Starting today, EDC and FITT have launched their first collaborative online training product, a powerful tool for Canada’s next generation of trade leaders.

It’s called EDC-FITT International Trade Training – a digital platform that offers courses and workshops for exporters new to the game, thinking about getting into it or looking to deepen their expertise.

Back in October, EDC announced a five-year collaboration with the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) with the goal of making international trade knowledge more accessible to professionals. EDC-FITT Training, now live and open for registration, is the first product of this partnership.

“Empowering global business professionals to be high performers through practical, industry standard-based training has long been one of FITT’s main missions,” says FITT President and CEO Caroline Tompkins. “EDC is a natural ally in building professional success in international markets. Teaming up with EDC to launch EDC-FITT International Trade Training is a wonderful opportunity to bring this world-leading training to more professionals.”

Online learning offers flexibility, allowing you to take the courses and workshops in any order and at any time that is convenient for you. The available course subjects accommodate all aspects of international business, teaching valuable, practical skills that can be used right away to advance careers and business success.

The EDC-FITT International Trade Training digital platform provides a new, easy-to-navigate place to take advantage of the complete FITTskills program. It will serve as a central hub for the latest training and resources for all global business professionals who want to be high performers and take their careers to new heights.

The post World-leading EDC-FITT International Trade Training launches today! appeared first on Trade Ready.

While it’s common to meet local residents during trips to other countries, few of these incidents have had as lasting an impact as the trip Takayo Shinji took from her native Japan to visit tea farms in Ningbo, China.

“I had a chance meeting with an old woman, who must have been 80 or 90, in one of the villages near to Ningbo. As we spoke and she explained how they dealt with the tea leaves, I realized she had likely witnessed the Japanese invasion of the area during the Second World War and could have lost relatives or friends during that invasion.”

“I was afraid to talk to her much longer, worrying I would hurt her feelings. So I bought a handful of tea and said ‘Thank you’ in Mandarin, preparing to leave. Right after I said it, she smiled, cried a bit, and replied ‘That’s what I was supposed to say to you. Thank you for buying these tea leaves.’ Seeing her forgiveness towards my country was a transformative moment, and helped me deal with my own feelings about my country and its past. She enlightened my life, and the experience motivated me to study abroad and work to improve the livelihoods of people like her through international trade.”

Moving to Canada to build her global trade skills

Soon after, Takayo moved from Japan to Vancouver, British Colombia to study at Ashton College and take the FITT-accredited International Business Management Diploma program.

“The instructors there helped cultivate the abilities of each student, and were always fair in all of their assessments and evaluations. I enjoyed learning more about global business and trade law, and would also recommend the International Trade Finance and International Sales and Marketing courses.”

Throughout the program, she also kept focus on her original goal of helping farmers and agricultural workers in less populated areas, particularly in China. Her sales and marketing project focused on how companies can take advantage of ASEAN regulations and China’s domestic transportation system to move more goods from China to neighbouring countries.

For her business plan project, she provided a product export model for small-scale domestic agriculture enterprises. Takayo’s supply chain project focused on how comprehensive multi-modal transport systems could revitalize local farming and manufacturing.

The program also offered opportunities to use some of what she learned in practical settings. Takayo took advantage of these opportunities to take on internships as an operations assistant in ocean freight at CEVA Logistics in Richmond, BC and at Canaan Transport Group in Vancouver.

Back to Japan to put her skills into practice

Upon graduating from her program at Ashton College and earning her FITT Diploma in International Trade in 2016, Takayo moved back to Japan to take a position with Sanko Air Seltech Ltd doing logistics work. A few months later, she started a new position at the Tokyo International Air Cargo Terminal as vice manager and export operator, offering her greater responsibilities.

Her duties included checking the condition of cargo, booking arrangements, handling contract documents and special load notices, customer service and data entry and management.

“We worked hard to ensure there were never any errors with any cargo or shipments, but it was still always a relief to hear when flights would land without any problems. Our team did an excellent job each and every time, and performed each step of our routine confidently and efficiently.”

She is now looking for a new role that will align with her goal of ensuring global trade will help society as a whole, and feels optimistic about her career future.

“I would like everyone to feel secure and hopeful for their future wherever they live. For all people, I want to improve infrastructure, energy supply, economic disparity, educational systems, welfare service, and more. I am going to improve these issues through working in international trade, step by step.”

