Once a year, Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) offer a paid student internship to a graduate of the FITTskills international business program. It’s a valuable opportunity to get paid work experience in the industry and to work toward being eligible for the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation.

The CITP® professional designation for international business professionals is recognized worldwide as the mark of highest competence in global trade. The CITP designation helps professionals enhance their skills, knowledge and credibility in all aspects of international business.

Meet Allyson Fraser, the EDC-FITT Student Intern for 2019

Allyson Fraser, a graduate from Algonquin College’s Business Administration – International Business program, is the recipient of the Export Development Canada (EDC) – Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) Student Internship for 2019. She is now working with EDC’s Exporter Outreach Group.

As a student, her first international trade course at Algonquin and a natural interest in business inspired her to take on the entire FITTskills global trade program. She appreciated how the professors not only prepared the students but brought the content to life. Business cases and projects in the program were rounded out with a broad curriculum that helped Allyson build a strong foundation and “broad understanding” of all aspects of global trade.

Norman Hotchkiss, the program coordinator at Algonquin College, feels the program excels in preparing students for the challenges of international business, and opportunities like the EDC-FITT Student Internship;

Meeting the challenges of a dynamic global marketplace demands a certain skill set, attitude and approach. Allyson learned how to succeed in Algonquin College’s International Business Program. Applying those skills at EDC, Allyson is supporting Canadian exporters as they meet global opportunities.

Applying her FITTskills training to real-world experience

For Allyson, the EDC-FITT internship could not have been a better experience, as it allowed her apply her skills and knowledge in a direct way.

Now several months into her internship, Allyson says one of the most valuable benefits is being able to apply her training directly to her role on the front lines. Working directly with trade advisors as well as business clients, Allyson’s training helps her to ask questions that are in line with the needs of exporters and to “connect the dots in the opportunities that present themselves” for the clients.

She enjoys dealing directly with exporters, hearing about their aspirations and real-life business problems, which can range from customs and taxation to risk mitigation and market entry strategies. With that information, she can then determine how she can help them meet their goals and grow their business.

The EDC-FITT Student Internship Program enables Allyson to bring all the aspects of her education, training and career aspirations together to help Canadian exporters, and build her portfolio of global trade and business experience.

The FITT training helps take those conversations to a deeper level.

The program also adds great value to EDC’s exporter support services. “Every EDC-FITT intern provides a wealth of information and excellent work ethic to support our Canadian exporters,” according to Allyson’s team leader, Joseph Rios. He adds that “Allyson is a great addition to our team. In under 6 months, she implemented several continuous improvement ideas, acquired new customers and always is full of energy to motivate her fellow team colleagues.”

Taking the first step towards a long, successful global trade career

For someone seeking to start or build a career in global trade, the combination of knowledge, skills-building and professional experience can be a powerful jump-start to professional success.

What does the future look like for Allyson? Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Allyson likes idea of applying her trade know-how to helping small businesses to grow, but she is staying open to all the possibilities.

With so much direct (and paid) experience under her belt, Allyson is confidently looking toward a long and successful career in international business. What is certain is that Allyson will continue to keep learning and tackling real-life business scenarios and contributing to business success stories too.

“Have fun, and don’t be afraid to try things”, is Allyson’s advice to people new to global trade. As for her approach to success in business? “Be creative and be strategic”.

EDC-FITT training for global trade and international business

Endorsed by and in collaboration with Export Development Canada (EDC), FITT’s training courses provide the world’s most up-to-date, industry-validated global trade information available. Developed by business, for business, EDC-FITT training is tailored to help busy professionals develop the practical skills and competencies needed to succeed in meeting the everyday demands of international business.

EDC is Canada’s export credit agency, offering information, knowledge and innovative commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. EDC’s knowledge and partnerships are used by more than 10,000 Canadian companies and their global customers in up to 200 markets worldwide each year.

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The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) is proud to announce Allyson Fraser as the recipient of Export Development Canada (EDC) – Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) Student Internship for 2019. Allyson will work with EDC’s Exporter Outreach Group.

Getting the work experience to attain the CITP designation

The EDC – FITT student internship is offered annually to one full-time student who has successfully completed the FITTskills international business program. This one-year internship is designed to aid this individual by giving them the work experience necessary to apply for their Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation. The FITT CITP designation is the world’s leading professional designation for global business practitioners.

EDC is Canada’s export credit agency, offering information, knowledge and innovative commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. EDC’s knowledge and partnerships are used by more than 10,000 Canadian companies and their global customers in up to 200 markets worldwide each year.

Graduate of International Business program

Allyson Fraser is a graduate of Algonquin College’s Business Administration – International Business program, which has been accredited by FITT.

