Commodity Trading Career Insight: Kristine Engman (Former Global Head of Trading & Risk at Cargill)

In this episode of the AmplifyME Market Maker Podcast, host Anthony Cheung speaks with Kristine Engman, a former Global Trading and Risk Management Director at Cargill, about her unconventional journey into commodity trading. She shares insights on breaking into the industry, developing key trading skills, and navigating imposter syndrome.

Kristine’s career spans energy and agricultural trading, where she moved through multiple roles, from real-time trading to regional and global leadership positions. Her story offers valuable lessons for students and early-career professionals interested in financial markets and commodity trading.

In this episode of the AmplifyME Market Maker Podcast, host Anthony Cheung speaks with Kristine Engman, a former Global Trading and Risk Management Director at Cargill, about her unconventional journey into commodity trading. She shares insights on breaking into the industry, developing key trading skills, and navigating imposter syndrome.

Kristine’s career spans energy and agricultural trading, where she moved through multiple roles, from real-time trading to regional and global leadership positions. Her story offers valuable lessons for students and early-career professionals interested in financial markets and commodity trading.

Kristine never planned to be a trader. She initially pursued a degree in math education before pivoting into accounting and finance. Her career took a turn when she landed an internship at Cargill, where she was unexpectedly placed in a credit analyst role on a trading floor.

💡 Key takeaway: Sometimes the best career moves happen unexpectedly—stay open to new opportunities!

👉 From Accounting to the Trading Floor: Started as a credit analyst intern at Cargill.

Got exposure to trading and realized this was her true calling.

Secured a full-time role as an accountant but actively networked and positioned herself for a transition to trading.

"I realized that for all the things I didn’t want to do, trading was the thing I did."

Kristine never planned to be a trader. She initially pursued a degree in math education before pivoting into accounting and finance. Her career took a turn when she landed an internship at Cargill, where she was unexpectedly placed in a credit analyst role on a trading floor.

💡 Key takeaway: Sometimes the best career moves happen unexpectedly—stay open to new opportunities!

👉 From Accounting to the Trading Floor: Started as a credit analyst intern at Cargill.

Got exposure to trading and realized this was her true calling.

Secured a full-time role as an accountant but actively networked and positioned herself for a transition to trading.

"I realized that for all the things I didn’t want to do, trading was the thing I did."

Kristine explains that commodity trading is unique because it involves both financial markets and physical supply chains. Unlike trading stocks or forex, commodity traders deal with real-world logistics—storage, transportation, and supply-chain bottlenecks.

💡 Example: Understanding the physical limitations of unloading rates at a port can give traders an edge in derivatives trading.

🔥 "If you truly understand the physical constraints, you can position yourself to capture value in the financial markets."

Roles in Commodity Trading:

Real-time trader: Sees market spreads and executes deals.

Day-ahead trader: Forecasts short-term supply and demand trends.

Term trader: Manages longer-term positions in power and gas.

Origination & marketing: Works directly with suppliers, customers, and logistics teams.

Kristine explains that commodity trading is unique because it involves both financial markets and physical supply chains. Unlike trading stocks or forex, commodity traders deal with real-world logistics—storage, transportation, and supply-chain bottlenecks.

💡 Example: Understanding the physical limitations of unloading rates at a port can give traders an edge in derivatives trading.

🔥 "If you truly understand the physical constraints, you can position yourself to capture value in the financial markets."

Roles in Commodity Trading:

Real-time trader: Sees market spreads and executes deals.
Day-ahead trader: Forecasts short-term supply and demand trends.
Term trader: Manages longer-term positions in power and gas.
Origination & marketing: Works directly with suppliers, customers, and logistics teams.

Kristine distills the qualities of top traders into five key traits:

1️⃣ Hunger & Curiosity – The best traders constantly seek new information and ways to improve.

2️⃣ Humility – Markets will always humble you. Learning from losses is crucial.

3️⃣ Discipline – Keep records, track performance, and have a game plan every day.

4️⃣ Risk Appetite – Take calculated risks, not blind bets.

5️⃣ Decision-Making Under Uncertainty – Markets move fast; traders must act decisively with incomplete information.

"The harder I worked, the more I made. That direct correlation fueled my drive."

Kristine distills the qualities of top traders into five key traits:

1️⃣ Hunger & Curiosity – The best traders constantly seek new information and ways to improve.
2️⃣ Humility – Markets will always humble you. Learning from losses is crucial.
3️⃣ Discipline – Keep records, track performance, and have a game plan every day.
4️⃣ Risk Appetite – Take calculated risks, not blind bets.
5️⃣ Decision-Making Under Uncertainty – Markets move fast; traders must act decisively with incomplete information.

"The harder I worked, the more I made. That direct correlation fueled my drive."

Kristine believes that networking is like trading—strategic and disciplined.

✅ Have a plan – Know what skills you want to learn and seek out people who can help.

✅ Be proactive – Don't just network when you need something—build long-term relationships.

✅ Find sponsors – These are people who will advocate for you when you're not in the room.

✅ Be valuable – Even if you're new, you can offer fresh perspectives in networking conversations.

"Your first conversation with someone is just the start—keep following up."

Kristine believes that networking is like trading—strategic and disciplined.

✅ Have a plan – Know what skills you want to learn and seek out people who can help.
✅ Be proactive – Don't just network when you need something—build long-term relationships.
✅ Find sponsors – These are people who will advocate for you when you're not in the room.
✅ Be valuable – Even if you're new, you can offer fresh perspectives in networking conversations.

"Your first conversation with someone is just the start—keep following up."

1. Focus on excelling at your current role – Being great at your job is the foundation for everything else.

2. Stay flexible – The best career opportunities often aren’t planned.

3. Prioritize learning over status – Take roles that will teach you the most, even if they seem like sideways moves.

4. Work hard, but take care of yourself – Burnout doesn’t make you successful—balance does.

5. Be a good human – Relationships and integrity matter as much as technical skills.

"Your career is a marathon, not a sprint—embrace the journey!"

1. Focus on excelling at your current role – Being great at your job is the foundation for everything else.
2. Stay flexible – The best career opportunities often aren’t planned.
3. Prioritize learning over status – Take roles that will teach you the most, even if they seem like sideways moves.
4. Work hard, but take care of yourself – Burnout doesn’t make you successful—balance does.
5. Be a good human – Relationships and integrity matter as much as technical skills.

"Your career is a marathon, not a sprint—embrace the journey!"