An international business plan acts as a framework that identifies goals and objectives, specific target markets and clients, resources required and strategies to be developed in pursuit of international business opportunities. The plan allows for the monitoring of progress via metrics against which success and failure can be measured. A comprehensive international business plan will be comprised of a number of integrated strategies related to business functions, including communications, sales and marketing, finance and production.

What Is an International Business Plan?

An international business plan is a valuable management tool that describes who a business is, what it plans to achieve and how it plans to overcome risks and provide anticipated returns. It can be used for a wide variety of purposes, such as to:

• Set goals and objectives for the organization’s performance.
• Provide a basis for evaluating and controlling the organization’s performance.
• Communicate an organization’s message to managers and staff, outside directors, suppliers, lenders and potential investors.
• Help the planner identify the cash needs of the business.
• Provide benchmarks against which to compare the progress and performance of the business over time.

A comprehensive and detailed plan forces the planner to look at an organization’s operations and re-evaluate the assumptions on which the business was founded. In doing so, strengths and weaknesses can be identified.

Although highly dependent on the individual business case, on average it takes a three-year commitment to establish a successful presence in a foreign market. This process may require tremendous human, technical and financial resources during the developmental period.

Want to learn more about conducting proper research, selecting the most effective entry strategy and implementing it efficiently? Check out the FITTskills International Market Entries Strategy online course!

The Planning Process

An international business plan is subject to repeated adjustment and revision to keep it current with the changing circumstances of the organization. The plan is a feedback mechanism through which new information is continually incorporated into the organization’s operations. Planning always precedes action. Therefore, planning must be thought of as a continuous cycle. The analytical tools presented here are not intended to be used just once. If they are to be useful, they should be used repeatedly as part of a process of improvement and incremental adjustment.

Plan Preparation Guidelines

These 7 guidelines will help in preparing a comprehensive international business plan:

1. Clearly define the objectives for producing the plan: Who is going to read the plan, and what will they need to do? These objectives can help you decide how much emphasis to put on various sections.
2. Allocate sufficient time and resources to thoroughly research the plan: A plan is only as good as the research that went into producing it.
3. Show drafts of the plan to others: It can be very useful to obtain feedback from others, both inside and outside the business.
4. Create an original plan that is done specifically for each business case: A common mistake entrepreneurs make is to borrow heavily from a sample plan and simply change the names and some of the numbers. There are two big problems with this approach. First, the emphasis placed on various sections of the plan must reflect what is important to the particular business in question. Second, a good plan should flow like a story, with the sections working together to demonstrate why the business will succeed. Plans that borrow too heavily from other plans tend to be disjointed, with some sections contradicting others and various key issues left unaddressed.
5. Outline the key points in each section before the writing starts: These points must then be reviewed to ensure the sections are consistent with each other, there is little duplication and all key issues have been addressed.
6. Ensure financial projections are believable: For many readers, the financial section is the most important part of the plan because it identifies the financing needs and shows the profit potential of the business. In addition, a good financial plan will give the reader confidence that the author really understands the business.
7. Consider writing the executive summary as the last step in the process: It is usually easier to provide a concise overview after the detailed content has been created.

If you’re having trouble getting started with your business plan, try writing like it’s a series of tweets—one for every section of your business plan. To get your point across, 140 characters is all you need.

Forcing yourself to boil each section of your business plan down to one main point is an exercise in decision making and strategy all in itself. When you’re done, you’ll have everything you need to take your next step, whether that’s practicing your pitch to potential investors or a business partner, or sitting down to expand each tweet into a full section of a more traditional business plan.

Core Content

The international business plan is the culmination of all of the work done to determine the appropriate venture for the organization’s growth. As part of the feasibility process, the organization will have determined its own internal readiness, conducted comprehensive target market research and carefully analyzed any relevant risks.

For more information on this topic, see the FITTskills Feasibility of International Trade online course.

At this point, the organization can take all of this information and analysis and formally document the plan for moving forward. There are many different models and examples of how to put together a formal business plan, rather than one correct way.

The right format will depend on the organization, the venture being pursued and who will be accessing the business plan and for what purpose. However, there are some basic guidelines to follow.

One of the reasons business plans are developed is to convince investors and/or bankers to invest in the venture.

Increasingly, they are looking for a business plan to include two sections: one relating to online strategy (in terms of e-marketing, social media and ROI) and the second relating to corporate social responsibility (including quality, health, safety and environment policies).

The inclusion of these topics gives more credibility to the company by demonstrating its commitment to the community and to employees’ well-being.