“Before going to Algonquin College, international trade was not a field that I knew much about. The first Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) course that I took was Global Business Environment; it was a great introduction to the rest of the FITT curriculum and built a solid foundation that I was excited to build upon.

As I continued through my program, I found that the classes built upon FITT were my favourite. The training was very comprehensive, and the final projects were built upon realistic scenarios that one would face while attempting to engage in international trade. I was impressed by the fact that my final projects counted toward both my class grade and the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation.

My father is a small business owner and I have seen first-hand how much goes into owning and operating a local business. After graduating the program, I felt empowered to help other entrepreneurs like him grow their businesses by engaging in international trade. The EDC x FITT Intern position will give me the chance to do exactly that and I could not be more thrilled!”

The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) offers a sincere congratulations to Allyson for being chosen for this unique opportunity and extends best wishes to Allyson for future success in her chosen field of international trade!

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When Jose Recinos, CITP®|FIBP® (left in picture above), one of two recipients of the 2015 FITT Achievement Award, first heard about the EDC-FITT Internship, he couldn’t wait to apply for the opportunity.

“I’d always wanted to work at EDC, even before I heard about the internship, so it was something I really wanted to pursue,” he added.

Though he tried to temper his expectations, he was delighted to hear back from EDC that he was one of the final candidates selected to interview for the internship.

During the interview process, he talked to Joe Rios, Manager, Exporter Outreach at EDC and now Jose’s supervisor (right in picture above). Joe was extremely impressed with Jose, and clearly left a very positive impression.

Jose stood out as extremely professional, and was the first person I talked to who asked if they could pull out a pen and paper to take notes during the interview. He was attentive to detail, and had the personality to excel in the role.

Soon after, Jose found out he’d been selected to be this year’s EDC-FITT Intern to work as a Trade Advisor for EDC’s Exporter Outreach team, in the Marketing group. He eagerly awaited his new position despite the final busy months of school still ahead of him.

“When I started in March, I was still completing classes, writing papers and preparing to take exams. EDC was very accommodating, and allowed me to work part-time for the first few weeks while I finished everything for school and got up to speed for my new role. It was a busy time, but I enjoyed starting at EDC and learning so much early on.”

Hitting the ground running with a desire to learn

During his first few weeks, Jose learned everything he could about EDC’s various products and services, receiving coaching from experienced EDC employees and mastering the basics of being a Trade Advisor.

“My coaches, Suzanne Marenger and Asif Wasti, offered great support early on, and really helped me out,” Jose remembers. “Joe has also been fantastic, and has continually given me advice or tips to improve, as well as opportunities to develop my skills and continue to grow at EDC.”

Jose’s main responsibility is customer service, talking to potential EDC clients about how the organization’s various products and services would best be able to help them and their business. Whether on the phone, EDC’s online chat or otherwise, he is dedicated to helping his clients and improving his own knowledge and skills.

“Even now, one of my favourite things to do is go to the EDC website and read about everything we offer, or talk to people in other EDC departments to learn more about what they’re doing,” Jose adds.

In fact, it wasn’t long before Jose was attracting attention, from potential clients and EDC management alike, due to his excellent results.

“He’s a quick learner, and Jose understood all of the intricacies and audiences for each of EDC’s products and services early on,” Joe explains. “He received great feedback from his coaches, and many customers didn’t even know he was new. He knew the distinct advantages of each product and wasn’t afraid to discuss deeper details or think quickly during conversations.”

He’s a natural salesperson, and was even recognized by the VP of Commercial Markets and Small Business at EDC for his amazing customer service.

The joy of helping others excel in global business

One of Jose’s favourite parts of the role is the positive feeling of immediately helping others and providing them with the service they need.

“When you can help someone and they’re grateful for you doing that, it’s one of the best things about the job. It’s good to know I’m helping Canadian businesses who want to do business internationally with support from EDC.”

By the summer, Jose’s ability to work well with customers enabled him to take on his own portfolio as an important member of his team. Treated like any full-time employee with similar responsibilities, he consistently found ways to improve and gain confidence, with Joe’s and coaches’ help guidance and support.

“Jose takes feedback very well. I sometimes listen to his phone conversations, so that we’re able to discuss them after and I can give him advice,” Joe says. “He’s become more efficient, and is now able to talk to more customers while still listening carefully to their particular needs, and providing the right support.”

To continue in that effort, Jose has been able to learn from last year’s EDC-FITT intern, Samantha Caldwell, CITP|FIBP.

“Being able to talk to her and ask her questions was very helpful. She’d already handled what I’m dealing with now, and has since been able to move up through EDC, so it was good to get her perspective.”

