Laura Sallstrom
International Trade and Technology
Laura Sallstrom has worked at the intersection of international trade and technology policy for more than 30 years. She has advised Fortune 50 companies and governments globally on data policy, intellectual property, AI, and business regulations. As a founding partner and managing director of ThinkTech Policy Consulting, her mission is to help clients deliver the future by navigating complex international policy landscapes. Having lived, worked, or traveled in over 90 countries, she brings a uniquely global perspective to how regulation shapes innovation, market access, and digital growth.
Laura’s expertise in trade and technology policy spans her entire career. At the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), she helped negotiate the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and supported Special 301 processes addressing global copyright enforcement. As Director for Asia-Pacific at the Business Software Alliance (BSA), she led industry efforts to establish the first ICT trade association in the region.
Before founding ThinkTech Policy Consulting in 2024 - her third entrepreneurial venture - Laura served for a decade as Global Head of Public Policy at Access Partnership, where she led the firm’s expansion into Brussels and Asia and supported growth across emerging markets. Earlier, she founded and sold Sallstrom Consulting to Access Partnership.
She maintains an Adjunct Professor role at Duke University, where she lectures on the intersection of trade and technology policy , technology policy in China and development and technology. She has conducted research on digital sovereignty, cross-border data flows, and China’s Digital Silk Road.
Laura holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a Bachelor’s in International Studies and Economics from American University. She was a Luce Fellow at the Thai Development Research Institute and served on the Board of the Global Women’s Innovation Network (2017–2020).
Passionate about mentorship, Laura co-founded the Women’s Prosperity Lab and has led initiatives supporting women in tech policy. She also served on the board of GlobalWIN, a bipartisan forum for women who are passionate about innovation and seek to grow personally and professionally.