Telling a Story 

One trend in business planning is to use a narrative structure in the document, rather than traditional technical writing techniques. Storytelling techniques are increasingly being used throughout the business world to create personal and organizational brands, deliver marketing messages and develop persuasive plans.

Stories make presentations better. Stories make ideas stick. Stories help us persuade. Savvy leaders tell stories to inspire us, motivate us. That’s why so many politicians tell stories in their speeches. They realize that “what you say” is often moot compared to “how you say it.

Instead of using bulleted points and cold, technical language, organizations employ a “beginning, middle and end” narrative style. This engages the audience by establishing the context, describing the conflict or obstacles and arriving at a successful resolution.

The Executive Summary

Usually the last step of preparing the international business plan is to develop the executive summary, a short overview of what the plan proposes to accomplish. For some purposes, a one-page business plan can also be useful.

There is not a great deal of difference between an executive summary and a one-page business plan. The most significant distinction is the one-page plan must completely fit on one page in a readable font, while an executive summary may spread over two or three pages.

One-Page Business Plan

There is a trend towards the one-page business plan, especially if the plan is to be presented to potential partners for their consideration. Audiences for the one-page plan will be looking for a “quick hit”: a clear and concise description of what the opportunity is and how it is being pursued.

For example, a one-page business plan might include the following topics, as described in Noah Parson’s article “How to Write a One-Page Business Plan” on the website Bplans:

• Customer problem/opportunity
• Your solution/approach
• Business model (how you make money)
• Target market (who is the customer and how many are there)
• Competitive advantage
• Management team
• Financial summary
• Funding required

The one-page plan (or the executive summary, if used in place of the one-page plan) may provide the first impression the audience has of the business. This is the most important document generated out of the business planning process, and significant effort and care should be taken in its creation.

There are many websites the provide blank samples of one-page business plans, including Bplans, the GoForth Institute and Startup.com.

A Note on Strategic Plans

A strategic plan covers many of the same points as a business plan. However, a strategic plan sets out the detailed action plan to be followed to achieve the objectives of the international business plan.

It must outline specific activities, their due dates and who is responsible for each activity. It is a project plan with a critical path. A strategic plan ensures any venture is carried out in a coordinated, informed and systematic way.

A key consideration in action planning is how quickly to enter the market, which is driven by the chosen market entry strategy. If market entry is done too quickly, the potential for costly mistakes increases. However, if it is completed too slowly, opportunities may be missed and competitors will have more time to react.

The Planning Cycle

Attaching the word “cycle” to planning implies that it happens more than once. International business plans need to be reviewed periodically because new information that has an impact on both planning and operations is continually coming in.

All plans, including international business plans and strategic plans, need to be reviewed every time there is a major event impacting the business, such as civil unrest, a currency fluctuation or the presence of a new competitor.

The post A Guide to Preparing an International Business Plan appeared first on Trade Ready.

FITT gives out awards each year to students who’ve demonstrated exceptional academic performance in their international business program. These students are selected from hundreds of candidates enrolled at any of the educational partner training organizations who deliver the FITTskills program or whose international business programs are recognized by FITT. Here are this year’s remarkable winners!

2019’s Student of the Year is a remarkable double-winner

The student of the year award is given to an exceptional student who achieved the highest GPA for the 2019 academic year and is presented by FITT’s Strategic Partner, Export Development Canada. This year we are proud to award Bridget Archibald, CITP, who studied at Nova Scotia Business Inc., where she also works as an Export Development Executive for the Ocean Technology sector.  Bridget is even more remarkable in her achievements, having also earned the International Sales and Marketing Award along side her project partner Allyson England.

Bridget’s interest in pursuing a career in international trade came from a co-op term she spent at the student exchange office at the Dalhousie University School of Business.

“I worked with business students from all around the world and I loved hearing all about their cultures, experiences, travels, and their perspectives on Canada. From that point on I knew I wanted to learn about international trade,” Bridget says.

I love that international trade is built on human elements like culture, relationships, connections, and trust, but it also combines disciplines like marketing, finance, production, law, and logistics. To work in international trade, you must have a level of understanding of all these things, which to me makes it challenging, and fun.

Bridget says that her international business education taught her the practical elements of how to identify true opportunities, take real steps to mitigate risk and build a business plan.

Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) is an organization that works with businesses and individuals to help them discover new exporting opportunities and give them the tools to pursue them successfully through training, resources and expert help from their team of advisors. As an NSBI employee, she took advantage of the training available to her there as well through the FITTskills program. She’s passionate about the work she does there.

