In closing out the 2018 celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the CITP designation, FITT held a contest offering a chance to win 3 hours of free 1-on-1 mentorship from a CITP and global business expert/ entrepreneur.

We’re thrilled to announce the winners of the CITP20 Mentorship Contest, Entrepreneur Edition!

Congratulations to our lucky winners!

• Emily Dalphy
• David Kappele
• Katie Findlay
• Miguel Dos Santos
• Pavan Kulkarni

Each of our winners will enjoy dedicated mentorship time with a global business expert. They will benefit from personalized guidance and expert help to solve key global business challenges, learn how to overcome barriers to trade, and to improve their global trade know-how!

Meet the mentors!

What’s a CITP?

The Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) is the world’s leading professional designation in global business.

If you work in global business or aspire to do so, the CITP designation is the right choice for you. Whether you work in import/export, logistics and supply chain management, business development, marketing, or other fields, the CITP designation is proof that you have the competencies needed to compete with global players.

Enhance your knowledge and credibility with the leading global trade training and certification experts, and get the know-how and confidence you need to access new global markets.

Want to hear about any future mentorship opportunities? Subscribe to our mailing list to be among the first to hear about them.

The post Meet the winners of the CITP20 Mentorship Contest, Entrepreneur Edition 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.

The post Hossein Mashatan, CITP|FIBP – President of Mashimex Inc. appeared first on Trade Ready.

When Brendan Ezeanowi decided to immigrate to Canada to further his education, he knew he wanted to explore career options in international business. Back in his home country of Nigeria, he had been working as a portfolio/asset manager for a large investment banking firm when one of his clients inspired him to explore a different line of work.

“One of my clients was involved in international business. I had several discussions with him about how he handles his business, which caught my attention and piqued my interest in international trade. This also led me to choose an International Business Management training program when I decided to relocate to Canada.”

After arriving in his new home country, Brendan enrolled at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario, one of FITT’s Accredited Partners which offers the FITTskills courses through its International Business Management program.  Brendan excelled in his studies, and finished with a very impressive GPA and the Dean’s List Award.

The courses opened my eyes and my mind as to the full scope of requirements and challenges involved in global trade. Fortunately, this exposure reinforced my interest and desire for a career in international business.

Putting new skills to work helping global clients

After graduating, Brendan wasted no time searching for the right job to begin his career in international trade, landing a wonderful opportunity as International Business Specialist for International Road Dynamics Inc. (IRD). IRD is a well-established technology company, specializing in the design and installation of customized intelligent transport systems (ITS).

As an international business specialist, Brendan gets to demonstrate his skills in linguistics, customer service, and his newfound global trade expertise to his clients from far and wide.

“On a typical day, I write technical proposals for projects in response to clients from all over the world. Writing the technical proposals comes after reading and digesting RFP or tender documents to figure out the project requirements and determine the scope. Then I organize in-house strategy meetings with various departments (engineering support, operations team, field team and project managers, and sometimes senior sales managers) to discuss our approach and available resources.”

Attention to detail is a must-have with international clients

Next, he’ll write up the technical and commercial proposal in line with the unique requirements of the project. Staying on top of his clientele and delivering top notch service requires careful attention to detail, since his clients each have their own specific needs.

I engage in constant correspondences with clients in different time zones, languages and business cultures to discuss their specific demands and how we can customize solutions for them to suit their needs and budgets.

“Due to the highly technical nature of our solutions, most of my clients do not have the full knowledge of their requirements. So, I have to ask them lots of questions and give them scenarios to help them explain their unique situation and requirement to determine their needs. This will help me to understand and propose the most appropriate solutions for their requirements.”

Brendan also enjoys the element of travel that his position will require, an aspect of his career that is relatively new and still being developed.

“Part of my job will be travelling to meet with existing customers and agents to strengthen business relationships and also to seek out new ways to enter new markets. Occasionally, I will also travel to attend international trade shows and ITS conferences in different countries. However, it is not yet time for me to launch fully into this aspect of my job requirement.”

The confidence that certification brings

After meeting the work experience requirements, Brendan applied for his elite CITP®|FIBP® designation to establish himself as a dedicated practitioner of international trade.

“I chose to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation because it’s important to me to be a true professional in all I do. The designation will award me respect from customers and the assurance that I have what it takes to handle their requests with knowledge and a professional touch.”

Having earned this prestigious designation, I can already feel the confidence and the attached reputation it brings my way. This designation will go a long way in shaping my career and propelling me to higher endeavours.

Brendan is enthusiastic about his future in global business, and where his career could lead to down the road. With his international business background, skillset, and most importantly his positive attitude, we know he’ll go on to do great things.

“I now feel that my career is in line with what I have always wanted for myself and it’s easy for me to envision how far I can go in this career path. I am honestly proud to have earned the world’s leading professional designation in international trade.”

