Manpreet Kaur’s career in international business brought her from marketing vehicles like tractors and cars to managing risk in international trade financing. When her career and passions brought her from India and Canada, she recognized that the CITP designation would be an asset as she established herself in a new country.
She found that earning the CITP helped validate her global experience. Earning this designation wasn’t just a career milestone, but a strategic move to validate her extensive experience and enhance her credibility in a new country. Having an internationally recognized designation can help an experienced professional like Manpreet showcase her experience in a way many professionals trust and recognize.
Reflecting on her various roles in exports, marketing, and finance, Manpreet describes one constant throughout her career.
“My qualifications and my interests kept on leading me to develop in the profession of international trade.”
How education and a spark of inspiration directed her career path
Manpreet became interested in international business and trade while working on her MBA in India. At the time, she was especially fascinated with applying marketing techniques internationally.
During her third semester of her MBA, she started working for Sonalika International where she had the opportunity to work on market research, studying African markets. She took a few months off from her degree to immerse herself in this new job before returning to complete the degree. She especially appreciated the solutions-finding approach to international business that her training and education helped her hone.
“My boss said to me, ‘You’re an MBA, and an MBA is a person who never comes with a problem.’ They always come with the solution.”
“Yes, you have to perform. You have to be the person to give the solution.”
Whether earning an MBA or CITP designation, Manpreet has always sought opportunities to deepen her expertise while also continuing to gain practical real world experience.
Combining hands-on experience with a commitment to education
She moved on to a position with Honda Cars India Limited, where her international business background led to her working in the imports division. The cars were manufactured for Honda in India using parts imported from Thailand and Japan.
“This experience of seeing the whole process from imported components coming in, to assembly, and then either being sold locally or exported from India was fascinating,” she said.
She also took minutes during meetings with business delegates from China and from American engine manufacturer Cummins. Being present during these meetings helped to expand her knowledge of export processes and trade.
How her career evolved from marketing exports to trade finance
Within a couple of years, she started to pivot from marketing to trade finance when she accepted a position with ECGC Ltd (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation). She started from the ground up, as an executive assistant, and over the years, worked her way up to Senior Manager of the Buyer Underwriting Department, where her team managed underwriting risk for buyers across a portfolio of 20 countries.
She explained, “I gained a lot of experience in international trade finance, through a company that was under the Ministry of Commerce in the Government of India. It can be compared to the work that Export Development Canada does.”
She recalls an incident where her international trade experience helped her deal with the complexities of exports in the global market. An exporter’s consignment was stuck at a port in Iran as a result of default by the buyer. This exporter had taken a due cover from her employer. Manpreet applied her knowledge and established relationships to help that exporter get complete payment and fully resolve the issue.
“I leveraged my relations developed over a long period of time in the field and in the country to find an alternative buyer for the consignment in a matter of just about a week,” she recalled. The exporter and her managers appreciated how promptly she helped resolve the complicated issue.
During her time at ECGC she was promoted from second-in-charge to branch head, and finally senior manager. Manpreet was also nominated as Young Professional Initiative member of Berne Union in 2019. She said she felt honored to receive this recognition from such a well-known organization.
Manpreet’s colleague shares this wonderful insight into her impact on the organization:
“I had the privilege to work with her, while she was in ECGC as a Senior Manager. She played a pivotal role in promoting exports of the country through her dedication and commitment to work.”
“ECGC and my organisation EEPCIndia, both under Ministry of Commerce & Industry, used to collaborate on many occasions, to promote and organise export promotion and trade finance efforts for Exporters in Jalandhar (Northern India ).
She was in command of her subject and used to convince her clients by virtue of her understanding and knowledge of international trade. ECGC, which was a lesser known organisation to exporters in insurance sector, became a popular choice for exporters due to her ability to sell her ideas and services. I enjoyed the ease of working with her and wish her success in her future endeavours,” says Opinder Singh, Executive Senior Deputy Director, EEPCIndia New Delhi.
Want to learn more about the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) designation? See why it’s the world’s most recognized designation for competency and credibility in global business.
How the CITP helped her relocate and get established in Canada
Manpreet became interested in opportunities in Canada while liaising with Export Development Canada (EDC) in her previous role at ECGC. While working towards obtaining her Personal Residency in Canada, Manpreet was hired by Intact Financial Corporation in 2022. She felt incredibly fortunate that she was able to find a job in Canada before arriving in the country.
After moving to Canada, she decided that she wanted to earn a certification that would help validate her extensive experience in India and help her establish credibility in a new country. She opted for the CITP “because this exactly matches to what I was looking for to validate my experience and knowledge so far in my career.”
She connected with the FITT’s certification team and then completed the Executive Path to the CITP.
“I felt elated when I received the email that I have obtained the CITP/FIBP designation,” Manpreet said.
“The CITP validates my years of experience, hard work and commitment to the field of international trade. I felt proud about the fact that my experience and knowledge have been recognized by a respected global organization.”
Looking forward to a bright future in international trade
According to Manpreet, the component of CITPs’ commitment to ongoing professional development motivated her to continue to improve her knowledge. She hopes it positions her well for strategic positions and leadership roles in Canadian companies.
“I think the CITP designation will open new career opportunities and help me to dive into future advisor and relationship management roles in support of exporters. I want to be an active participant in the world of international markets here in Canada and beyond.”
The CITP designation both play an important role in Manpreet’s future career plans. In addition to building on her experience and knowledge, having an internationally recognized certification helps her build trust with prospective employers and clients.
Manpreet has some great words of wisdom that she has seen play out in her own career:
“It’s your passion that drives you to do the work and your involvement that actually matters. If you have passion towards a field and you get into doing work that fascinates you, I think every person can do wonders in their field.
That’s how it’s worked for me. I was always fascinated by international trade from the day I did my masters I knew I wanted to do something in international business and I followed and chased my dreams.”
disqus comments