“I already have my dream job! I am an Export Development Executive for the Ocean Technology sector. This is a fast-growing and important sector to the province, and one where Canada is a true global leader. Ocean Technology companies from Nova Scotia export literally around the world, and I get to help them do that. On top of international trade, I’m learning about marine technology, ocean science and more. Plus, I get to do it from (and for) Nova Scotia, a place I love,” Bridget says.

Her colleagues are just as enthusiastic to have her on the team.

“Regardless of the task at hand, Bridget is truly remarkable in the engagement, passion, and dedication she brings. We are so fortunate to have such a hardworking and caring individual on our team. Bridget is unique in that she brings the same engagement, passion, and dedication to everything she does. Whether it’s for her work at NSBI or to broaden her skills and training, she’ll always be there, giving 110%,” says Yuliya Demish, CITP, FITT Coordinator, Nova Scotia Business Inc.

How does Bridget feel about receiving not one, but two FITT awards? She is gracious in her achievement.

“It is a true honour. I’ve met many smart people through FITT, including Allyson, my partner for the Sales and Market project (who is a very inspiring woman entrepreneur), the FITT instructors, my colleagues at NSBI, and the other FITT participants. I learned from them all. I am very grateful for my previous education and experiences, and to FITT and NSBI. I feel really motivated to use my knowledge!”

Winning International Sales and Marketing Plan aims to tackle tricky U.S. market

The International Sales and Marketing Plan Award is presented to the student whose project submission received the highest grade. This year’s award goes to the dynamic duo of Bridget Archibald, CITP and Allyson England, who both studied at Nova Scotia Business Inc.

Allyson England is the Founder of Nova Box, a Nova Scotia-based gift box company specializing in Nova Scotia made products. Via an online store and corporate catalogue, Nova Box shares a ‘little piece of Nova Scotia’ with customers around the world. Allyson and Bridget used this growing small business as the basis for their Sales and Marketing plan. According to Allyson,

“The goal of the International Sales & Marketing Plan was to explore market expansion into the US.  We analyzed market trends in both the retail and corporate gift sector, focusing specifically on building partnerships with U.S. companies who had a Nova Scotia connection.”

The plan wasn’t without its challenges. Though Nova Box resonated with Canadians due to the emotional connection customers have with Nova Scotia, Allyson wasn’t sure that her potential customers south of the border would have the same affinity. But luckily, they had a plan to tackle this challenge.

Building a successful business starts with forming strong relationships with your customers, and ensuring your product offering meets a need or solves a problem that they are currently experiencing. Our plan included a laser focus on leveraging existing relationships and interviewing potential customers to ensure product/market fit.

“After completing this project, we felt confident that we had adequately analyzed the market and formed a plan that was both aspirational and achievable. Completing the FITT sales and marketing coursework really helped in forming our approach, and ensuring we had considered all aspects of exporting to a new market,” Allyson says.

As you can tell, Allyson is passionate about her business, and the possibilities offered by international markets inspired her to learn more about international trade.

“My favorite part of building a business is imagining where it could go, and then setting off in that direction. Being in the driver’s seat to identify opportunities, solve problems and execute creative strategies is why I do what I do. I also love being able to work with local companies to help them build their global footprint,” Allyson says.

Completing the FITT Diploma in International Trade has given me the systematic knowledge required to enter and succeed in a new market. As a business owner, it is easy to get caught up in making incremental steps forward without a robust long-term plan. Export training has helped me think 10 steps ahead.

Since completing the marketing plan, Nova Box has acquired The East Coast Box Company. They now offer gift boxes made with products from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, allowing them to expand their customer base to those who have an affinity for the East Coast of Canada.

Ultimately, Allyson strives to become the the #1 exporter of Canadian made food and gift items – no small feat, but she’s off to a promising start!

A plan for tackling one of Europe’s cannabis black markets wins this year’s International Business Plan Award

Similar to the Sales and Marketing Plan award, this accolade goes to the highest grade for a completed international business plan. For the 2019 academic year, we are pleased to present it to Juliana Fuentes who studied as an international student at Algonquin College.

Juliana decided to study international trade as she saw that it was increasingly playing a major role in world’s economy and added to her interest in understanding foreign cultures and globalization.  She also recognized a growing demand for graduates who develop skills to trade successfully and identify business opportunities to exchange products and services.

But her interest in international trade goes beyond just a growing demand for her skill sets.

“I love that every single sector of the economy need to trade. Internationalization is so dynamic that it adapts to every situation. We see this even more so during pandemic times. Daily, businesses try to reinvent and develop new ways to interact and conquer new markets despite physical cross border restrictions,” Juliana says.

I also like to believe that specialization of nations and their increasing connectivity is the path to global development, resulting in a fairer world where less developed countries have the opportunity to improve their citizens’ minimum life standards.

