So, while it may be a bit cliche, let’s consult the experts here so we have a nice clear starting point. 

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines a professional as “a person who has the type of job that needs a high level of education and training.” It also lists the definition as “someone who has worked hard in the same type of job for a long time and has become skilled at dealing with any problem that might happen.” 

Aptly, when developing the CITP, FITT carefully chose this word to anchor its acronym. Every CITP that FITT designates has amassed a valuable amount of industry knowledge, honed practical skills and proven experience in the field. Most importantly, they are highly skilled at dealing with any international trade challenge that may arise – increasingly valuable in today’s shifting trade environment. 

But when you think about the word “professional,” the definition in your head is likely slightly different from both the Cambridge English Dictionary’s and everyone else’s, and that’s because professionals come from all over the world, from all walks of life.  

Different pathways, different journeys, all CITPs

A quick browse through the CITP Spotlights stories and you’ll find individuals who began their careers as eager students with clear-cut visions of becoming international trade professionals, and you’ll find stories of people who discovered the designation later in their careers, either while working in the field or after making a career pivot because something sparked their passion for international trade. There’s not one narrow pathway to earning that high level of professionalism and expertise within the field of international trade. And therefore, there’s more than one pathway to earning the CITP. 

Multiple pathways provide flexibility and reduce barriers to the certification, making the process more accessible to a broader range of qualified candidates while maintaining the certification’s integrity. It allows FITT to recognize diverse qualifications and experiences, providing more inclusive access to the certification. 

Take Audrey Marie-Nely, for instance, who always knew she wanted a career in international business.

From a young age, she had a deep curiosity for different cultures, languages, and global markets. Hailing from France, her academic and professional journey took her around the globe, where she explored the complexities of international trade and innovation. From there, earning her CITP designation was a natural process. She knew that the FITTskills program would update her knowledge and expand her practical skills, giving her current-day insights and real-world applications to immediately integrate into her work, and was a pathway to validating her overall professionalism. She is now Associate Vice-President of Banking at RBCx.
 

Nil Özçelik Razavi, PhD, on the other hand, learned about the CITP after moving to Canada from Turkey to complete her doctoral research in translation studies. 

After finding career opportunities in academia limited, she pivoted her career trajectory and became a Trade Expert at the Commercial Office of the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa—broadening and validating her expertise by taking FITTskills training and then earning her CITP designation this year.  

Bolstering his 15 years of international trade experience, Sumit Khanna took a different route and set his sights on the CITP designation through the executive path, a designation option specifically made for experienced executive-level roles.

He understood that, in addition to his stellar work background, credibility in Canada’s competitive business environment required more than just experience. He is currently Managing Partner at White Cruz International and Business Management Program Creator and Instructor at A1 Global College of Health, Business, and Technology. 

Where all pathways converge

While the pathways to becoming a CITP are different for each person, the rock-solid validation administered by FITT is always the same. And this is where all definitions for the word “professional” converge onto the same level playing field. 

There is a trust and confidence that people require when working with someone who is a true accredited professional. And while many people say they are professionals, not all of them have the certification to back up their claims. Let’s just say, Frank Abagnale, portrayed as a serial fraudster in the movie Catch Me If You Can, most certainly wouldn’t have been able to pose as a CITP with FITT’s rigorous standards at the helm. 

What are the different pathways to earning your CITP?

* Pathway 3 is currently unavailable. 

FITT designed its pathway system to include the many different stages of a professional’s life. Candidates must first meet all CITP eligibility requirements before applying for the designation.  

There are multiple pathways to the CITP.

You can: 

1. Earn your FITT Diploma and meet the work experience requirement for this pathway. To do this, you must successfully complete the FITTskills Program requirements, either through FITT or a FITT Educational Partner, and complete at least 3 years of full-time international business experience related to one or more of the 15 CITP competency categories.  
2. Earn a relevant educational credential by completing a minimum 2-year post-secondary international business program or 1-year post-graduate international business program. On this pathway, your education and work experience (requires 3+ years of full-time work experience) combined, assessed through a portfolio, must cover all 15 of the CITP competency categories. 
3. Meet the work experience requirement of FITT’s executive pathway. This requires having 10 years of full-time work experience in international business related to all 15 CITP competency categories in executive-level roles.  
4. Meet the work experience requirement of FITT’s CITP Exam pathway. This includes at least 5 years of full-time work experience in international business related to one or more of the 15 CITP competency categories, followed by the successful completion of the CITP exam if your application is approved. 

