As an international trade professional, Banksharon Nwaneri, CITP, has built his career around one guiding principle: creating meaningful connections that unlock opportunity.
“I enjoy fostering strategic partnerships, connecting people and businesses with opportunities, and seeing them grow from the point where I met them—despite barriers and obstacles.”
His work is grounded in impact, ranging from finding trade solutions for expanding U.S. businesses to driving broader transformations that foster a more connected world. Day to day, he helps U.S. companies enter new markets, win bids, and overcome trade barriers that could limit their success. But beyond facilitating transactions, he’s helping to shape the broader economic ties that connect nations.
“I’m passionate about advancing inclusive economic growth in emerging markets and forging relationships that create real impact for both U.S. and local stakeholders,” he explains.
A career defined by cross-sector expertise
Banksharon’s path to international trade has been diverse and multifaceted—something he views as a strength. Before joining the U.S. Embassy, he led strategic partnerships and business development initiatives at the British Council. Not only did he foster commercial collaboration between U.K. companies and foreign markets, but he also facilitated the export of U.K. goods and services and the expansion of U.K. education brands through local partnerships.
In this role, one of his proudest accomplishments was spearheading a key B2B initiative for the British Council’s IELTS Program. The initiative was focused on reversing the decline in market share relative to competitors. For this project, Banksharon had the opportunity to design the entire program, from conceptualizing offers to creating incentive structures for partners such as test centers, institutions, and corporate clients.
Measurable success for the British Council
The fruit of Banksharon’s hard work certainly paid off. With his plan, there was a measurable increase in market share and uptake of the British Council IELTS across B2B partner channels, demonstrating effective strategy execution from ideation to launch.
“It was satisfying to take a project from abstract idea to measurable success,” he says.
“Seeing the market respond so positively validated the importance of a strategy rooted in partnership and insight.”
A breadth of banking and finance expertise to draw from
Before working for the British Council, Banksharon also spent over a decade in commercial banking and development finance, where he oversaw the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) portfolio within the region, managing $500 million in liability products and $200 million in risk assets.
As part of a results-driven banking environment, he set ambitious quarterly and annual sales and relationship targets, and exceeded them.
“I continuously surpassed those goals, quarter after quarter. This success wasn’t just about numbers; it was a meaningful reflection of my ability to build strong client relationships, upsell effectively, and navigate complex financial product offerings,” he states.
“Each achievement felt deeply fulfilling precisely because it was earned through high performance under pressure.”
The power of preparation
For professionals looking to enter international trade, Banksharon offers one clear piece of advice: preparation is everything.
“Avoid rushing into new markets without deeply understanding local consumer behaviour, competition, laws,
His pragmatic approach has been honed through years of working in an array of industries with globally focused businesses and governments. Today, he uses that in-depth knowledge in the U.S. Department of Commerce to provide strategic insight across key sectors.
There, he develops and maintains a strong network of commercial contacts across assigned countries and sectors while identifying and fostering business opportunities and partnerships in the interest of U.S. companies.
The value of international business certification for Banksharon
Banksharon pursued the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation as a way to formalize and validate the breadth of his experience.
“What appealed most to me was how it validates not just knowledge, but also the ability to apply complex trade principles, from regulatory compliance to
The CITP represents an important international business certification, giving professionals a credible and globally recognized credential that signals expertise, integrity, and strategic understanding in trade.
For Banksharon, it was a natural next step to strengthen his professional standing and global perspective.
A proud achievement that expands market opportunities
Earning his CITP marked a proud milestone. “I feel excited and proud to have earned the designation,” he shares. “I foresee it opening new doors in new markets.”
Through his leadership, Banksharon is opening markets for U.S. businesses, attracting investment, and building lasting partnerships across governments and global institutions. His track record makes one thing clear: he doesn’t just open doors, he walks through them with purpose and impact.
LinkedIn: Banksharon Nwaneri, CITP
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