Her award-worthy business plan was presented to Hexo Corp., a leading cannabis company that cultivates, manufactures, develops R&D and distributes easy to use cannabis products for adult use and medicinal purposes. The plan’s to target the Czech Market from their new facility in Greece to reach new opportunities and mitigate the impact of black market.

To tackle this ambitious project, Juliana did some preliminary research about the industry situation in the market, to find out how the cannabis market was growing in different markets. This helped her identify Europe as principal market. Then, she sought to identify the most beneficial market profile to target.

It was a challenge for her to find up-to-date, reliable information. She tackled this problem by grouping the data as quantitative and qualitative and identifying reliable sources such as OECD and World Bank. She also credits the support of her International Business Management and International Research professors, who guided her through all the processes involved.

After weeks of hard work and more than a few sleepless nights, Juliana was able to organize her research and come to a cohesive business plan she could be proud of showing off to Hexo Corp.

Throughout her time studying  in the International Business Management Program at Algonquin College, Juliana learned a wide range global business knowledge and practical skills in supply chain management, trade finance, currency fluctuations, risk mitigation, legal aspects of global trade and marketing strategies.   However her most valuable insights came from the cross cultural experience she had as an international student.

“I had the opportunity to understand Canadian culture, not only from the business perspective, but also from the personal one, thanks to all professors that were approachable and interested in making students’ adaptation easier. And the interaction with classmates from a variety of countries enriched my perspective to understand cultural differences and evaluate each of the topics we discussed from diverse perspectives,” Juliana says.

We always see big things come from the FITT Education Award winners, and we know this year’s group will be no exception. Congratulations to all three of this year’s Award Winners for their hard work and great achievements, and what is sure to be the beginning of three exciting international trade careers!

The post 2019’s FITT Education Award Winners come up with creative solutions to tackle tricky market entry challenges appeared first on Trade Ready.

With another school year underway, it’s time to recognize the accomplishments of four outstanding students from last year. We are honoured to present these four outstanding students with 2017 FITT Awards, and look forward to seeing their careers blossom in the years to come.

A future global trade superstar wins Student of the Year

Sunmi Kim, Discovery Community College

The 2017 FITT-EDC Student of the Year award was presented to Sunmi Kim, a recent graduate of Discover Community College’s International Trade Management program in British Columbia.

She received the 2017 Student of the Year award for finishing the 2017 academic year with the highest GPA of any FITT student.

“EDC is honored to present the 2017/2018 Student of the Year Award to Sunmi Kim,” said Derek Layne, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation for EDC. “We’re delighted to recognize academic excellence in the field of international business and we sincerely congratulate Sunmi on her achievement.”

Fouad Menassa, the program coordinator at Discover Community College, was extremely proud of her achievement as well.

“If I had to summarize Sunmi in one word it would certainly be ‘Dedication’. I found her dedicated towards her studies, and in reaching her goal of establishing and bettering her career in international trade.”

Sunmi says that learning she won the award filled her with joy and a feeling of responsibility to thank everyone who helped her reach this accomplishment.

“A thousand thanks to the mentors who showed encouragement and whom displayed faith in each and every little step that I took. It is of the utmost importance that I continue moving forward in respect and to make them proud of me.”

“To Fouad Menassa at Discover Community College, thank you for answering my questions kindly with your years of work experience. Thank you to all the faculty members at Discovery, Pamela Ellison at DP World Duke Point, my role model, all the other staff at DP World, and all of my colleagues at LongHoh Enterprises. Thank you to FITT – it means a lot to me to receive this award from an organization I admire. And thank you to my absolutely precious family – I love you!”

While she feels like she still has a lot of room to learn and explore, she is driven to become an international trade expert.

“Utilizing what I have learned in combination with my experience will allow me to step forward in the Canadian work force and become a productive contributor to society. The capabilities and competencies gained through my completion of the FITT courses has created a positive momentum that is both exciting and boosts my confidence in becoming a part of this field.”

One exceptional student wins two awards in the same year

Yanrui Jia, Algonquin College

Each year, FITT awards the International Marketing Plan award for the student who attains the highest grade for a marketing plan in the International Sales and Marketing course, and the International Business Plan award for the student with the highest grade for a business plan in the International Market Entry Strategies course.

In a remarkable achievement, both awards for the 2017 academic year were awarded to Yanrui Jia, CITP|FIBP of Algonquin College.

“I was very excited when I was informed I won two of these awards. These awards recognize my hard works on these two projects. Moreover, they build my confidence, and will be the booster to my career development in the future.”

