Marilyn Blanco-Reyes is an American lawyer who practiced transactional law in São Paulo before joining FedEx in 1995. She rose to lead legal, regulatory and government affairs for FedEx Express's Latin America and Caribbean division.
Background
Marilyn Blanco-Reyes was born in Havana, Cuba, and her brother was born there as well. Her family immigrated to the United States when their parents were in their twenties, and her parents worked multiple jobs to pay for private schooling that would prepare their children for college.
She grew up in Hialeah, Florida, a city in Miami-Dade County with a large Cuban community. As a young person she dreamed of a career in Hollywood as a film director, but she later concluded that international relations, diplomacy, and law were a better fit for her interests.
Education
Blanco-Reyes graduated from Florida International University, a public university in Miami established in 1965. She later took the United States Foreign Service examination, which she did not pass, and turned her attention to law.
She received a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 1988. The university is a private institution in Coral Gables, Florida, founded in 1925. At the law school she gravitated toward international law and studied with professors Bernard Oxman, Alan Swan, and Francisco Garcia-Amador, and she later described the school as practical.
Career
Before law school, Blanco-Reyes worked for Eastern Air Lines, a major American airline that ceased operations in 1991, and traveled widely in that role. After graduating from law school, but before passing the bar, she was recruited by a Brazilian firm and practiced transactional law in São Paulo for two years.
She has also worked as a partner of Noronha Advogados, a São Paulo law firm founded in 1978 with a tradition in international law. The firm opened an office in China in 2000 and has branches in several other countries.
In 1995 she joined FedEx Express as an international staff attorney. FedEx Express is the air-express subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, and Blanco-Reyes advanced through the company's legal ranks, working on international business transactions, commercial and corporate law, labor and employment matters, and aviation and customs issues. She has said that FedEx was comparatively small in Mexico and Brazil and acquired companies much larger than its local operations, which made the integration of those companies a significant challenge.
As General Counsel and Vice President of Legal and Regulatory and Government Affairs for the Latin America and Caribbean Division, she was part of the division's senior management team and was involved in long-range planning, strategic initiatives, and new business development. She was designated Regional Counsel for Latin America and the Caribbean, with responsibility for legal and regulatory affairs in the region. She has lectured on Latin America's transportation industry, trade facilitation, and customs and regulatory reform, and she is regarded as a subject-matter expert on Brazilian-US relations. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Blanco-Reyes has said that being the first openly gay Hispanic female executive at FedEx has been empowering and hopefully inspiring to others.
Achievements
Negotiated the acquisition of two Latin American transportation and logistics companies for FedEx Express's Latin America and Caribbean Division.
Membership
The Florida Bar is the official bar association of Florida, and membership is required to practice law in the state. Blanco-Reyes was licensed to practice in Florida in December 1988, shortly after earning her law degree.
The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida promotes business and trade ties between Brazil and Florida, and the Brazil-US Business Council, based in Washington, D.C., works to strengthen commercial relations between Brazil and the United States. Blanco-Reyes sat on the boards of both organizations in 2017.
The Florida Bar
,
United States
December, 1988 - present
Board member
Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida
,
United States
2017
Board member
Brazil-US Business Council
,
United States
2017
Connections
Blanco-Reyes has a brother, who was born in Havana alongside her and shared the family's move to the United States.
A FedEx recognition bestowed on employees who demonstrate leadership, creativity, and superior performance. Blanco-Reyes received the award four times.
A FedEx recognition bestowed on employees who demonstrate leadership, creativity, and superior performance. Blanco-Reyes received the award four times.