The post Brendan Ezeanowi, CITP|FIBP – International Business Specialist appeared first on Trade Ready.

I always had a fascination with culture and different traditions. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to travel and experience life outside of Canada and North America, and by the young age of 18, I was already learning about how to live and do business abroad.

My first experience working in the international arena was volunteering with World Youth International. Since I was travelling with an NGO, I had to fundraise for my trip. Through personal determination, I was able to raise approximately $3,500, and I took the brave leap to move to Cusco, Peru for three and a half months to participate in a humanitarian development endeavour.

The program consisted of three projects. La Mantay Casa is a shelter for girls who fall victim to father-daughter rape and become pregnant at a young age. At the home, these girls are taught how to cook, clean and care for their children.

The second project brought us to an inner-city community center, where young street children, removed from school to beg in the streets and provide for their families, would attend educational programs in exchange for a hot meal.

The final project brought us to Amantani Island on Lake Titicaca, where we lived without electricity and running water. Here we tore down and reconstructed a kitchen for the local school.

My decision to be involved in international business

With the newly gained perspective and appreciation for different cultures I received living in Peru, I chose to pursue a degree in international relations. I completed an honours degree in political science, with a concentration in international relations, from Carleton University, mixed in with a few years spent living in Western Canada working on ski and golf resorts.

While I was in Whistler, British Columbia, meeting people from all over the world, I knew with certainty that my dream job involved extensive travel and liaising with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

However, despite the value of my degree, I recognized that I would need to gain further skills in order to succeed in international business.

I began searching online for global trade training programs, and I found FITT. I then made the decision to take the in-class FITT-accredited International Business Management program at Algonquin College. It appealed to me because I have always found that I learn better in a classroom setting.

As an added bonus, I could learn from my fellow peers and my teachers’ real-life experiences while participating in group work, negotiations and presentations. Not to mention, Ottawa was home, where all my family and many friends resided.

For me, taking the FITT-accredited training at a partner educational facility was the perfect option. I was able to complete the program in eight months and also received a graduate certificate in International Business Management from Algonquin College.

From the golf course to international trade

While I was completing the program, I met my current company’s CEO on the golf course I was working at part-time. He asked me about my future plans after graduation, and I was excited to express my interest in international trade and my recent achievements with FITT and Algonquin College.

It has been two years since then, and I am now happily working as an International Business Development Specialist for Agnovi Corporation—an Ottawa owned and operated company that sells criminal investigative software solutions to law enforcement and government compliance agencies.

In my current position, I have been tasked with furthering the company’s expansion into the United States.

FITT provided me with the skills required to facilitate this international expansion, and I am currently undertaking tasks that resemble many of the projects and assignments I completed throughout the FITT-accredited program.

I enjoy the versatility of my current role. I have had the ability to do everything from attending various trade shows across North America to showcase our products, to presenting our investigative software solutions to government agencies, both in-person and via web-conference, and working with an American re-seller to finalize sales to the U.S. Federal Government. I’ve also responded to multiple Request for Proposals (RFPs), successfully winning contracts at the State and Federal level, and created profiles for my company on various U.S. government trade websites (such as Sam.gov), to facilitate easier trading with governmental agencies.

The benefits of practical global trade training

The International Business Plan, International Marketing Plan and International Research Plan—the three major FITT projects—have proven to be extremely beneficial in providing me with the expertise required to respond to RPFs.

My career in international trade is in its early stages, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey so far. Working for a Canadian SME has enabled to me wear many hats, from sales, to marketing, to training and travel, as well as to put into practice the expertise I developed through my education.

I plan on maintaining my position with this organization as it continues to grow, while further developing my Spanish language skills to make me a better international business development specialist. Once the American market has been exhausted, I would like to assist with expansion into Latin America.

I also plan on applying for my CITP®|FIBP®. This designation is highly reputable in the international trade community and I am proud of my accomplishments that have put me on the path to earning this designation.

I would definitely recommend the FITTskills program.

You have the ability to take the FITTskills courses in a way that best suits your lifestyle: on-line or with a partnering educational facility.

My advice to others looking for a career in international trade is to never stop gaining knowledge and expertise in the field. As we continue to move towards a knowledge economy and the global market continues to grow, more states are focusing on international trade.

Companies are forced to compete in the global market and these agencies are looking for individuals to help facilitate growth in this arena.

With determination and perseverance, this will be me, and it could be you too!

The post How I followed a passion for travel and international business with practical global trade training appeared first on Trade Ready.

Product design can also address the costs involved with transportation and inventory. These are often critical supply chain cost drivers, especially when inventory levels must be kept high to ensure service levels.

Product design can address these supply chain issues using the following three key components:

• Packaging and transportation
• Concurrent and parallel processing
• Standardization

Packing and transportation

One of the most important areas of product design is ensuring that products can be packed and stored efficiently. Goods that can be packed compactly are obviously cheaper to transport. A common example of this use of product design is flat-pack furniture.