Both of her projects focused on the same company, a Canadian manufacturer of high-end air purification products for residential and commercial use. Her international marketing plan focused on selling them in the Chinese market, and the international business plan then outlined the rationale to sell in the Vietnamese market, with a completely different strategy and set of tactics.

“I come from Beijing, China where there is very serious air pollution and many people suffer from lung cancer due to air pollution. I understood the high and urgent demands on a suitable air purifier in China now, which led to the idea for my marketing plan.”

“The idea for my international business plan comes from my classmate who is from Vietnam. I talked to her about China’s serious air pollution and health problems, and she said Vietnam has the same issues.”

Norm Hotchkiss, program coordinator at Algonquin College’s International Business Management program, explains that “Yanrui is one of the very few students who was able to focus on the big picture while not losing sight of all the little details that make international trade a challenge at all levels.”

Since graduating, Yanrui has also applied for and earned her CITP®|FIBP® designation. She hopes her awards, designation and existing familiarity with Asian markets will help her develop her career even further.

“I want to assist more companies, especially Canadian companies, to export their products to other countries and help more and more people in the world access to the products from other countries they need. Currently, I am working on international trade strategies for some companies. I hope that FITT will be a good platform to broaden my social circle and these two awards will be a good reference for my career development in the future.”

FITT Achievement Award given to two standout nominees excelling in the classroom and the community

Justin Archambault, CITP|FIBP, Algonquin College

Erum Rashid, Durham College

For the FITT Achievement Award, students are nominated for a combined effort of academic success and community involvement, and the winner is then selected by FITT’s awards committee.

The 2017 award was handed to two very deserving students: Justin Archambault, CITP|FIBP of Algonquin College, and Erum Rashid of Durham College.

Justin excelled in his studies, finishing with the highest GPA in the history of Algonquin’s International Business Management program.

“At the end of my program it was an unbelievably proud moment seeing A+ beside nearly every course on my transcript. I was also honoured to receive the Algonquin Students Association’s Leadership Award for effectively bridging the concerns of fellow classmates with the faculty and administration.”

After completing the program, he earned his CITP®|FIBP® designation and started his own international business advisory firm, Bluecrown International Strategies. He already has a team of five, three of whom are CITPs (including fellow FITT award winner Yanrui Jia).

“We provide comprehensive services for prospective exporters and companies seeking opportunities in unfamiliar and non-traditional markets for Canadian firms. We also strive to also bring about a general awareness about the importance of trade as it relates to developing economies around the world and empowering people through opportunity and greater market access.”

As part of his work, Justin is also now serving as a trade advisor to an ambassador from a CPTPP member country, reporting on trade developments and seeking opportunities for businesses from the member country in Canada.

“I would like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support, my professors from Algonquin College’s International Business Management program who saw my potential, recognized my abilities, and truly went the extra mile to mentor me, and my colleagues at Bluecrown International Strategies. This award would not have been possible without any of the above people.”

Norm Hotchkiss from Algonquin College also added that “Justin quickly established himself as the top academic performer in the program while also becoming the class leader and spokesperson with Faculty and School Administration.”

Justin now seeks to help more businesses from countries with trade agreements with Canada to expand to the Canadian market. He also hopes to play a role in negotiating closer trade relationships with emerging markets in whatever capacity possible.

For Erum Rashid, studying in Canada for the first time and going back to school after over 10 years away to raise her three children was initially both exciting and nerve-wracking.

“I always wanted to renew my passion for learning and to refresh my skills, and my previous experience in international logistics and educational background influenced my decision to enroll in this program at Durham. I was determined to overcome my anxieties and through perseverance, and my willingness to challenge my own limits, I was able to quickly get on the road to learning.”

“During coursework, I took it on myself to be both a mentor and an individual contributor to ensure deadlines were met while exceeding expectations on content quality. My fellow students, especially those who worked on group projects, acknowledged the guidance and direction I was able to deliver in guaranteeing everyone’s voice was heard and that individual contributions were not undermined.”

After hearing that she won the FITT Achievement Award, Erum described it as a “dream come true” and said she was overwhelmed by the news.

“I am truly humbled and honored from the appreciation received and I couldn’t have done it without the tremendous support and encouragement from all faculty members as well as my fellow students.”

Pauline Bessada, CITP|FIBP, the program coordinator at Durham College, was overjoyed for Erum as well.

“I am beyond delighted Erum won the FITT Achievement award! We are so proud of her! Her award is not only an achievement for Erum, but for Durham College as well! We couldn’t be happier or more proud! The idea we have contributed to Erum’s passion for international business and helped her achieve this award has us more than thrilled!”

Erum now hopes to advocate strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and introduce more ethical practices to international business worldwide.