Priming her future with prestigious professional achievements

Takayo has worked hard to add several awards, accomplishments and certifications to her resume. In 2016, she was given an award in excellence from the Institute for International Business Communication, an organization based in Japan focused on helping professionals who are trying to improve their English and global trade skills.

She also has her Canadian Transport of Dangerous Goods Certificate, Canadian Sales Professional Certificate, British Columbia FOODSAFE Certificate, Levels 1 and 2, and is a licensed customs specialist in Japan.

“I wish I had known what certificates I should get when I started my career in global trade,” she explains, “as they are so important to advancing my career goals.”

Her latest and proudest achievement was earning the elite Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®) designation in January 2018.

Having the CITP® designation will demonstrate my skills and expertise, and make any employers feel comfortable that I have everything I need to work for them. It also adds credibility to my career when doing business globally.

I’m grateful to everyone who has patiently supported me along the way, and helped me reach this important goal.”

With a strong sense of purpose and direction for her career, and her experience and accomplishments in hand, Takayo is poised to make waves in global trade in the years to come.

The post Takayo Shinji, CITP|FIBP – Logistics and Customs Specialist appeared first on Trade Ready.

Though trade wasn’t initially on Katherine’s radar, working in a role with an international focus had been her goal from the very start. It was this goal that facilitated her transition to the world of trade, shifting her career path in an exciting new direction.

“I hadn’t considered trade at the start of my career. During my studies in International Development at the University of Ottawa, I worked in a student placement at the Canadian Council on Africa. It was a great fit because of my interest in international work, but more importantly it was my first introduction to the world of trade and its role in promoting sustainable economic growth. Since then, most of my roles have revolved around this idea of bridging international trade and development.”

After graduating, Katherine held several positions in the Canadian government, including the Africa Bureau of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, and served 6 months in Nepal working on landmine issues and livelihood programmes in local communities.

In 2014, Katherine returned to the world of trade by joining TFO Canada (Trade Facilitation Office of Canada) as a Project Officer in their Trade Information Services team. TFO Canada’s mission is to reduce poverty by helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries export to Canada. Building the export capacity of SME producers helps to spur economic growth and development in local communities, so the role was a natural fit for Katherine, combining her interests in international development and trade.

“In the field of international development, you need to have an area of focus and technical skills to show what specific value you can offer. I chose to specialize in international trade, which has opened a lot of doors for me.”

Katherine (far right) Meeting with TFO Canada’s Advisory Council of trade representatives from developing countries.

Getting a clearer picture of the mechanics of trade

As part of her specialization in trade, Katherine decided to take the FITTskills courses. The experience not only expanded her knowledge, but also helped her to think about trade in new ways, improving her ability to help clients worldwide.

“When I joined TFO Canada, I knew that I needed to learn more about trade in order to better serve our clients in developing countries. I was able to take the FITTskills courses online, which enabled me to go through the material while I was working full-time.”

While some training programs are more theoretical, the FITTskills courses gave me real insight into the nuts and bolts of how trade actually gets done.

“I gained a much clearer picture of how goods move through a supply chain, how trade transactions are financed, and what risks and challenges businesses face internationally. I was able to speak with more confidence using a trade vocabulary.”

“The International Trade Finance course was my favourite because it was the topic I knew the least about. Finance was something I had taken for granted, without really thinking about its impact on trade transactions. Thinking about payment terms, liabilities, bills of lading, and all the other complexities of trade finance is critical, especially because access to credit is one of the main obstacles to trade for the SMEs I am working with. I was able to apply what I learned right away.”

Katherine was sponsored for two FITTskills courses by OWIT Ottawa (Organization of Women in International Trade), through a partnership with FITT and Export Development Canada to promote trade training amongst women in Canada. She is now a member of OWIT Lake Geneva, where she coordinates high-level panels, events, and receptions with UN, NGOs, private sector and women’s groups.

Helping businesses succeed in Canada

Since completing the FITTskills courses, Katherine has been able to apply what she learned to better serve SMEs from developing countries. A project she had a particularly strong impact on was producing a Guide on Exporting to Canada as well as conducting market research on key sectors for TFO Canada’s clients. She also supported TFO Canada’s export capacity building programmes, including developing training materials for workshops in the field and hosting SMEs at Canadian trade shows.

“Trade shows are where the magic happens. It is a real ‘all hands on deck’ experience, with our staff at TFO Canada supporting companies with logistics, booth displays, product selection, and matchmaking with potential buyers in Canada. The goal is both to familiarize companies with the Canadian market, and to provide real business leads based on where the Canadian market is moving.”

A transatlantic move to the United Nations

In 2016, Katherine moved to Geneva, Switzerland to complete her MBA at the University of Geneva in a programme specialized in International Organizations. Shortly after beginning this program, she applied for her elite Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) designation.

Having the designation is an easy way to show that I have skills, knowledge and expertise in international trade. It adds business credibility to the work I do in development, because companies know that I understand their business and the day-to-day challenges they face.

“I am also seeing the designation listed as a preferred qualification in job postings, so it is well recognized in today’s competitive job market.”

Katherine hiking the Swiss Alps to the famous Matterhorn (Toblerone) mountain.

While completing her MBA program, Katherine joined the International Labour Organization (a United Nations agency) working on monitoring and evaluation for a factory training programme in developing countries. To date, the programme has reached over 1,100 SMEs and 270,000 managers and workers with trainings to improve business competitiveness and working conditions.

“SME training is a pre-cursor to exporting and participating in global value chains. It’s becoming more competitive than ever to do business internationally, and global buyers are putting pressure on their suppliers to improve both productivity and labour standards. SMEs need to make sure they’re ready to meet those expectations.”

“We’re helping SMEs to modernize and improve their business and management practices, as well as ensuring that workers have a voice in the company and can contribute positively to improvements. A lot of what we do focuses on improving manager-worker relationships and creating shared benefits through decent work in SME factories.”

As she continues to deepen her trade expertise in this rewarding direction, Katherine looks forward to helping more SMEs, especially women-owned businesses, to develop the knowledge and management skills needed to excel in in global markets.

The post Katherine McGregor, CITP|FIBP – SME Development, International Labour Organization appeared first on Trade Ready.

Looking back to the beginning of her career, Desarai Mosher explains she selected international trade as a career path for two reasons: interest and practicality.

“I’d originally wanted to go to art school, but I decided I wanted to study something more practical instead. As I looked at other options, I wanted to get a feel for something I was going to like. I’d heard good things about the FITTskills courses, they sounded interesting and I thought they would help me specialize in something that would be helpful in my career.”

Born, raised, and still living at the time in Truro, Nova Scotia, she wanted to remain local and took the courses through Nova Scotia Community College, one of FITT’s educational partners. She says the courses provided immense value, helping her to understand international trade as a whole and decide what areas of her career she wanted to focus on going forward.

“There’s many topics – logistics, finance, research, just to list a few examples – and you don’t know what exactly will catch your eye. I love research and spent the beginning of my career focusing on that, but it’s good to have a knowledge of other topics like logistics. It makes it vastly easier to speak to people dealing with moving goods across borders, and being able to select the right partners, or know who to talk to in those areas.”

Taking market research to the highest levels of power

After completing her FITT courses and graduating from NSCC, Desarai got her first job at a business coaching and consulting firm. Spending a total of five years there, she has nothing but wonderful memories of her time with the company.

“It was a small company but we were a close-knit group, it felt like a small family. I also had the chance to work with fellow graduates from NSCC, who took the FITT courses, which I appreciated.”

Her specialization was in market assessment and research, helping companies with international vision develop their business foundations and plan for bright global futures. One of her favourite projects was a phased market report on how to manufacture and ship pre-made affordable housing worldwide, and the potential value adds of various markets.

“I absolutely loved it. My work has been read by key government officials in various countries in assessing affordable housing solutions for their nations. It’s a real point of pride for me that my work made its way in front of top international officials early in my career.”

It was during her time there that she also earned her Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) designation, which she has now held for a decade.

“One of my clients was a big support in my application. I was extremely proud of earning it at the time and remain proud, I always put it in my signature. People ask about it, which gives me the chance to chat about it with others, like clients or members of my team.”

How “doing what scares you” opened up a whole new career path

When her previous employer closed in 2010, Desarai began working at Stark International in her husband’s hometown of New Glasgow, in neighbouring Pictou County, where she remains to this day. The company has grown to be a leader in transformer field service for utility and industrial clients throughout Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean. Though she started off by continuing to work in market research, she soon found her skills translated into a talent for sales and business development.

I never thought I would be in sales or business development, but I’ve come to love working with clients daily. It’s important to do what scares you and try new things.

“It’s crucial to research and understand your market, no matter what you’re doing. Otherwise, you’re going to crash and burn. Doing that work helped me evolve into more of a strategic role, because over the years I’ve found it’s important to help your company learn. If we’re going to a specific market, what’s that going to look like? Doing all that research makes me successful in my sales role because I know who to speak with, what they want, and what value we might be able to provide.”

Among her other responsibilities, she has in recent years been the primary salesperson at her company for its U.S. division, TransFluid Services, and is proud to have helped drive their exponential growth there. With a focus on revenue generation, she has excelled at not only developing new clients, but also reinvigorating existing clients. Currently, she is playing a greater role in guiding the overall strategy of the company, with a goal of continuing to reinvigorate sales growth and doing more with existing clients while the company continues to expand in new markets.

Trained professionals in small companies and towns can make a big difference

Both in her previous and current job, Desarai has been able to work with fellow FITT graduates and CITP designation holders. She considers the training to be a valuable part of their team’s skills, and thinks more companies should look to hire those who have taken the FITTskills courses or earned their designation.

“We’re a strong proponent of FITTskills here at Stark. Since I began working with the company in 2010, Stark’s owner and President, Scott MacEachern, has hired a number of interns who have taken the FITT courses at NSCC, and we currently have two CITPs on the sales team as well as three graduates who aren’t CITPs yet.

You learn such useful and important skills for business development, and the training is a full circle approach to teach you about every area of international trade. Taking the courses or hiring those who have provides value, and works perfectly for what we do here.

Desarai views taking FITTskills courses as an important stepping stone for smaller or niche companies to venture into international markets and succeed.

“Companies like Stark that are specialized and want to export have a strong need for CITPs with a holistic view of international trade and a specialized education. Businesses with niche products or services have a great opportunity to introduce themselves in new markets, which tend to be open and embrace them. Students coming out of FITT programs should look for companies that are something special and different because of the chance to offer real value to those companies.”

Desarai is a strong advocate of the impact trained international trade professionals can have on smaller companies, in small towns and rural communities.  Desarai appreciates that she’s been able to grow her career while remaining between her own and her husband’s hometowns in Colchester County and Pictou County, Nova Scotia.

“One of key reasons I wanted to get involved is that I’m a small town girl from Nova Scotia. It was very important for me to stay, work and live in Nova Scotia, and to be in a position to create opportunities for others to do the same. FITT graduates and CITPs can make a huge difference for rural communities, by creating jobs, and generating revenue for those areas. I’m proud to be a part of that.”

With such impressive results in her career so far, Desarai is poised to continue to expand her career horizons and to help the community she values dearly. We wish her all the best in those endeavours.

The post Desarai Mosher, CITP|FIBP – Strategic Account Executive appeared first on Trade Ready.

Even at a very young age, Adrian Skowron was deeply interested in global news and international trade. With encouragement from his parents, who are entrepreneurs, he placed great value on staying updated on current events and global affairs. From there, international trade became a natural career path for him to pursue.

My parents’ influence and support are the main reason I got started in international trade. From a young age, they always made sure to keep me informed about world events and opened my eyes to the possibilities of global trade.

“One way they did that was allowing me to help at a with an import/export business they were running. That gave me a tremendous interest in trade, and I wanted to learn more about the industry.”

As he continued to work towards a career in trade, Adrian decided to take FITT-accredited courses through Seneca College’s International Business Program followed by Business Administration at York University.

This decision not only helped him further his business education, but also served as a special source of pride for his family.

“I would list graduating from college and university among my most important accomplishments, as my parents never had a chance to do so.”

He enjoyed taking FITT-accredited courses and has found what he’s learned helpful in his career.

The courses provided very good information to build the necessary skills for the international business industry. They also helped me add a broader skill set to the one I already possessed.

Adrian found that learning how to do effective international trade research was a crucial lesson from his FITT education.

“My favourite course was International Trade Research. I particularly liked this course because it showed you where and how to find information about different countries. It helped me understand that there is a tremendous amount of material out there to be used. The course also demonstrated the different aspects that could affect products and services. In one country a product might be fantastic, but in another it could be a major failure, depending on how well you did your research about the country and the need for your product there.”

“You should try to keep all relevant information you get through your education and career in a private library somewhere. You never know when you might need something. I have had examples where I had information from many years before that ended up being very useful in my career.”

Making a name for himself by helping others

After completing his education at Seneca and York, Adrian started working as an Account Manager with TransCore Link Logistics in Mississauga. He worked closely with clients to find the best product or service options for them, providing quotes and terms to help close sales.

Getting to deal directly with customers was rewarding for Adrian, and he was grateful to be able to help so many professionals engaged in trade to find exactly what they need.

