“For me, nothing connects the world more intensely than the rather drab and routine everyday transactions that take place between peoples across borders,” Pritam Banerjee said.
As the Senior Director for Corporate Public Policy for the Deutsche Post DHL (DPDHL) group in the South Asia region, it’s a perfect outlook. In his role, he wears many hats, including managing government and regulatory relationships, working with stakeholders in the logistics industry, and assisting customers in finding solutions for their regulatory challenges.
Banerjee’s advocacy work for DPDHL has also led to some remarkable opportunities with the Government of India. Currently a member of the Committee on Doing Business across Borders in the Ministry of Commerce, he also lectures at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade as well as India’s National Academy of Customs Excise and Narcotics, which is responsible for training India’s customs officials.
Among the secrets to his many successes, Banerjee holds a PhD in Public Policy from George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government. He remembers his degree quest as “an amazing experience.”
“My training in public policy is a definite plus in my work, helping me combine practical experience with academic rigor in my capacity in these government committees and as a guest speaker,” he said.
Banerjee’s humble beginnings as a doctoral candidate helped shape his affinity for trade facilitation and policy work. He chose Mason for its interdisciplinary approach to learning, first-rate faculty, and location in the Washington, D.C. area, where access to U.S. and international trade dialogues at institutions such as the IMF and the Heritage Foundation are within arm’s reach.
“It was also a load of fun,” he said.
Banerjee credits his PhD with helping him get his foot in the door at the World Bank Institute, which in turn led to other career advancements, first with the Confederation of Indian Industry and successively to his current position at DPDHL. He also sings the praises of his Schar School professors, whom he remembers fondly as generous, dedicated, and approachable.
“The other great thing about Mason was the diversity of the student body, and I don’t mean just in terms of being from different countries and cultures,” he said. “In my class there were fresh graduates, professionals with years of experience, social activists, senior bureaucrats, and veterans thrown in all together. This enriched classroom discussions and helped develop enduring professional networks and friendships.”
These days, Banerjee works hard to ensure what he deems “the magic of international commerce” carries on smoothly. His is energized by his work with DPDHL and sees the lessons from his Mason experience resonating in his daily accomplishments.
“I love my job. It enables me to put into practice the problem-solving skills that I learned at [Schar] – that small details often matter more than the big picture and the importance of getting background research right.”