“My goal is to work towards elite CITP designation and being able to have rigorous understanding of the international business at different levels. My long-term goal is to bring innovation in entrepreneurship for Canadian SMEs and how they can expand into different markets around the world successfully.”

Congratulations to each one of this year’s FITT Educational Award winners, and we are excited to see what you’re able to accomplish next!

Please feel free to offer your congratulations or any helpful advice in the comments below.

The post Celebrating the next wave of potential business leaders: 2017 FITT Educational Award Winners appeared first on Trade Ready.

At FITT, we love this time of year! It’s our distinct privilege to recognize the hardest-working, rising international business stars of the 2015-2016 academic year. These individuals have achieved great things, often against some steep odds, and proven that they have a bright future ahead of them in the field of global trade. Here are the winners of this year’s FITT Education Awards!

Student of the Year Award – Wendolin Lopez Rebaza, Discovery Community College

2015’s Student of the Year Award is awarded to Wendolin Lopez Rebaza, graduate of the International Trade Management and Logistics program at Discovery Community College in British Columbia.

Wendolin attained the highest overall grade point average after completing all eight FITTskills courses.

The Student of the Year award is presented by Export Development Canada (EDC), FITT’s strategic partner.

“We’re thrilled to present the Student of the Year Award, which recognizes academic excellence in the field of international business,” says Catherine Decarie, Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs, EDC.

Wendolin couldn’t be more pleased to receive the well-deserved accolades.

For me, it is an honour to be selected as Student of the Year, especially from respected trade organizations such as FITT and EDC. I really enjoyed taking the courses and want to thank FITT and EDC for this award!

She found the program challenging, but by going out of her comfort zone and maintaining a great attitude, she faced any stumbling blocks as opportunities to learn.

“The FITTskills program taught me a lot, especially the fact that successful international firms tend to be those that develop unique products or services, or adapt their offerings to different markets.”

Wendolin chose to study international trade as part of a family who has dedicated their lives to business. She hopes to apply what she learned in the FITTskills program to bring her family business’s products to new international markets.

“My motivation was, and still is, my family. They encourage me to be the best at everything that I do.”

She has her sights set on an office with a view at a large Canadian export corporation, in a role where she can represent Canada in global business deals all around the world.

“Wendolin is a landed immigrant from Peru. When she arrived in Canada with her family, she soon realized she needed a Canadian education to better her chances of finding employment and opted to enroll in Discovery Community College’s International Trade Management program. FITTskills courses such as Market Entry Strategy, International Trade Research, and International Trade Finance were of major help, enabling her to identify a niche market,” says Fouad Menassa, International Trade Program Manager at Discovery College.

Wendolin has subsequently entered into contracts with Canadian distributors, manufactures and logistics firms trading between Peru and Canada, with plans to expand within North America. She is presently in Peru for the launch of the first phase of her own business.

International Marketing Plan Award goes to an unstoppable hard worker

 International Marketing Plan Award – Tristen Militello, Algonquin College

The International Marketing Plan Award was given to Tristen Miletello for his project which achieved the highest grade, combined with the highest overall GPA, in the FITTskills International Marketing course.

Tristen submitted a remarkable assignment, demonstrating his ability to completely research and think critically about connecting a product, company and new international audience. The fact that he turned out such an impressive project was even more incredible given the technical challenge he faced only two weeks before it was due.

“My computer crashed, forcing me to restart my project within two weeks of the due date. I had already previously finished the assignment and was on to the editing stage!”

Completing the marketing plan was simply a relief! I felt so accomplished! Considering the extremely hard work and late nights I spent to hand it in on time, and to have the honour to receive an award from it, it’s an amazing feeling!

Tristen loved studying international trade, saying one of the major takeaways for him was to keep your mind open to opportunities, as they can arise in any situation.

“I chose to study international business because I had the wonderful opportunity to have Norman Hotchkiss as my professor for another course. He opened my eyes to the opportunities in international trade, and after attending his class I knew right away that this was the field for me.”

“I’m thrilled to receive this year’s International Marketing Plan Award! It’s an honour. I wanna give a big shout out to my Mom, family, professors at Algonquin College, Fahdi Said-Pehoua, and my friends for helping me accomplish this!”

“Tristen Militello is a very welcome new International Business student with a strong desire to achieve. Good job Tristen! Keep it up. I expect you will be a strong performer at the front of the class as you proceed through the program,” says Norman Lomow, Professor and Coordinator of International Business Programs at Algonquin College.

Tristen looks forward to a career where he can travel and work from anywhere in the world.