“For me, the best part is being able to find solutions for business owners who need help importing or exporting. When you can find a successful, efficient and effective solution for a customer who in turn shows tremendous gratitude and happiness, that is my favourite part.”

After a year and a half with TransCore, he moved into his current role as an International Trade Advisor for Livingston International, the largest customs broker in Canada the United States.

He continues to work one-on-one with customers, helping them find compliant and efficient ways to import goods, as well as the customs brokerage service they need to do so. Able to handle a multitude of freight shipment issues, there are still few aspects of his job he enjoys helping his clients succeed in international business.

“There are so many stories and examples, but they all revolve around the same outcome. I feel great pride when I help companies move products in and out of Canada successfully.”

Standing out as a Certified International Trade Professional

To continue to grow in his career, Adrian successfully applied for the elite Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) designation. Now that he has earned the designation, he is proud to add it to his list of accomplishments and credentials.

“I was very happy to have finally received my designation. It was hard work to get to this point and I am happy to have achieved so much. It gives me more credibility when speaking to other industry professionals who operate in a global environment.”

“I believe that in my future career, this designation will help me stand out as an individual who has the knowledge needed to excel in international trade.”

The post Adrian Skowron, CITP|FIBP – International Trade Advisor appeared first on Trade Ready.

When Kristie Luk, CITP|FIBP first started her post-secondary education at the University of Windsor, she was looking at global options for her career path.

“As a student of international relations, I wanted a career where I would be able to be part of the big picture of business and government relations,” she remembers.

In her second year, she started a part-time job as a Release Clerk for DB Schenker, a major global supply chain and logistics company, at their Canadian border office in Windsor. With so many exciting challenges and opportunities in the industry, international trade grabbed her attention and became her long-term goal.

“I realized that international trade and global business is where I wanted to see myself grow and develop as a leader. The opportunities in trade are endless! There are so many different facets involved.”

After this positive experience, she encourages current students to broaden their horizons and skillsets by finding work in different areas of international trade, and see what they like best.

“Being able to have a balance between good grades in school and relevant work experience will really help propel you in the right direction – towards reaching your goals. My advice to young aspiring trade professionals is to be open-minded about the opportunities available in international business. You might yourself in a niche within trade that you never would have considered as an option for yourself!”

Winning awards and preparing for a bright future

After graduating from the University of Windsor in 2014, Kristie wanted to continue her international trade training, so she enrolled in FITT-accredited courses at Fanshawe College.

Over the next year, she excelled in her studies and won the FITT Achievement Award for her accomplishments both in the classroom and in her community. She says the program expanded her understanding of the international trade industry and is helping her see how everything fits together.

The FITT courses taken through Fanshawe’s International Business program were very helpful in developing a broader understanding of what international trade encompasses. It gave me the tools to think critically about the intricacies of trade and how each detail related back to the bigger picture.

As she began to see everything from a wider perspective, she also enjoyed studying international management. What was particularly rewarding was getting the chance to start putting all the lessons together in practical and applicable ways in her business plan project.

“My favourite course had to be International Trade Management. That course involved the research and creation of an international business plan. This comprehensive project gave me the opportunity to utilize all the other skills I acquired through the FITTskills program and apply them to create one finished product. This course and project demonstrated the reality of what businesses would have to go through to be prepared to delve into a new business venture.”

“I would definitely recommend the FITTskills courses to others interested in gaining a broad-spectrum perspective on global business and trade.”

Off to a good start in customs and compliance

Shortly after graduating, Kristie started working for Farrow, one of the biggest providers of customs and logistics solutions in Canada and the U.S. As a Quality Assurance Specialist, her role was part of a new team being put together, which she was excited to help get started.

“Being part of the team that built our new department at Farrow has been one of my most interesting projects so far. The team was created to improve internal quality and compliance in the company’s operational functions.”

Specializing in managing cases involving high-risk goods, she reviewed any items given this identification, prepared reports, assigned classifications to new items and reviewed new rulings and laws.

After over a year in the role, Kristie transitioned to a Trade Compliance Specialist position within the company. Her main role is now to advise clients and help them prepare customs compliance documentation as they ship goods across the Canada-U.S. border.

“In my new role, my team and I collaborate with the Consulting team within Farrow to work on various trade and customs compliance related projects for our clients. Other responsibilities include: work regarding compliance audits for CBSA, complex tariff classifications and preparation of advanced ruling requests on behalf of our clients for CBSA.”

Along with the new position, adding the CITP®|FIBP® designation to her list of credentials was a major career step. She hopes that it will prove her commitment to her work.

I am very proud to have joined the ranks of other CITP®|FIBP® members, since the designation is highly regarded for those working in global business and trade.

“By applying for and acquiring this designation, I have gained the acknowledgement of my skills, competencies and credibility as a trade professional. It represents to my peers and professional network that I have committed myself to a high degree of professionalism, integrity and continuous education. It also demonstrates my desire to ensure that my understanding and practice of international trade remains relevant and ethical.”

The post Kristie Luk, CITP|FIBP – Trade Compliance Specialist appeared first on Trade Ready.

Magali Bourdeilh, PACI|FPAI (the French acronym for CITP|FIBP) is the Coordinator, Procurement and Transportation Logistics for Mosaique Surface, a company specializing in custom stone mosaics.

After building up more than nine years of experience across the globe working in the U.S, China, Africa and Europe, she is excited to take on the new challenges of her latest role.

Putting the international in international trade

As she studied international trade in France, Magali took advantage of three incredible two month internship opportunities to get her career off the ground. First, she worked as a Production and Logistics Coordinator for a company selling tax and accounting software in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Next, she took on the role of Production and Distribution Coordinator at a company selling sculptures, gifts and tourist products based in Beijing, China. In the role, she studied commercial demand and took care of product management and stock control for the company.

Her final internship was as an Import Coordinator for a food and beverage company in Port Louis, Mauritius, the capital of the small African island nation located to the east of Madagascar.

Once she completed her diploma in International Business Management, the combination of her impressive international experience and linguistic proficiency (she is fluent in French, English, and has some knowledge of Spanish) made her an enticing candidate for many companies.

Her first full-time position was as a Pre-Shipping Inspection Coordinator for Bureau Veritas in Paris, one of France’s biggest companies and a world leader in compliance measurement, inspection and certification.

Magali became part of the company’s Nigerian department, and she was placed in charge of import licenses, pre-shipping inspections and ensuring importers get their Clean Report of Inspection (CRI) to obtain the necessary customs clearance.

“I would typically validate about 180 import licenses and amendments per month, and offer information and advice to exporters and suppliers. Verifying and certifying the final documents for customs clearance and storage documentation became my responsibility. I also got to train and supervise a team of six people to help with my work.”

I had to learn quickly, but it helped me learn how to be a leader in international business, and to adapt to any new situation that comes my way.

Reaching extraordinary heights in import export

After two years with Bureau Veritas, Magali moved up to an interim role as Import-Export Manager with Proengin, an American company (the head office is based in Florida) whose subsidiary is located in France, manufacturing equipment to detect harmful chemical or biological agents.

Their equipment is marketed and used in over 45 countries by various national armed forces, civil security personnel, first responders and customs agents.

Her responsibilities included dealing with the French military to ensure all regulatory approvals were met and all import/export paperwork met the proper criteria. She also managed and monitored air exports of the company’s products.

At the end of her four months, she transitioned into a new role as International Logistics Manager for Sogea-Satom, which is part of Vinci SA, the world’s largest construction company, employing over 185,000 people.

Responsible for arranging exports and major procurement projects in countries such as Madagascar, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon in Africa, Jamaica and the French overseas departments and territories: French Guiana on the South American continent, Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Atlantic Ocean, Mayotte and Réunion in the Indian Ocean and New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean, her experiences diversified further.

In fact, one of her experiences went far beyond global trade into outer space!

For one of my projects, I was responsible for the delivery of construction materials, various equipment, and spare parts for vehicles and construction site equipment in order to carry out the launch pad for Soyuz spacecraft in Kourou, French Guiana.

“In total, the budget for the project was U.S. $212 million.”

Magali frequently dealt with a great deal of logistical issues, from import licenses and pre-shipment inspections to creating export invoices for customs, managing air and sea exports and dealing with freight forwarders.

Through these efforts, Magali and her company were able to produce some amazing results.

“We built infrastructure and buildings that improved a lot of lives in many countries: hospitals, schools, buildings, roads, a desalination plant and a wastewater treatment plant are all examples that come to mind.”

Building a well-rounded skill set through import-export training

With extensive experience in many areas of international trade already, Magali wanted to continue to expand her horizons, and found FITT courses to be the perfect opportunity to do so.

It seemed essential to go back to my studies and take FITT courses last year to update my knowledge, especially in regard to international law, international finance, business management, logistics and international transport.

After completing her courses, she was excited to apply for her elite PACI (CITP) certification, knowing it will help her to pursue future opportunities.

