Born and raised in Paris, Julien Rosan had two passions while growing up—traveling and playing Monopoly—both inseparably linked to the intriguing world of international trade. Little did he know then that his fascinations would soon transform into an exciting career that would take him across the world.  

Julien went on to obtain a master’s degree in international trade administration along with a master’s in business administration in marketing and got his first work experience in Europe, North America, and Australia. His career has taken him far away from his native France, and today he works for the Government of Canada in the United States. 

Successfully rising to challenges early on in his career

After just a few days in his new job after moving to Chicago, Julien happened to bump into the CEO who asked if he would be able to secure his first deal by the end of that month. 

‘I had no clue if I could deliver on this promise, but I confidently stated, “For sure!”. Lucky me, and my French, I was able to sign a brand-new account from Quebec on the very last day of the month.’

Another notable occasion when Julien’s innate problem-solving skills came to the fore was while he was part of an official, high-level diplomatic delegation to meet with the executive leadership of one of the world’s largest healthcare corporations.

The situation became complicated when just a few hours before the meeting, a health scandal broke out, making allegations against the company they were scheduled to meet with. As this triggered an immediate public reaction from the Minister of Health back home, the onus was on Julien to navigate the sticky situation.

Displaying exceptional stress management skills, he delivered a last-minute confidential briefing to officials on this sensitive issue, thus successfully managing to ease the tensions and move forward smoothly with the proceedings. 

A moment of pride

When nominated for the Emerging Leaders Program of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Julien had the chance to analyze global issues with his peers and meet with thought leaders, foreign officials, and policymakers. The highlight of this program was attending the Chicago Council’s Centennial Celebration honoring President Barack Obama and Yo-Yo Ma. 

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.

Julien’s advice to the newbies: The importance of networking can never be over-emphasized

At the beginning of his career, Julien relied on his knowledge and interpersonal skills to find a job, or to move to the United States. But during the course of his career, he has come to understand how crucial it is to network, seek referrals, and build professional relationships. Nowadays when he receives LinkedIn requests from students seeking advice or internship connections, he makes it a point to remain as approachable and helpful as ever.

“I love this proactive approach and always keep my door open as I can see myself in them 10 years ago.”

International trade training that kept him on his toes

Julien already had 10 years of professional experience before he earned his FITT Diploma. However, he chose to sign up for FITTskills courses as he knew the training would help polish his existing knowledge and equip him with practical, real-world insights.

“The online exam questions – combining critical thinking and real-world case studies – kept me on my toes.”

“My favorite FITTskills course was International Market Entry Strategies as I have a personal affinity for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). I also appreciated the Intercultural Competence module included in this course.” 

A desire to formalize his knowledge and experience

As a Trade Commissioner working for Global Affairs Canada, Julien wanted to pursue a certification that would help him excel in his position, and that would be highly valued within his organization. He applied for the prestigious, industry-recognized CITP®|FIBP® designation which he earned in April 2022. The addition of this valued credential to his professional portfolio gave him a sense of achievement and satisfaction. 

Julien looks forward to leveraging the distinguished designation to continue to excel in his career and to contribute to furthering the cause of international trade.  

His talent, knowledge, and rich experience in his field have set the stage for greater successes and an ever-soaring professional trajectory in the years to come. 

The post CITP Spotlight: Julien Rosan – Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada appeared first on Trade Ready.

Damien Violante is a Product Purchaser and Team Leader with over 10 years of experience in the industrial field.

Over the duration of his career, he has worked in all areas of supply chain management in an industrial setting, developing expertise in sourcing, purchasing, supplier relationship management and negotiation in North America and Europe.

Among his major accomplishments, Damien has developed purchasing processes from the ground up for Siemens Transmission and Distribution in his native Grenoble, France, and helped coordinate a major project in Algeria. Despite his success in France, Damien has fallen in love with Canada and looks to take his career there in the future.

The industrial path to international trade

Though he may not have known it at the time, Damien’s journey in international trade actually began in 2004, when he graduated from Vaucanson University in Grenoble, France with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Industrial Technology.

He was hired on as Maintenance Team Leader that same year for STMicroelectronics, a semiconductor manufacturer, a position he held for 8 years. This role gave him a strong foundation in leadership and project management, and cemented his knowledge in industrial manufacturing.

During his tenure with STMicroelectronics he became interested in international processes. He found the time to earn his Master’s degree in Management, Specialized Purchasing in 2009 from the Institute d’Administration des Enterprises and his Masters in Purchasing Management, Supply Chain and Procurement from Grenoble Ecole de Management in 2011.

Forging a new path for a world-leading manufacturer

This led to a job offer with Siemens Energy, where he was tasked with developing a new purchasing process for high voltage portable power solutions. Damien’s knowledge base in international manufacturing and project management made him the perfect candidate to take ownership of the task.