International Business Plan Award winner has a passion for helping businesses go global

International Business Plan Award – Ryan Thornton, Algonquin College

This year’s International Business Plan Award, awarded to the student who has received the highest grade for a completed business plan, combined with the highest GPA, goes to another Algonquin College student, Ryan Thornton.

Ryan chose to write his plan from the perspective of a Canadian software company expanding into an international market for the first time.

“One of the biggest challenges with this project was choosing the best location for this international expansion. After due consideration, I chose to expand into France. The company already had a presence in Europe, with a branch office in the UK. I decided that expanding within Europe would give them an advantage over other parts of the world that would be completely new to them. The company also has an office in Quebec, which could help to reduce problems associated with language barriers.”

Ryan decided to concentrate his education on international trade after his third semester enrolled in a more general business program at Algonquin College.

I enjoyed learning about international trade because it’s so prominent in today’s world. The courses taught me a lot of real world skills that are applicable in today’s workforce, such as the research required to take on an international expansion.

Ryan has taken on a sales role with a software firm and hopes to someday have the opportunity to act as a consultant for businesses looking to expand internationally.

“I’m very proud to have won the International Business Plan Award. Completing this project took a lot of hard work and getting the results that I did is extremely rewarding.”

“Ryan Thornton graduated with an advanced diploma in Business Administration, International Business Major. He did the college proud with his determination and focus.  He is an independent and overall strong performer and I expect great things from him as he enters the work force,” says Professor and Coordinator Norman Lomow.

Two community-minded students stand out from the crowd as strong leaders

FITT Achievement Award – Kristie Luk, Fanshawe College and Jose Recinos, Algonquin College

The FITT Achievement Award is awarded to a student who has shown notable combinations of community involvement and academic success. There are two very impressive winners this year.

Kristie Luk

Kristie fell in love with international trade because of the endless opportunities, and room for growth and exploration.

“Look at the way the world is evolving. Cross-border trade will never stop; it is the way of life,” she says.

“Kristie was an outstanding student who brought her work experience into the classroom, allowing other students to benefit from her insights. She modelled the dedication and diligence required to become the accomplished trade professional she is today,” says Albert Knab, Coordinator of the International Business Management Program at Fanshawe College.

Kristie says that FITTskills case studies helped put theory into perspective, providing insight into how certain concepts actually come into play in reality.

I also learned how to work in a team environment effectively with various personality types and working styles. This, I feel, very closely mirrors how working in groups outside of the classroom would be.

Kristie shared the skills she learned with her classmates, speaking to them about the importance of time management and communication when working with others who all have different priorities and responsibilities.

She hopes to continue sharing her knowledge and expertise in international trade by becoming a trade ambassador for Canada, and even a professor later in her career.

“I see myself in more consulting-type roles with opportunities to travel and meet with different business professionals interested in market growth through developing strategic partnerships.”

“I am truly grateful to have been recognized through this award for my accomplishments inside and outside of the classroom. It is a great honour to have been selected amongst so many other international trade professionals for this award.”

Jose Recinos

Jose has always been fascinated by the complexity of international trade.

“Global trade involves a wide variety of subjects such as politics, economy, business strategy, law and cultural diversity. I realized that in today’s fast pacing and dynamic business environment, improving my international management skills would be very beneficial,” Jose says.

He has channelled that fascination into an incredible amount of hard work and dedication, overcoming language barriers on top of the typical challenges of a demanding business program.

“I had never attended an exclusively English academic program, or written any papers or tests in English, so this was a challenge I had to overcome. I believe that I improved my written and communication skills and feel more confident than ever.”

I believe that in life, you’re always going to face challenges or roadblocks. If you want to distinguish yourself from the others, you need to be able to manage and respond cleverly to those challenges. It was critical for me to be really organized and to prioritise daily, weekly and monthly goals.

Jose says working on projects for the FITTskills program helped him gain real-world business experience.

“I picked an Ottawa-based clean tech company called Waterotor Inc. and I had the opportunity to meet with the CEO and work closely on the International Business Development and Marketing plan. I had to understand the business itself to be able to assess their challenges and opportunity. It was the best way to wrap up everything I learned through the program and adapt it to this real business case.”

He made an outstanding effort to share his experiences with his classmates.

“Jose Recinos is a new graduate of the Post Graduate International Business Management Graduate Certificate.  He is one of those students who come along rarely, with the natural ability to excel in anything he puts his mind to.  He is an overall achiever, a leader and a thinker. Jose will thrive as he begins his career at EDC as the 2016 FITT/EDC intern,” Norman Lomow explains.

“We were like a small family and I felt like we were very supportive of each other,” enthuses Jose.

