Janet Stenzel, the president of ICM Insights LLC, leads with a vision shaped by innovation, diplomacy, and a global understanding of technology’s potential to transform communities. After relaunching the company following a period of family-focused sabbatical, she redefined its mission to strengthen partnerships between United States enterprises and firms across emerging markets in Asia. Under her direction, ICM Insights has become a bridge for collaboration, using United States government funding to initiate joint projects with local governments in Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam and Bangladesh. Each engagement supports the creation of essential communication networks and digital infrastructure, requiring multi-year commitments that ensure sustainable growth.
Ms. Stenzel educational background reflects a rare blend of analytical rigor and cultural fluency. She holds a Master of Science in economics from The London School of Economics and Political Science in London, England. She earned an associate degree in political science and government from Université libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, as well as a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts in international development economics and dance from Washington University. She also completed an associate degree in international relations and affairs from Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Throughout her career, Ms. Stenzel has achieved several groundbreaking milestones. She became the first and youngest woman to serve in a top-tier Washington think tank at the Economic Strategy Institute, the first woman to chair an international task force for the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and the first woman sent by the United States government to an Asia-Pacific Leadership Council for Women.Her achievements have been recognized with the Groundbreaking Award from Women in Technology, reflecting her leadership in promoting sustainable innovation and international collaboration.
Before founding ICM Insights, Ms. Stenzel gained extensive experience in international policy, mobile technology and communications. As managing director at Mobil Media Institute, she directed initiatives that advanced mobile innovation and industry collaboration. Earlier, as director of the Telecom and Transportation Taskforce for the United States National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, she worked to align Asia-Pacific economies through the development of intellectual property rights arrangements, paving the way for cross-border cooperation in the early digital era. Her work intersected with the efforts of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, where she participated as one of the first female representatives during formative discussions on intellectual property within the region.
At Mobile Media Institute, Ms. Stenzel also worked as convenor, facilitating industry dialogue about emerging mobile technologies and their applications. During the same period, she held a senior fellowship at Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, where she founded the Southern California Mobile Commerce Roundtable. This collaborative platform united international telecom associations, businesses and the academic community to explore advances in mobile commerce.
Ms. Stenzel also contributed to the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council in Singapore as moderator and coordinator for the Telecoms and Information Technology Task Force. She chaired and facilitated international gatherings and participated in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings, supporting regional dialogue on technology and policy. In addition, she worked as an executive director of the Telecom and IT Forum for the same organization and directed international nonprofit operations that fostered partnerships across the Pacific region. Her research appointments include work as a research fellow at the Economic Strategy Institute and as a research scholar and senior analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute, where she examined trade and development issues.
Ms. Stenzel serves on the board of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and is a member of Women in International Trade. She is a former vice president of both the St. Louis and Los Angeles chapters of the Society for International Development and is affiliated with USCI. Her civic engagement includes participation in the Native Plant Group in Virginia, service on the Los Angeles Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Green Initiatives and founding an elementary school Green Team chapter of the Save the Bay Program. She also established Binky Patrol in California, providing handmade blankets to those in need. Looking ahead, she plans to create a foundation supporting victims of verbal and emotional abuse, extending her lifelong dedication to empowerment and community well-being.