Lauren Baker

Lauren Baker is currently the Deputy Director of the Digital and Emerging Technology Services (DETS) at the International Trade Administration (ITA). In this role, she leads a team of analysts focused on advising on office strategy, analyzing policies related to artificial intelligence and other digital issues, and developing U.S. positions on key digital policy matters. Her responsibilities also include creating metrics for performance tracking and formulating budgets for her team.12

Professional Background

Lauren has a diverse background in international trade, having previously held positions such as Senior Advisor and Senior International Trade Specialist within the ITA. Her work has involved stakeholder engagement, legislative coordination, and managing significant projects like the President’s Global Infrastructure Initiative. She has experience in both policy analysis and organizational strategy, aiming to enhance U.S. businesses' competitiveness in international markets.13

Education and Skills

Lauren holds a Master's degree from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina. She is multilingual, speaking English, Portuguese, and Spanish, while also learning French.1 Her expertise spans various areas including trade policy, AI governance, and government-industry relations.13

Current Focus

At DETS, Lauren is particularly focused on promoting policies that enable U.S. providers to compete globally in emerging technology sectors. This includes monitoring regulatory issues and collaborating with small to medium-sized tech companies to facilitate export opportunities.2