“I’m very passionate about working in this dynamic and rigorous field, and I feel that I have all the skills and leadership abilities to take on any challenge that comes my way.”

She recently started in her current role as Coordinator, Procurement and Transportation Logistics, and enjoys the chance to work with the company’s over 100 distributors across Canada, the U.S. and England.

With such an extraordinary range of experience already, Magali will undoubtedly help her new company grow and will continue to thrive in her career for many years to come.

The post Magali Bourdeilh, PACI|FPAI – Coordinator, Procurement and Transportation Logistics appeared first on Trade Ready.

Abdel Azzouzi, CITP|FIBP, is a Manager of Trade Finance with Desjardins, specializing in structured and export finance.

Since first discovering FITT a decade ago, he’s used his training to take his career in new directions and build an impressive array of international trade expertise.

Finding a passion for the job

When Abdel began his international trade career in 2002, he was excited to start his own small business, but felt like he still had a lot to learn.

When I first started I had a lot of enthusiasm, but I was lacking expertise in international trade. You need that passion and desire to succeed in any job, but it’s good to have some tools to channel that desire, along with the proper skillset.

Running his own business offered him many opportunities to travel to target markets like Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, and helped him develop his skills.

After two years, however, he decided to leave his business and take a new role as an International Trade Officer with the Global Development Group. The two years he spent in the role proved to be a turning point in his career.

Building a comprehensive global trade worldview

In 2005, while doing an internet search on international trade, Abdel’s wife stumbled across a FITT document listing many of the various professions in global trade.

“When I saw the document, I took some time to look into FITT more closely. I saw them as an institution that would help my career.”

He therefore decided to start taking FITT courses, which he found to be immediately beneficial in his career.

The courses were very good because I could take the courses during the night, and then apply what I had learned the very next day in my job, as I looked for new markets and new businesses to work with.

“My favourite course was the International Marketing course, as it was most in line with what I wanted to do. It also applied perfectly to help me complete an international business development plan to provide procurement services in different countries. That’s one of the projects I’m most proud of.”

He also feels that the courses helped him become a more well-rounded and comprehensive international trade professional.

“The courses were a big help in every aspect of my job at the time. Taking them helped me build my expertise, skills and credibility.”

“The FITTskills program is the best one if you want to get the whole picture of international trade. No aspect is missing.”

Capitalizing on FITTskills training to move in a new career direction

In addition to his FITTskills training, Abdel also took his Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Ottawa from 2006-2008, worked as an independent consultant, and became a CITP®|FIBP® in 2007.

Being a CITP®|FIBP® demonstrates that I have a well-rounded understanding of every area of international trade. The skills I developed through FITT courses really help when talking to clients, and builds my credibility with them.

With his new education and designation, he started searching for a new job. Having FITT training turned out to be a huge asset, and took his career in an entirely different direction.

“I had an interview with the National Bank of Canada for a Manager of International Trade position. My problem was that I didn’t have any banking experience, and banks rarely hire people who don’t. During the interview, however, I drew a lot from the FITTskills courses I took and it made a real impression on the interviewer.”

“I got the job, and since I didn’t have that experience, I think that the FITTskills courses made the difference.”

Moving up in the banking world

After five years with the National Bank, Abdel moved to his current role with Desjardins. Once again, his FITTskills training and certification proved to be a crucial asset in getting this new job.

“I worked as a subject matter expert on FITT’s 5th edition Legal Aspects of International Trade textbook, which helped with the interview. Talking about FITT made a very good impression.”

Since he started in the role, Abdel mainly works on international transactions, talking to banks in Central America, South America, North Africa, the Middle East, Europe, India and China. It also involves a fair amount of travel, to places like India, and both Washington and Boston in the U.S.

When he’s not making the commute back and forth between Montreal and Ottawa, or supporting his favourite soccer (football) team, Barcelona, he continues to enjoy his work, and talks about FITT regularly.

“I recently talked to some colleagues who had heard about FITT and then got a lot of requests for information from them about FITT certificates and course options. They all had very, positive impressions.”

Now with over a decade of international trade experience, Abdel plans to continue to excel in the world of trade finance, and hopes to pass on the many lessons he’s learned along the way.

The post Abdel Azzouzi, CITP|FIBP – Manager of Trade Finance appeared first on Trade Ready.

Beverley Mawby, CITP|FIBP, is the National Account Manager for Premier Brands, and also owns her own company, Mawby Sales and Consulting.