Looking forward to what comes next

With just a few months left in the EDC-FITT internship, Jose has been able to look back at where he started ahead to future opportunities.

“When I went back to school to take the FITTskills courses at Algonquin, I was looking for something that would help me take the next step in my career.”

I learned so much from the courses, and with the FITT Achievement Award and now the EDC-FITT internship, I can definitely say that decision has paid off for me.

“My role at EDC covers such a broad variety of global business topics, and through the courses I was able to learn about each one of them and feel prepared to handle the challenges of this job.”

Joe agrees that the FITTskills courses and the EDC-FITT internship have been invaluable for Jose, and for his team and EDC as a whole.

“The FITTskills program teaches the right mix of skills for professionals to be ready to go very quickly, and we’ve had nothing but good experiences with Jose and the previous interns. Our team’s gone through some transitions in the past year, and Jose has been a quick learner and contributed from early on. He’s gained a lot of confidence in the past few months as well. There’s a lot of positive affirmation around FITT and its courses within EDC, and it’s clear they prepared Jose for this role.”

Once his year-long internship ends, Jose hopes to follow in the footsteps of several previous EDC-FITT interns and remain with EDC full-time.

“Working at EDC was a goal of mine, and I’ve learned so much since I’ve been here,” he explains. “There’s so many opportunities for growth here, and I’m passionate about EDC’s mission to help Canadian businesses. Everything I’ve learned about EDC since I started has just added to that, and I hope to continue doing this important work.”

Jose also recently earned his CITP®|FIBP® designation in December 2016, a testament to his hard work, industry skills and dedication to furthering his career goals. As a true rising star, we at FITT wish Jose all the best with what comes next, and look forward to seeing what he accomplishes!

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Eric Agyemang, CITP|FIBP, is a Small Business Account Manager at Export Development Canada (EDC), where he manages an active portfolio of exporting companies in Southwestern Ontario, helping them find ways to access financing and safeguard their foreign sales.

Helping people through international projects is a life-long pastime

International work has been part of Eric’s life since he was very young. He grew up in Ghana, first setting foot in Canada in Prince Edward Island back in 2004.

He was there as part of a mission with a program called Canada World Youth, where he worked with local youth, encouraging them to live more active lifestyles. He also started his own organization to recruit international volunteers for Ghanaian schools and clinics.

At FITT, we have been watching Eric’s international trade career first take off and then flourish. Eric had an admirable student career, achieving multiple awards and accolades, including the School of Business Award at Algonquin College, and was named one of Canada’s Top 25 International Business Students in 2013.

We had the honour to present him with the FITT International Business Plan award in 2012, and the EDC-FITT Internship in 2014, where he quickly impressed his colleagues and became a member of the staff.

Finding a place to put his skills to use at EDC

“Though my career in international trade started back in 2005, when I co-founded an international volunteer placement organization in Ghana, it was the EDC-FITT internship that really honed my interest in international business,” Eric says of the experience.

He was taken with the variety in tasks, clients and sectors he would get to work with on a daily basis, as well as the chance to make a real difference in the international trade industry.

Working with such a diverse group of companies showed me the vast plethora of opportunities out there for Canadian entrepreneurs wanting to expand their global business footprint.

“The internship also afforded me the unique chance to learn and understand some of the challenges faced by many small-and-medium-sized businesses, from Vancouver to St. John’s. And the support provided by EDC can be truly a game-changer for many of these companies.”

“All these, I believe, have greatly set me up for success for both my current role and beyond.”

Every day, a new adventure

Eric enjoys and excels in his role at EDC, where he manages a highly diversified portfolio of companies across many industries and dealing with different countries, which he says means there is never a “typical” day.

Every day is different, customized to the client and their current needs. Every transaction is particularly unique, which has been a very exciting part of my job.

“In essence, as part of the greater Southwestern Ontario team of Commercial Market and Small Business Account Managers, my role is really to serve as a trusted partner in finding creative ways to help Canadian exporters.”

Whether it’s through dealing with the businesses directly, or their banks, Eric connects them with EDC’s suite of solutions to ultimately help foster and facilitate trade.

After his success in the FITT program and his internship with EDC, Eric decided it was a natural next step to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation to cement his position among the global trade elite.

Clearing the last official hurdle to join the international trade elite

“Without a doubt, the FITT program really gave me the right tools and a solid platform to give my career in international business a boost. The courses were focused and practical and allowed me to hit the ground running once I was hired.”

I chose to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation because, frankly, there is really no other accreditation as widely respected and more broadly recognized by business professionals around the world.

