For Kingsley Borello, international trade has been more than just a career path, it’s been a calling since childhood. His earliest memories are of peering through the glass walls of his father’s meeting room, watching conversations unfold in languages he didn’t yet understand.
“I was fascinated how he could speak incomprehensible languages, and work in such a fascinating job: cheering people, spending hours at restaurants and travelling around the world,” he recalls. “What a fantastic job, I thought!”
That sense of wonder never left him. As he began his university education, he committed himself to business and languages, determined to one day follow in his father’s footsteps. What began as a childhood dream turned into a lifelong adventure that has taken him across continents, industries, business models, and eventually to his current role as CEO and Founder of TradeToWorld Marketplace.
An unforgettable hands-on introduction to global trade
While many professionals start their international trade journey with textbooks and case studies, Kingsley’s first real experience came through an extraordinary trip that changed the trajectory of his life. In 1991, he travelled with his father to Conakry, Guinea in West Africa, where they explored the possibility of launching a new fish export business. Kingsley remembers the excitement of sailing alongside local fishermen and witnessing the inner workings of international business at such a young age.
“It was amazing: meeting people from around the globe side by side with my father, sailing in a fishing boat, and sitting with him in his business meetings with local authorities and businessmen”.
Eventually, his father successfully launched this venture, exporting fresh fish to Europe from Africa. But, as is frequently the case in international business, unforeseen circumstances required him to pivot. Understanding the repercussions of the political instability in the region, his father took a risk-averse approach and minimized his investments, keeping his trade infrastructure to a minimal level.
He then shifted gears with a smart and sustainable strategy. Rather than investing in expensive offshore fleets, he partnered with individual fishermen to generate enough fresh product for rapid export.
“Upon a collective agreement, he had a dozen of them leaving early in the morning, fishing and putting the fish is small thermal containers with ice, coming back by lunchtime, dropping all fish to some couriers at the port who were bringing the boxes in collecting points, where everything was consolidated on pallets and directly sent to the airport – all in the same evening!”
For Kingsley, the experience was unforgettable and formative. It instilled a deep appreciation for local partnerships, cultural understanding, and risk-aware planning, themes that would become cornerstones of his own career.
A career built on global entrepreneurship
Kingsley has since built a vibrant international career, spanning multiple countries, industries, and innovative business ventures. He describes his entrepreneurial path with joyful enthusiasm, and it’s clear he has never stopped seeking new challenges.
Some of his notable achievements include:
- Publishing his first book at just 25 years old, and, later, a second book that has been translated and sold internationally
- Supplying The Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas, through a local import/export venture
- Negotiating two major master franchising agreements for a coffee roaster with investors in Saudi Arabia and the UK
- Being appointed to the board of a company managed by a Saudi Royal Family office member
- Opening a flagship store in Singapore and managing everything from company formation and hiring to importing goods and launching sales
These milestones illustrate a professional life marked by versatility, resilience, and a strong drive to expand possibilities in global markets. And through it all, he has never stopped learning.
“You have to be curious and fascinated by other cultures,” he advises.
“Try to speak their language, understand how they live and what they think. And possess an entrepreneurially creative spirit. These two key ingredients naturally create trade opportunities and business.”
Formalizing expertise with FITTskills Training
After years of hands-on experience, Kingsley decided it was time to reinforce his international trade knowledge with formal FITTskills training. Returning to studies proved valuable and invigorating:
“It was indeed interesting to come back to theoretical studies after a long period of trade experience in the field. You always learn new things.”
Though he found all the FITTskills courses interesting, one stood out: International Trade Finance. He enjoyed its technical and informative approach to finance, two attributes which are important when competing in ever-fluctuating international markets and currencies.
A clear vision of international business certification
Taking the FITTskills courses bolstered Kingsley’s formal training, but he knew from the get-go that he wanted to earn his CITP designation:
“In reality, since the beginning of my FITT courses, I knew that once I passed, I would apply for the CITP designation.”
The move would help him open doors in the North American market while offering industry-backed credibility to his already impressive global trade experience.
“Being a newcomer with a limited network versus my wider international relationships, I feel that the CITP designation brings more awareness of my professional background and capabilities, especially in Canada.”
Once he earned his certification, he felt a sense of belonging in the FITT community:
“It was a great pleasure to join the FITT family with the recognition of my experience.”
What’s next?
Kingsley sees the CITP as a vital marker of credibility, a signal to potential partners, investors, and collaborators that his global expertise meets recognized professional standards.
The CITP designation has already helped Kingsley engage with the Canadian trade community more quickly and confidently, which is opening doors for his latest venture.
TradeToWorld Marketplace reflects his belief in global inclusivity, small-business innovation, and the power of technology to unite markets that traditionally struggled to connect, a huge part of his upbringing that he hopes to elevate with his business. The innovative B2B marketplace was designed to empower thriving, ethical, cross-border commerce partnerships.
From watching his father work with independent fishermen in West Africa to writing books and starting several businesses, Kingsley has lived life fully and shows no signs of slowing down. He remains driven by the same passion that started it all—the excitement of building relationships across cultures.
In addition to learning about trade, “you have to live it,” he states.
And there’s no doubt that he is doing just that, every single day.
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