From an early age, Audrey Marie-Nely had a deep curiosity about different cultures, languages, and global markets. Born and raised in France, her academic and professional journey took her across continents—from Europe to Canada and South America—where she explored the complexities of international trade and innovation.

Today, as a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) and a graduate of the FITTskills program, she leverages her expertise to help businesses navigate the global marketplace.

Building her career foundation with education

Audrey began her academic journey by working towards a Diploma in Business Management, which provided a solid foundation in key business principles. Her growing fascination with international trade led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in International Business. “I’ve always had a strong interest in the world, its languages, and its cultures,” she shares.

“During my studies, the concept of ‘glocalization’—how companies adapt global strategies to fit local markets—really resonated with me. I wanted to be part of helping businesses thrive internationally.”

Recognizing the increasing role of technology in global commerce, she took her education a step further with a Master’s degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“Technology is revolutionizing trade, from digital marketplaces to blockchain for supply chain transparency. I knew that to stay ahead, I had to understand how innovation intersects with international trade.”

Doing meaningful work supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs

Audrey’s professional journey has been just as global as her education. After completing her studies in France, she moved to Canada, eager to experience a new business environment. There, she immersed herself in the world of entrepreneurship and small business support. “I had the privilege of working with small businesses across various industries, helping them understand the challenges and opportunities of international expansion,” she recalls.

One particularly rewarding experience involved guiding a small Canadian business in its early steps toward global trade.

“The client needed help with logistics, risk assessment, and adapting marketing strategies for different regions. It was incredible to see how foundational knowledge—what seems basic to us in the field—can be transformative for a business owner just starting out.”

Her passion for international business took her further, leading to a stint in South America during her master’s program. There, she explored and connected the local startup and innovation ecosystem, gaining valuable firsthand insights into how businesses in the region approached global trade.

“Meeting tech founders and entrepreneurs, I saw their resilience and creativity in overcoming challenges unique to their markets. It reinforced my belief in the power of global thinking.”

The FITTskills experience: bridging knowledge and application

Despite years of education and professional experience, Audrey still sought out ways to refine her expertise in international trade. That’s when she discovered the FITTskills program.

“I was looking to update my knowledge and expand my practical skills, and FITTskills was the perfect fit. The courses provided up-to-date insights and real-world applications that I could immediately integrate into my work.”

One of the most impactful courses for Audrey was International Trade Finance. “Understanding financing options, risk management, and payment methods is crucial in global trade. The course helped me work more effectively with key partners and strengthened my ability to support businesses in securing financial success internationally.”

She emphasizes the importance of not just learning the material but actively applying it.

“When you take a program like FITTskills, you can find ways to integrate the concepts into your job. It makes the learning experience far more valuable.”

Achieving the CITP, a mark of professional excellence

Earning the CITP designation in 2021 was a significant milestone. “The CITP represents excellence and lifelong learning in international trade. The world of global business is constantly evolving, and staying current is essential.”

Beyond the personal sense of achievement, the CITP designation has had tangible benefits. “Having ‘CITP’ next to my name has opened doors. It builds credibility among clients and colleagues, making it easier to establish trust and authority in the field. It has also connected me with a community of international trade professionals, leading to valuable collaborations.”

The power of mentorship and leadership

One of the most unexpected yet rewarding aspects of her journey has been mentorship. “Before moving to Canada, I didn’t realize the power of mentorship. Through a FITT mentorship program, I was matched with an experienced trade professional who provided invaluable guidance. Even though the formal program has ended, we still keep in touch.”

Now, Audrey is paying it forward, mentoring individuals across various fields.

“Mentorship is a way to give back and help others navigate the complexities of global trade. It’s something I plan to continue throughout my career.”

Beyond mentorship, she serves on the Global Startups Advisory Committee, where she provides strategic advice to startups entering the Canadian market. She also participates in a loan committee that evaluates funding applications from small businesses.

“Being involved in these initiatives allows me to support businesses at different stages of their growth and contribute to the broader trade ecosystem.”

Making an impact in the rapidly evolving future of trade

With a well-established global career, a CITP designation, and a passion for international business, Audrey envisions having an even broader impact in the coming years.

“My goal is to continue helping businesses expand into global markets, leveraging my network and expertise to drive success.”

She can see herself stepping into more thought leadership roles, participating in industry events, and contributing to discussions on the future of international trade.

“Global trade is evolving rapidly. Whether through advisory roles, content creation, or speaking engagements, I want to be part of shaping what’s next.”

For those considering the CITP designation or the FITTskills program, Audrey’s advice is clear: “Invest in your education and professional development. The world of international trade is constantly changing, and staying ahead requires continuous learning.”

“The CITP and FITTskills have been game-changers for me, and they can be for others too.”

Today and into the future, professionals like Audrey play a crucial role in bridging markets, fostering innovation, and helping businesses navigate the ever-changing landscape of international trade. Her journey—from a student in France to a globally recognized trade expert—is a testament to the power of lifelong learning, adaptability, and a passion for global business.

The post CITP Spotlight: Audrey Marie-Nely – Associate Vice-President, Banking, RBCx appeared first on Trade Ready.

Taking place every year in the third week of October, Small Business Week celebrates Canadian entrepreneurs and their immense contribution to the Canadian economy with nationwide events that offer them opportunities to learn, network, share ideas, and grow their ventures.

To add to these celebrations, recognize the efforts of Canadian entrepreneurs, and make knowledge more accessible to them, FITT dedicated an entire month to celebrating the event. The FITT Small Business Month consisted of an array of activities, from exclusive access to free training opportunities, exciting giveaways and awesome discounts, to an opportunity to get trade-related queries resolved by an expert.

Through these activities, we also received a lot of great advice, tips and insights that can help entrepreneurs in their business journeys.

