathway isn’t always a straight line leading directly to the industry sector or dream job with an international focus desired, Colleen spent the first several years of her career working in the wealth management and financial planning arena, holding positions with Merrill Lynch and Stifel. These positions afforded her with opportunities to learn, grow, develop and make connections that eventually positioned her to be the right person to fill the Manager of International Business development role she currently holds at Build-A-Bear.

Not quite ten-years post-graduation we were lucky to catch up with Colleen Meredith on campus to fall to learn gain a little insight into her post-Trulaske career in global trade.

Home Town: Saint Louis, Missouri

MU Background:  

Colleen graduated with a BA in International Studies and a minor in Business Administration from the Robert J. Trulaske Sr. College on Business as part of the Class of 2016.  In reviewing her undergraduate studies at Mizzou cites the following international emersion opportunities as key highlights and invaluable experience-centered learning opportunities:

• Studying Abroad at Florence University of the Arts (Spring 2015)
• Trulaske Study Abroad – China (Summer 2016)
• Internship with ITC/Trulaske in Shanghai, China (Summer 2016)

Current Status: Colleen serves as Manager, International Business Development at Build-A-Bear.  Colleen joined the Build-A-Bear team in 2024 to help guide strategic and results-driven expansion of the companies international footprint. She serves as a key liaison between international franchise partners and cross-functional internal teams to ensure seamless execution of retail strategies and operational standards across global markets. Colleen’s leads the onboarding and training of all new international partners and has supported the launch of over 60 retail locations across 19 new territories, ensuring the alignment of operations with brand standards and company KPIs.

Most exciting international opportunity that you have had in your career to date: Colleen notes that the chance to travel, build relationships, and open Build-A-Bear Workshops around the world has been an incredible experience. “The first international store I opened was in Bogotá, Colombia, and I’ll always treasure the opportunity to bring our mission “add a little more heart to life” to such a vibrant and culturally rich place.”

Favorite feature about working in the international trade arena: “Travelling to places that I wouldn’t otherwise get to visit!”

Words of Advice for students who are interested in global trade: “No two days in global trade are ever the same. The world is continually evolving, and so is the industry. Immerse yourself in learning. Dedicate yourself in studying global markets, following international news, and exploring how business is conducted around the world.”

LinkedIn Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenlutman/