Ever wondered how careers take unexpected turns? 📍
2008: A client walks into my office with what seemed like a simple question:
"Can we export these goods to Iran?"
Little did I know this would change everything.
As an attorney, I'd spent years navigating the complex interplay between EU and national laws. Competition law, internal market regulations, you name it. I spoke that legal language fluently.
But export controls? This was different terrain entirely. A whole new regulatory landscape where EU and national rules created an intricate dance I'd never choreographed before.
I could have said "not my expertise."
Instead, I said "let me figure this out."
That night, I dove deep into sanctions regulations. My desk disappeared under stacks of legal texts. Coffee cups multiplied.
The result? A comprehensive memo that didn't just answer "yes" or "no" - it mapped out a clear path forward.
What I discovered wasn't just a solution. It was my passion.
The complexity of export controls fascinated me. But what really drove me was something else:
The need to make these complex rules accessible to everyone who needed them.
Fast forward to 2021:
That single memo evolved into a digital platform, making export control compliance straightforward for businesses worldwide.
The lesson?
Sometimes the most challenging questions lead to the best opportunities.
Today, as an Export Control Expert & Explainer, I live by one principle:
Complex doesn't have to mean complicated.

Patrick Goergen, Founder & CEO, RespectUs. The Export Control Expert & Explainer