As a bonus, all newsletter subscribers in the month of October received a free copy of the FITT Small Business Guide: The Scaling Up Edition – a resource providing great insights into launching and expanding a business.

Here’s a summary of all the activities, special giveaways and advice for entrepreneurs that marked the month-long celebrations:

1. Facebook giveaway – advice on starting a business

Launched in the first week of October, the Facebook giveaway asked entrepreneurs the one thing they wish they had known before they launched their business.

The question elicited several honest and sincere replies, and three winners were selected to receive the prize of one free FITTskills online workshop each, based on the originality of their answers and other campaign criteria.

Here was the winning advice we received:

Livia Pellerin Carrière, Owner, MobilityJunkie – “I wish I had known how to narrow down my big dream into something scalable instead of launching myself in pursuits of ridiculous grandiose labour I couldn’t even work with.”

MobilityJunkie helps weightlifters and CrossFit athletes get past the stigma that the sport creates injury by arming them with effective mobility tactics to keep them injury free, increase ROM, keep joints healthy and STABLE.

To connect with her business on Facebook and Instagram, look for @mobilityjunkie.

Nourhan Hashem, Owner, AITYF (Africa Intra Trade Youth Forum), wishes she had known more about “business networking in new markets, planning, monitoring and evaluation.”

AITYF is an organization aims at developing the capabilities and skills of African youths on the international trade field to contribute effectively to the Intra Trade growth in Africa.

Dale Schaub, Business Advisor at Business Link says that “Market research/designing products and services with clients’ wishes in mind, and proper accounting practices” were the topics he wished he knew more about prior to setting up his venture.

Business Link is a non-profit that helps people start businesses in Alberta. Connect with them on Twitter by looking for @BusinessLinkAB, or with Dale by looking for @daleschaub1.

2. LinkedIn giveaway – advice learned the hard way as an entrepreneur

The following week, entrepreneurs had another chance to win by answering the following question on LinkedIn: What did you learn “the hard way” as an entrepreneur?

The winning response was from Roy Pereira, a serial entrepreneur and tech executive, who offered the following advice:

• “Revenue is the best metric for success.”
• “Your vision is long-term, not the current tactics.”
• “Fire fast, hire slow.”

3. An opportunity to receive free business training

Businesses were invited to apply for free online workshops for a chance to be selected as one of three winners to receive two workshops of their choice each.

The lucky winners were:

• Louis Benatshipama, Owner, Impetus Africa| Corporate Sourcing Solutions and Foreign Investment Facilitation – “We make it easy, efficient and risk free for Canadian companies to do business with Africa”. Connect with Louis on LinkedIn and Twitter.               
• Allan Nichols, President of the Global Canadian Business Forum (@CanadianForum) – “Working with Canadian business organizations abroad, Global Affairs Canada, foreign diplomatic offices and other stakeholders, the GCB Forum provides inspiration, information, and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to grow their business abroad.”
• Badamtsetset Altansogt

4. To celebrate Small Business Week, all FITTskills online training was 50% off from October 21-25.

5. Twitter pitch event

On October 22, business owners pitched their businesses on Twitter in 280 characters or less for a chance to win one of three free EDC-FITT online workshops to boost their business knowledge and skills.

Here are the three winners along with their pitches:

Peter Deitz, UnWrapIt (@unwrapit)

UnWrapIt is #zerowaste corporate gifting that delivers results. We specialize in creating high-volume & personalized gift experiences that engage and inspire any number of event attendees before, during, or after an event. Reveal anything as a gift with @UnWrapIt_ #eventprofs pic.twitter.com/vhIo6GUjV6

— UnWrapIt (@UnWrapIt_) October 22, 2019

Cozy Intentions (@cozyintentions)

We are a Clothing brand with a cause. Canadian Made, Soft Bamboo Jersey ladies pyjamas. A portion of our sales supports local women’s shelters in our province. As an e-commerce store with upcoming opportunity for retail Here & US sales. #womenhelpingwomen pic.twitter.com/mAIhRqPnHG

— Cozy Intentions Clothing (@cozyintentions) October 22, 2019

Doug Lessing, Phin (@phinforgood)

What if you could use your time online and on #socialmedia to create a positive impact? Now you can. Phin offers a new way to incorporate #social causes into your daily online life making it easy to do your part to create a #betterworld.#FITTsmallbizmonth #globalentrepreneur

— PHIN (@phinforgood) October 22, 2019

Doug explains that “Phin is a Pending BCorp which helps companies build relationships with people and meaningful causes by connecting them through sponsored donations.” #PhinForGood #BtheChange”.

6. Free tickets to the Startup Canada Canadian Export Challenge Event

Interested entrepreneurs could register for and receive, on a first come first serve basis, a limited number of complimentary passes, arranged for by FITT, to the final Canadian Export Challenge event in Toronto.

7. LinkedIn Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Igor Chigrin CITP|FIBP

The AMA session offered entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts a unique opportunity to get their trade-related queries answered by an expert. The session was a huge success with questions pouring in from across Canada and the world. Igor Chigrin, CITP, Export and Import Consultant at Win Global Partners, offered informative solutions and sound advice to every participant, lending a helping hand with some of their most pressing concerns.

Some excerpts from the session:

The FITT Small Business Month campaign ended on a successful note and proved to be a win-win for aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners and their employees, and others in need of accessible, quality business training.

Looking to expand your business? Here are some pointers to help you with your next steps.

• Learn more about FITT’s online training
• Download your free copy of the FITT Small Business Guide: The Scaling Up Edition
• Subscribe to FITT’s newsletter for the latest updates, events, and more

Stay connected with FITT on:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

The post Recapping the celebrations and advice for entrepreneurs from FITT’s Small Business Month appeared first on Trade Ready.