As well as cost reductions, retailers are more likely to choose a supplier with products that take up less storage space and that can be stacked easily.

Weight is also a product-design issue that will affect transportation costs. A company might find that more expensive, lighter materials are cost effective when reduced transportation expenses are taken into account.

Concurrent and parallel processing

Lead times associated with suppliers, manufacturing processes and deliveries are a major interruption to the flow of the global supply chain.

In many manufacturing situations, a series of products or components are produced and then put together to make a final product. Delays can occur between each stage in the manufacturing process.

In concurrent and parallel processing, the manufacturing process is redesigned so that all production steps take place at the same time. This reduces manufacturing lead time and reduces inventory costs.

Standardization

Companies can standardize product components or processes. In product standardization, common components are used in many different products. This reduces the requirements for extensive component inventories and reduces costs.

In process standardization, the manufacturing process is standardized as much as possible for all different products. Products are only customized and differentiated late in the production process.

Process standardization usually involves redesigning products so that they can be customized late in production.

The post How adapting product design can lead to supply chain improvements appeared first on Trade Ready.

As an Executive Assistant, Janisette Cruz knows that it is important to understand her employer’s business and be in a position to add value to the management chain.

Her employer, PoleCo, is working on developing a market in Latin America. In her current job, Janisette enjoys applying her skills, experience, and international trade training to help PoleCo achieve its goals.  Her responsibilities at work add to her skillset, offering her the opportunity to learn about a new market and the growing field of renewable energy technology.

Janisette’s international trade story began in Cuba, graduating from Havana’s Higher Institute of International Relations (major in economics) in 1991. This was followed by specialization in finance and a job with the National Bank of Cuba. The position provided Janisette with her first exposure to the different aspects of international trade.

She then worked as a marketing specialist in the construction sector, promoting foreign companies that were interested in investing in Cuba. At the time, Janisette was responsible for designing and helping implement different market entry strategies to enable these foreign companies to break into the Cuban market.

A new beginning in Halifax

Halifax has the coast and the ocean, which for somebody from an island is an important part of life.

When she moved to Canada in 2009, Janisette knew that she had to start from scratch. She studied the market and created her own strategy to sell her skills to a new market. As she knew from her previous working experience, this was similar to what any company would do in order to export to a foreign market.
Janisettes’ first global trade course was FITTskills International Market Entry Strategies, which was available when she enrolled with the WTC, Atlantic Canada in June 2012. She learnt about FITT and FITTskills through NSBI (Nova Scotia’s business development agency) which also supports Nova Scotia companies to export to new markets.

At this in-class course, she loved the interaction with the teacher and other students, which offered everyone a chance to share and discuss their practical experiences. Janisettes’ initial objective with the course was to refresh her international trade knowledge, obtained through formal training and work experience in Cuba.

I soon realized that there was much more information to update and more to learn. The knowledge about international markets and Canada’s position therein, was very important. I resolved to pursue the rest of the FITTskills courses.

Janisette followed up on her new resolve with both in-class and online courses. She found the self-paced online courses to be a convenient alternative, which allowed her to manage learning time around a busy work schedule.

Elaborating on her FITTskills training, Janisette draws attention to the enhanced professional value the eight international trade courses offer by making students think and plan actions in diverse scenarios for companies of different sizes.

“They teach you how to consider each subject individually (legal aspects, finance, management etc.) and how to integrate them as a system too.” says Janisette.

Moving ahead in international business

Janisette is glad that PoleCo supports her training and clearly recognizes the value of specialized knowledge and certification in the highly competitive international business arena.

Now with all eight FITTskills courses under her belt, Janisette has just been approved for the coveted Certified International Trade Professional designation. She expects the designation to cement her expertise and credibility, which is important for her future plans as an international business professional.

“Anything you buy or sell has an international component, could be material or human resource.” says Janisette.

I’m comfortable making connections, creating links between people from different cultures. I like to develop and optimize these relationships towards win-win situations. The end objective is a better more efficient product or process for both sellers and buyers.

Brimming with new ideas and a love for developing new projects, Janisette hopes for increasing involvement in international business development. “I’m confident that the efforts of my skillset, experience and training will provide me access to even more professional opportunities.” says Janisette.

Building better opportunities

The decision to move to a new country and build better opportunities is proving to be fortuitous for Janisette and her family. Her younger son is going to high school this year. Her oldest is enrolled in computer science at the University of Toronto. He has recently wrapped up a summer internship with Google in Boston, which he won after competing with 600 applicants from all over North America.

As for herself, Janisette credits her family in Canada, her mother in Cuba and her employer for encouraging her to stay on course and make the best of her professional opportunities.