He took full responsibility of commodity management, which involved a high proficiency in sourcing, qualification, negotiation, developing contracts, and managing supplier relations to their frequent trading partners in Africa and Eastern Europe.

The processes he was developing as the leader of the procurement department would soon come into play when an important project came to Siemens from Algeria.

Damien and his team were a key component to the project, supplying 30 electrical substations to the country over the course of a year. He was tasked with implementing a sourcing strategy for trailers that involved calculating total costs and looking for opportunities to save money.

The project was a resounding success, with Damien and his team contributing to a total savings of 300,000€ off the budget. He and his colleagues were gratefully recognized by Siemens’ management in the company newsletter.

Following opportunity all the way to Canada

Fresh off his success with Siemens Damien felt it was time for a new challenge. He took advantage of an opportunity to come to Canada with his wife and baby daughter, and study business English. As he studied, he took on a marketing internship position at the CCEL Canadian College of English Language.

It was at this time he discovered FITTskills courses at Canadian College in Vancouver and decided to further his education in international trade.

“I had an opportunity to study for my FITT Diploma in Vancouver. Over six months, I learned a lot of interesting material in my courses with some amazing teachers.”

Damien identified value in getting a North American certificate in trade on the international stage.

I think this diploma will be very valuable for me in the future because it is a North American Certificate that could give me great opportunities.

Another impressive quality he shares with many of his fellow international trade professionals is his ability to not only learn a new language, but study global trade in that new language. Of the experience he says,

“It was very interesting for me to learn in English. The way that North America teaches is totally different from Europe, and I was so happy to open my mind with this experience.”

Becoming an online entrepreneur

Damien enjoyed his time in Canada and it opened his eyes to a world of new possibilities. Damien went back to Grenoble in April 2015 and is now pursuing a new passion for e-commerce.

“I created several websites for garments and laptop accessories. I had to find my sources in Asia and I think it was a continuation of my love for international trade because I had to create a supply chain, deal with customs, and marketing. Today, I am working on a new project for organic garments for kids.”

Fully committing to Canada and international trade

He earned his CITP designation shortly after returning,

Earning my CITP|FIBP designation was, for me, an achievement. This title represents a wide range of knowledge and a very good asset for an employer.

“I decided to leave my country with my wife and my daughter (6 months) for this goal and it was, for us, an incredible experience.”

Damien and his family are looking for opportunities to return to Canada. Earning his CITP|FIBP designation may be the key to finding his dream international trade position in his new home country.

“We fell in love Canada, and I think that for the future, if I can come back in Canada, my CITP|FIBP designation will help me to find my footing with Canadian employers.”

The post Damien Violante, CITP|FIBP – Product Purchaser appeared first on Trade Ready.

Christine Colevray, CITP®|FIBP®, is a Vice-Consul and Trade Commissioner with Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) at the Consulate of Canada in Düsseldorf, Germany.

With a lifelong interest in international business, she is proud to help Canadian companies develop their export potential, and eager to continue to learn more as she does so.

Christine’s roots are in France, and her initial post-secondary education in Management was in Lyon.  She also took opportunities to study in the UK and the Netherlands, and she pursued an internship in New York, NY.

Christine then went on to build over a decade of experience working for food companies, enabling her to combine her passion for international trade with her love of food.  Most notably, she worked with Plaisirs Gastronomiques—a high-end food company based out of Quebec.

While she was doing business all over Canada and the United States, Christine built relationships with countless different restaurants, grocery stores and other food retailers to increase sales and expand consumer accessibility to quality food products.

Desiring to “open new horizons and work more directly in international business development,” Christine decided to join the Canadian government as a Trade Commissioner, initially with a focus on commercial relations in southern Africa.

After working in two other roles in the public service, Christine took on her current job in Düsseldorf. She now focuses on helping Canadian companies—primarily those working on clean technologies, such as waste and water treatment, fuel cell designs as well as companies from the wood sector—expand into German markets.

“We all know how challenging export can be,” she says. “The path is always risky and complicated. I find it very rewarding to help Canadian companies export to Germany, by highlighting their expertise, finding them a local partner or helping them settle in Europe.”

While Christine had already added a Master’s in International Administration to her resume in 2007, she was eager to continue learning about international trade. This quest led her to the FITTskills courses, which she was able to take through DFATD.

“Even though I have worked for a few years in international trade,” Christine notes, “I know I still have a lot to learn and will always have to learn as our world continuously changes.”

 FITT offers concrete training that takes stock of the various challenges exporters have to face and the spectrum of solutions available to them.

Now that she has completed her courses and earned her CITP®|FIBP® designation, Christine is excited to find new opportunities for Canadian businesses to thrive and expand internationally.

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