After working with a major multinational corporation like H. J. Heinz Company of Canada LP for over 25 years, she is equipped to handle sales and inventory issues for any company around the world.

Turning a passion into a career

For Beverley, starting a career in international trade seemed like a natural step.

“I have always had a passion for travel and enjoy meeting and learning about new cultures,” she says.

When she received her first position in the industry in 1987, with Heinz Canada’s Specialty Business Department, she was therefore highly motivated to gain new experiences and learn as much as she could.

A great deal of what she learned came from the extensive hands-on experience her work offered her by working directly with the Export Manager.

“Many of my favourite memories are of travelling around the world for a great company like Heinz – meeting fellow Heinz colleagues, distributors, brokers and customers, but also learning about new cultures.  I love getting to eat new foods, try new things, and learn new languages and customs.”

Over the course of her career, Beverley was able to travel to several countries, such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, and most notably Russia.

Feeding thousands of children through a global trade initiative

One of the highlights of Beverley’s career involved her travel to Russia, which was part of a larger project over two years in the making.

“In 1992, I heard about a line of credit that the Canadian government was offering to Russia.  I started the ball rolling and over two and a half years of my career – and after many revisions, changes, and hurdles to cross, the deal was finally signed. The Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney and the Russian government signed the document in Moscow, during one of his visits.”

Then Heinz Canada proceeded to ship over $20,000,000 US of 3 varieties of baby food to Northern Russia.  I had the fortune to visit Moscow, and other areas in Russia due to this sale.

The trip was also memorable because of one other stop along the way. While in Moscow, she was taken to a night club just outside of the city that had formerly been a KGB bunker!

Several years later, she was able to use the experience gained from her baby food project to help a boy in Brampton raise enough money to ship an entire container’s worth of baby food donations to Haiti. Beverley stepped in to assist him with the shipping and delivery process.

Augmenting her passion with global trade training

Beverley enjoyed the travel and excitement of her career so much that she decided she wanted to study international business through FITTskills courses at Ryerson University.

“Because I was working full time…I chose to take the night school approach. I loved what I was learning.”

I really enjoyed the content of the courses and to this day I have my text books. There is a wealth of information in these books.

After finishing the courses, she applied to become an elite CITP®|FIBP®, and feels that doing so is proof of her continuous desire and work to be the best in her field.

Taking the courses and gaining her designation has opened up some great opportunities for her as well.

“I have lectured at some community colleges because of my CITP®|FIBP® designation, which I enjoyed very much. I also gave a speech one year at the FITT annual conference and was a judge at an international marketing competition at a college, which was also fun.”  She would love to do more engagements.

Following the path to career excellence

Throughout her education, travel and exciting projects, her career at Heinz continued to soar. As Department Manager of Export Sales from 1992-1999, she helped the company expand into new markets around the world, and worked with their R&D team to develop new products that would be unique to Asian, Middle Eastern and African markets.

From there, she spent another six years as Manager of Sales, Logistics, Export and Liquidation, and helped to implement more effective “Best Practices” in the company’s warehousing operations, national product launches, business development and liquidations.

After a three year stretch managing Heinz’s GTA district accounts, she was tasked in 2008 with helping to integrate Renee’s Gourmet products and business model after Heinz took over the company, and negotiated major new deals with Canadian retailers.

Once the process was completed, she went back to managing Key Accounts across the GTA from 2009-2013, while also balancing duties as Liquidation Manager and Export Manager.

Taking her talents in a new direction

After Heinz was purchased by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital in 2013, Beverley left the company and found having her CITP®|FIBP® designation to be very helpful.

By having my CITP®|FIBP® designation, I feel it has opened up doors for me during my career.  It allowed me to be apply for more jobs because of my extensive experience.

Initially, Beverley took a job as Senior Key Account Manager for Marc Anthony Cosmetics, overseeing sales across Canada as well as expansion into markets in Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

Now, in her new job with Premier Brands, she is managing sales across Canada, while also using her experience to help the company expand into the U.S. market for the first time. On top of that, she continues to run her own consulting company, specializing in assisting companies to open up new areas to sell their products, as well as finding outlets to deplete their surplus assets.

Beverley also takes time to pursue other passions, including volunteering with the Humane Society, being a member of a Women’s Synchronized Skating team, and mountain biking.

As her career continues, we’re excited to see what’s in store for her next.

The post Beverley Mawby, CITP|FIBP – National Account Manager appeared first on Trade Ready.

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.

The post Eric Agyemang, CITP|FIBP – Small Business Account Manager appeared first on Trade Ready.