Professional validation backed by industry-developed standards

Whichever pathway you choose, you can rest assured that your work experience and depth of professional knowledge will be held to the highest standards of validation. This is a rigorous process that FITT takes pride in because professionals should not be able to call themselves professionals without meeting industry-backed standards.

Learn how standards are developed, validated, and compiled in FITT’s Body of Knowledge

For international trade professionals, the FITT CITP Competency Profile sets forth these standards, and it encompasses 15 major competency categories, 26 skill areas, 78 subskills, over 1,100 performance and knowledge statements.  

Suffice it to say, the word “professional” is one that we take seriously at FITT, and we’re proud to do so. Ask any one of our CITPs, and you’ll likely see that same gleam of pride when it comes to their ownership of the word too—it’s easy to see why. 

Learn more about FITT’s CITP pathways 

If you’re not sure which pathway suits your experience, or think you may qualify for more than one pathway, take our CITP®|FIBP® Next Step Connector Quiz. You’ll learn the fastest way to earn your CITP certification.  

The post More than one way to validate your professional status: CITP pathways explained appeared first on Trade Ready.

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.”

The post CITP Spotlight: Manpreet Kaur – Trade Credit Insurance Underwriter, Intact appeared first on Trade Ready.

The creation of his first trading company in 2009 marked the beginning of Juan Navarro’s career in international trade. Being an entrepreneur, Juan had always been deeply interested in global business which led him to launch his next venture, Arriba Mexico Food Company in British Columbia in 2013. This new expansion gave him the opportunity to practice all the skills needed for international trade—from attending international trade fairs to building partnerships. He also made use of the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), creating sales strategies to introduce new grocery products into the Canadian Market, managing exchange rate risk and negotiating terms and conditions with supermarkets and managing inventories.

“Likewise, with my company CMX Partnerships, I have been completing and presenting research projects and studies on international trade and investments issues to leading organizations, research centres, business associations, universities and governments.”

Being recognized as one of the top businesses in British Columbia

As a founder of Arriba Mexico Food Company, Juan is proud to have put his venture in the spotlight of the business community. The company has been recognized by the prestigious Small Business BC (SBBC) awards as one of the top companies in British Columbia in the international trade category for two consecutive years.

Working in his current role as Director and Principal Researcher at CMX Partnerships, Juan has successfully completed reports and delivered presentations for business leaders and senior officials from different countries and has had the opportunity to share the stage alongside outstanding leaders and experts in the international trade field.

He has also published and/or presented his analytic reports at several organizations including the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the French Pacific Territories Pacific Economic Cooperation Committee (FPTPEC), the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, the School of Public Policy of the University of Calgary and the Canadian International Council, among others.

Providing strategic advice on trade policy to senior officials

Among Juan’s proudest professional accomplishments is the completion of in-depth analyses, studies and recommendations on international trade and trade policy to senior officials. His analytic reports have covered topics related to investments, cross-border trade in services, electronic commerce, competition law, transparency, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), supply chains, business facilitation and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

His research reports have been conducted from a business perspective and presented comparative analyses in the context of trade pacts, namely the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific (CPTPP), the Pacific Alliance, the Canada-United States Mexico Agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), among others.

Global trade is an inclusive activity open to businesses of all sizes

A misconception about global trade that Juan would like to set straight is the assumption that it is an activity reserved only for large companies that import or export goods. He firmly believes that international trade is an inclusive activity that allows any business to expand its growth, regardless of economic size and sector.

“We all have the responsibility to promote an inclusive and effective use of global trade by creating more awareness about its relevance in society. Companies resistant to participating in global trade are losing huge opportunities to boost their business beyond borders and engage in new markets. In this time of the digital economy, international trade is a tool at our fingertips, and everyone can participate and benefit from it.”

As Juan gathered more experience and expertise in his field, he realized that there was one more step he needed to accomplish to complete his professional credentials. He, therefore, decided to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation through the Executive Path, a route to CITP certification that is designed for highly experienced professionals who have a minimum of 10 years of experience in international trade.