“Being a CITP®|FIBP® genuinely enhances my credibility with business leaders and demonstrates my dedication to the profession. After years of hard-work, I am absolutely thrilled to earn my designation. Joining the membership of Canada’s growing elite network of international trade professionals has been a tremendous honour.”

Eric recently had the opportunity to be part of an interesting project promoting the importance of ethics, sustainability and social responsibility for young people looking to start their professional journeys.

“Earlier this year I got to be a part of EDC’s 2014 CSR Report project; speaking on the importance of corporate social responsibility for young professionals, especially when it comes to choosing where to start a career.”

If you check out the video he participated in here, you will see the passion and enthusiasm Eric has for EDC, and the opportunities that exist for young people to engage in sustainable, community building positions.

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Less than a year ago, an excited Megan Malone was selected to be an EDC-FITT intern. She had just graduated from Algonquin College’s FITT-accredited International Business Management program and completed a micro-enterprise development internship in Rwanda. She was ready to start her career and begin putting her global trade knowledge, skills and experience into action!

“Right from the beginning I was thrown in with the group and made to feel like a part of the team,” says Megan. “My team—the Small Business Solutions Group—is comprised of Account Managers, who each have their respective portfolios. We are required to know all of EDC’s products.”

Although her first few weeks with the Small Business Solutions Team could get slightly overwhelming at times due to the steep learning curve, she really enjoyed the new challenges. She was also surprised at the level of support and encouragement she received.

I’ve worked in a lot of places, and the one thing that really strikes me about EDC is that it’s all about collaboration and teamwork.

“The people I work with are all very busy every day, yet they have no problem taking time to explain something to you, or setting their own work aside to for a minute help you out.”

Learning on the job

Megan was encouraged to engage with and learn from EDC employees at all levels and in all different departments. She was also paired with an experienced EDC Account Manager named Mélanie Carter, who has helped mentor her through her training process on a more one-on-one level.

Megan is a delightful and positive person to work with and I trust that her clients sense her enthusiasm.

“From the beginning, Megan was all-ears on trying to assimilate as much information as possible, asking questions and integrating her learnings from her past experiences in Africa into her work here at EDC,” says Mélanie.

Within three months, Megan was trusted to take on her own portfolio of clients, which she says proved to be the best way for her to really understand EDC’s products and the ways that they can assist Canadian companies to grow their export sales.

“When you have clients calling you that are expecting to be in conversation with an expert, you make sure that you learn the products and capabilities that much faster” she says. “I’m still learning all of the time because there’s so much information to know, but the moment I got my own portfolio the learning process accelerated drastically.”

Putting knowledge and skills into action

Megan says her international trade training also made it a lot easier for her to jump in quickly and start working with clients.

“FITT trained individuals dedicate so much time to learning specifically about international trade, so they pick up a lot of the necessary language and skills,” she says. “It was surprising how much the FITT-accredited courses aligned with working at EDC, and it was assuring to see that my training really benefited me in my career.”

Not only did her FITT training help her with trade terminology and global business concepts, but it also it also equipped her with an awareness of other types of services that are available to assist companies doing international business. Megan says this helps her when she’s recommending the best solutions for her clients.

Although she came into her internship with a lot of knowledge under her belt, Megan says she can’t believe how much she has learned in such a short period of time.

“They don’t just take you on because it’s nice to have interns,” she says. “They take you on and invest in you as a potential future employee of EDC. Whether you end up staying with them or not, they put in the time and resources to make sure you learn a lot and get the most out of your experience.”

Starting in 2014, Megan became a permanent employee as an EDC Account Manager for the Small Business Solutions Team. She is also currently applying for her Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation.

The next EDC-FITT intern

Pretty soon Megan’s team will be taking on the next EDC-FITT intern. So what advice does she offer to this individual?

“Be outgoing, be confident in your abilities, and really work on building your connections at EDC,” she says. “This isn’t a very hierarchical organization, so you can really leverage the knowledge and experience of everyone from managers to directors, and even the senior VPs. Take advantage of the opportunity while you’re here, meet those people and learn from them.”

She also encourages the next EDC-FITT intern to take on new challenges fearlessly, and to ask for what they need in order to enhance their learning and gain more comfort in their position.

It’s a really good internship and I think it benefits people a lot. This is a place where as an individual you’ll benefit professionally and personally, and there’s so much opportunity for growth.

The application deadline for the next paid EDC-FITT internship is February 21, 2014. Eligible candidates are encouraged to contact their FITT Coordinators for more details on how to apply.

“We’ve been lucky to have had multiple interns from FITT, all of who have had a positive impact on the Small Business Solutions team,” says Mélanie.

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