Based on her experience, Janisette strongly suggests FITTskills for professionals working in the international trade sector. She thinks the training will be especially helpful to new immigrants who seek to consolidate and add credibility to their international business experience.

I would strongly recommend immigrants to complete and/or further their education in Canada, as a way to learn the “Canadian way” of doing things, and also improve their chances to acquire a degree that would be easily recognized or accepted here,” says Janisette. 

Do you have a story about how international trade training has helped your career? What are the factors that help advance your international business career?

The post Adding value to the management chain with international trade expertise appeared first on Trade Ready.

I recently asked three of our international business veterans, what they thought was more important for success in international trade. Was it attitude or skills?

While they had overlapping opinions on the subject, I have extracted three qualities that were emphasized by our experts.

1. Cross cultural adaptability

With over 30 years of experience in international trade, Doug Taylor has seen a lot of beginners in global trade overestimating the importance of technical skills.

   If you are thinking of pursuing a career in international business it won’t matter much what your technical or business skills are if you cannot work comfortably and professionally in other cultures. ~ Doug Taylor

“I think there are five major themes that separate those who are successful from those who aren’t;

• First is the ability to think widely and understand that your approach to solving issues is not the only one.
• Secondly all business is about win-win, and you need to understand that the pie must be shared.
• Third you must be able to adapt and listen to the cultural nuances in foreign markets.
• Fourth, you must understand that business is not about contracts but about trust and developing worthwhile business relationships.
• Finally, good businesses last over time. It is never about quarterly results, but developing a business relationship over the long term.”

Doug Taylor is a results driven, creative and lateral thinker with a wealth of international business experience.  He is the Managing Director of Pacific Business Intelligence Ltd. (PBI). www.pacificintel.com.
PBI provides professional consulting services in the core areas of international business development, strategic market planning, market research, international marketing and corporate guidance. PBI has undertaken assignments in over thirty countries in Europe, Asia, North America, the Middle East and the Caribbean for private industry, governments and international organizations. Connect with Doug on twitter: [followbutton username=’globethoughts’ count=’true’ lang=’en’ theme=’light’]

2. Willingness to work long hours

It should come as no surprise that international trade is conducted over different time zones. This usually means long hours, even if you have over 25 years of international business success like Diane Girard. I caught up with Diane last month and she drove home the same pertinent point.

“In June, I conducted three webinars from 11p.m. to 1a.m. for my clients in Indonesia who are eleven hours ahead of me. Tonight, I am booking six flights for a trip in two weeks – Toronto-Barbados-St.Lucia-Grenada-St.Vincent-Barbados-Toronto.  That’s the easy part. The prep and follow-up for each of these country visits is mind-boggling.
In addition to this trade mission I will be on, I am also working on two proposals and trying to manage a bit of vacation time with my family. My formula for international business success is quite simple: know what you need to do and get it done!”

Whether you are an international business student or a veteran, FITT has a free online tool that can be quite helpful in assessing your aptitude and/or attitude. Integrative Trade Competency Diagnostic Tool ~ Diane Girard

Diane Girard (CITP), has been involved in projects in over 50 countries.  Her areas of specialty include trade in business and professional services, trade-related capacity-building of trade promotion organizations, sector associations, business support organizations and SMEs.
Services include strategic planning, market research and development, business development, sector strategies, curriculum development, training and coaching, project management, outsourcing, marketing and communications, all with a focus on results.

3. Relationships

While already mentioned, this is one point that bears repeating. One should not underestimate the importance of developing enduring relationships.

   When I ask my students what they think (about what is important in global trade), they of course come up with the usual: language skills, patience, fat wallet, knowledge of export laws, etc. ~ Bill Kosar 

Bill has three rules of doing business internationally. It sums up what, he believes, is the most important thing about doing business internationally: relationships.

1. Do business with friends
2. If you can’t do business with friends; do business with other friends.
3. And if you can’t do business with these friends; do business with still other friends.

Prof. William Kosar, CITP, is a senior legal advisor, trainer, project manager and institutional development professional.
He has worked throughout the world assisting governments and private sector entities with legal reform, legislative drafting and capacity building and is currently with the USAID-funded Iraqi Financial Development Project as Legal & Regulatory Advisor.

There is a now popular mindset that companies should hire for the attitude and then train for skills. If you consider what our experts have mentioned above, they seem to be agreeing with the attitude ethos in the points they make.

This is not to imply that technical skills aren’t important. Our tips for international trade rookies are clear on that aspect. Practical global trade training like FITTskills is well-suited to address the challenges faced by international trade professionals.

However, like our experts have pointed out, long-term success also requires cultivating qualities that can augment any technical knowledge.

Do you agree? As a beginner or a global trade veteran, what are your thoughts on attitude vs. skills when it comes to success in international trade? Can you provide an example to support your viewpoint?

The post What is more important in global trade, attitude or skills? appeared first on Trade Ready.