Three main factors motivated him to earn the distinguished designation:

1. It is a globally recognized professional certification
2. The CITP®|FIBP® designation is a symbol of competency for professionals in international trade
3. The designation is conferred by a prestigious institution like FITT

Juan was presented with the CITP®|FIBP® in December 2020 and it is a source of pride and achievement for him to be a part of this elite group.

“I am very honoured at having received the approval to join this great community of international trade professionals. I think this designation will open new opportunities to engage with colleagues in the international trade field. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences and learning from them as well.”

Juan already has a wealth of knowledge and experience on his side. Now, equipped with a unique stamp of excellence and credibility, there’s no limit to how far his potential can carry him.

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With nearly two decades of experience, fluency in four languages (English, French, Spanish and Portuguese), an MBA, a Master’s degree in science and her CITP designation, Griselda Ramos brings an impressive and unique combination of assets to her international trade career.

After earning a degree in veterinary medicine from Mexico and her M.Sc. in animal science from Australia, she moved back to Mexico for her first job as a technical affairs officer with a veterinary pharmaceutical company.

Realizing how business knowledge could augment her scientific expertise, she then went back to school to earn a marketing diploma and took a new job as a marketing assistant with Merial Mexico (now part of Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies). In her new role, she combined her two areas of knowledge to implement marketing strategies, coordinate events, design brochures and marketing tools, and perform market research.

Adding international trade to her science and business background

Two years later, Griselda moved to Canada and began working at CiToxLab, a contract research organization dedicated to outsourcing pre-clinical research services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry worldwide, as their Global Business Development Manager.

“I was helping to contract research services throughout all phases of drug development from preclinical to clinical phases I – IV, and worked heavily with companies in both North America and Europe. I also opened new markets for the company in the U.S., Spain and Australia. One of my career highlights was the first time I signed a single contract worth more than a million dollars!”

She has now lived in the Montreal area for over a decade, working for pharmaceutical companies in various business development and consulting positions. Her work has helped these companies meet their sales goals, acquire many new customers worldwide, meet their customers’ regulatory requirements, and monitor and analyze data related to drug development and clinical trials.

During her time in Montreal, she has also made professional development an important focus. In 2007 she earned her diploma in project management from McGill, and then graduated from Concordia’s Executive MBA program in 2015.

Exploring new trade opportunities as a CITP

In 2019, Griselda applied for and earned her Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation through the Executive Path, specifically designed to accelerate the process for professionals with 10+ years of trade experience.

I applied because I wanted to give a professional and international boost to my career  while continuing to build my network. I am thrilled to now be a CITP! I feel that it is a very powerful tool that can help me meet my career goals.

As a talented expert in the international pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, Griselda is poised to continue to excel in this field and to help companies meet even the most ambitious sales and acquisition goals.

The post Griselda Ramos, CITP|FIBP – International Business Professional appeared first on Trade Ready.

Hossein Mashatan, MBA, CITP|FIBP, has been living and breathing international trade, in one form or another, for over 35 years.

After earning his BBA degree from Tehran Business College in 1973, he went on to receive a full scholarship from the Central Bank of Iran to attend the MBA program at the American University in Washington D.C. He earned his MBA degree in 1975.

Reflecting on his time in academia, Hossein states, “My academic background and passion for researching and analyzing international trade’s contribution to the economic development of nations provided me with a solid platform to pursue my professional career in this field.”

His first professional foray into international trade came a few years later when he had the opportunity to join a center for bulk importation of steel products in Iran as an executive. He was charged with negotiating with major steel mills around the world, unique experience he would carry with him to future endeavors.

Over the next twenty years Hossein oversaw international trade activities in several sectors, including energy, automotive, and textiles. He also managed multinational companies involved in manufacturing auto parts, heavy machinery, and water treatment. One of the most enjoyable aspects of his work during these two decades involved immersing himself in his target markets.

“The last enriching flavour to the above period was my management of solo trade exhibitions in the selected target markets, such as Canada, Mexico, Italy, and Dubai, in the mid-nineties.”

Tackling complex projects in a complex environment

Also in this period, up until the early 2000s, Hossein faced challenging international business conditions. These included volatile economies, unforeseen changes in regulations and political instability in his region of the Middle East.

I was personally was under constant pressure for timely delivery of items needed by the production lines, setting up the supply chain systems for automotive manufacturers with diversified bill of materials, inquiries with already set quality standards, and expected quantities and arrival times, during a time of economic upheaval.

But Hossein persevered and met with success in his business, in no small part due to his skills with international diplomacy and intercultural competencies.

“Interactions with international suppliers with different cultural and business values have always been critical, and an inspiring part of my professional life. Procurement plans and scheduled purchasing orders necessitated visiting suppliers’ facilities in various origins, and receiving them reciprocally to discuss pending issues. This sometimes involved lengthy technical negotiations, working towards mutually satisfactory terms of contracts.”

“In particular, I have been fortunate to have visits and negotiate trade deals with major auto manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, and Toyota. I’ve also visited steel mills in Japan, South Korea, and Europe, and textile raw material producers in Europe, China, and India. For all these trade deals, I had face-to-face negotiations with their top executives, through which I honed my skills in providing amicable solutions for complexities arising in international trade practices.”

Building a procurement network stretching across the globe

Hossein put his learned skills and considerable experience to work starting his own firm in 2002, Mashimex Inc, offering industrial procurement and engineering solutions.

He says that every single procurement and export business had its own unique attributes in terms of financial engineering, payment methodologies, logistics, multi-modal transportation, risks, after sales services, inspections, guaranties, and laws and regulation considerations on both sides. To facilitate the above functions, Hossein founded and managed several trading arms in major business hubs around the world.

“In particular, our companies in Dusseldorf-Germany, Dubai-UAE, and Toronto-Canada have facilitated market entry strategies and provided direct access to the local vendors, chambers of commerce, banks, tenderers, trade associations, specialized fairs and exhibitions, research facilities, and information centers.”

For the past 15 years, Hossein has lived and managed international trade activities in Canada, which he has found to be a positive opportunity and he has been able to find great success working from this new home base.

“I have been able to effectively identify Canada’s competitive advantages to introduce to my associates, contacts and affiliates as well as end-users in the Middle Eastern market.”

Leadership is built on a foundation of proven knowledge

Throughout Hossein’s professional career, teaching and executive training have been his passion and consistent side-activity.

I believe that in the ever-changing international trade environment bursting with new innovations such as e-commerce, practitioners and professionals need to attend professional development training courses and seminars.

Not long after setting up in Canada, Hossein discovered the Forum for International Trade Training and wanted to get involved.

“On a daily basis, I go through the inquiries I receive and manage proper sourcing.  My job necessitates that I follow the news and events in international trade topics and try to bridge the gap between the players in Canada and other markets I deal with. This includes checking WTO, EDC, and of course FITT’s (FITTforTrade.com and TradeReady.ca) websites every day.”

“After approaching Seneca College in pursuing my passion for teaching, I learned about the elite CITP®|FIBP® designation. Considering my level of experience, I applied via the executive path with confidence, and was honoured that my application was accepted by the committee. This designation means a lot to me and opened an exceptional window to the world of international trade professionalism.”

Hossein recognized the value in the FITTskills training and certification, and has been a strong advocate for the program ever since.

“As a practitioner and instructor in international trade, I found FITT to be a unique organization with a perfect assortment of courses needed by individuals pursuing international trade related services.”

I would strongly recommend all recruiters and employers to either require FITTskills courses as a prerequisite, or to invest in their staff by sending their employees to take FITTskills courses as professional development.

“I have always advocated for FITT among my friends and colleagues here. At the moment two of my family members are taking the courses based on my recommendation, and have found them extremely helpful.”

Seeing a wealth of opportunities for Canadian exporters in largely untapped markets keeps Hossein motivated and confident in the work he does with businesses of all sizes.

“I believe for Canadian exporters there are still markets, such as in the Middle East, that have the potential to be explored further with efficient market entry strategies. I can assist institutions such and individual exporting companies as a consultant to enhance these trade activities.”

The depth of Hossein’s experience in international trade from more than three decades of extensive engagement as a top executive in large manufacturing and trading companies will no doubt continue to benefit international businesses in Canada and beyond.

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