He even brought his international business classmates together to play in a fundraising soccer tournament, raising money to help Syrian refugees.

“My objective is to be able to work, travel and experience as many different cultures and countries as possible. I definitely want to be able to give back to the community by promoting sports and education here in Canada, but also in Central America, specifically in my homeland country, El Salvador.”

Jose is looking forward to continuing to work with EDC as their 2016 FITT/EDC intern, and earning his elite CITP®|FIBP® designation.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and the outstanding graduates from FITTskills courses all over the world. We look forward to hearing about your future global trade successes!

Feel free to congratulate this outstanding group yourself and add your tips and advice for the graduates in the comments below!

The post Meet tomorrow’s global business leaders: FITT Educational Award Winners 2015 appeared first on Trade Ready.

Elias Mansour, CITP|FIBP is an Account Manager/Channel Sales Specialist for SolarWinds N-able, a software company providing cutting edge solutions for IT management and automation.

He manages a portfolio of over 150 partners, performing the dual role of business coach to his clients, and sales leader to his company.

From cold calls to problem-solving with CEO’s

Elias has been working in sales for over nine years, taking on increasingly challenging roles while exceeding expectations and generating record numbers for his teams.

In the past three years, Elias has specialized in B2B sales, particularly in the software industry, which has led him to take on a more internationally-focused role.

The software industry is one of the last places   I thought I would get exposure to international trade. Nevertheless, 3 years later I have helped clients in the United States, South Africa, Europe, and Australia grow their businesses through our software.

In his career thus far, he has led many clients to success, often engaging with high level executives such as COOs, CTOs, CEOs and CIOs, solving complex problems and generating revenues.

Elias started his business development career by taking on multiple sales roles at the competitive electronics retailers Future Shop and Best Buy. He moved into a consumer inside sales consultant role with Rogers Communications in 2012.

In 2013, Elias was offered the position of inside sales representative at his current employer SolarWinds N-able Technologies, where he started to prove his sales and service prowess right away.

“I started on the proverbial ground floor, making cold calls to businesses stateside and worldwide. Now I’m in charge of a client list to help them grow their IT practice.”

It was during this time that Elias started to get more and more opportunity to service international clients, and getting the world’s leading international business designation was an obvious next step.

This star pupil is ready to go international

Elias enrolled in the International Business Program at Algonquin College in Ottawa, ON in 2007, where he excelled in his studies.

He was awarded a place on the Dean’s Honor List in 2012, reserved for individuals who produce a minimum 3.6 grade point average.

He also earned the FITT International Business Plan Award, awarded to the student who received the highest grade for their project submission in the International Marketing FITTskills course, in 2013.

Elias enjoyed the experience of taking the FITTskills program through the dynamic instructor-led setting Algonquin provided.

“All of my FITT courses, with the exception of one, were taken in-class at Algonquin College. The knowledge I received from my professors was a key part in my success at an academic level.”

“These are individuals who have had real-life experience with international trade and could speak to the realities of doing business abroad and the risks and rewards associated with it.”

“During our presentations and projects, the FITTskills instructors were quick to point out where we might encounter obstacles, or where we needed to pay extra attention to win the hypothetical transaction.”

Elias went on to apply for his elite CITP®|FIBP® designation in early 2016, in order to demonstrate his expertise in international business and create opportunities for the future.

I chose to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation because I believe it can open a lot of doors for me on an international level.

“I also wanted to be able to share my experiences and knowledge with other CITP®|FIBP® members, or people looking to earn their designation.”

With over 150 clients, there’s no time to waste

Elias begins his typical workday by hitting the phones and video conferences to connect with existing and potential clients.

“I would describe my typical workday in one word – fast. As an Account Manager/Channel Sales Specialist I take care of over 150 partners, with my primary responsibility being to act as their business coach.”

“That means helping them price their offerings to be competitive in the market, and putting together go-to-market strategies to help them launch their services while hitting the ground running.”

“I educate my clients on what the IT market looks like as a whole so that they have a better direction, while assisting them with any technical issues and negotiating licensing agreements. I do all of this following my mandate to generate revenue for my organization.”

Mutually beneficial deals leave everyone happy

Elias has learned a lot about the nature of the international sales and business development industry and he finds some things to be universal.

An observation I can share from the high frequency of deals I’ve negotiated within my partner base is that you will be the most successful in international sales when you have a solution for someone’s problem.

“It may seem very common sense, but you would be surprised how many transactions, in software and other industries, are shaped to be one-sided, or by someone looking out for their benefit only.”

“Knowing the motivation and buying personality of the person on the other end of the phone is what truly separates a good account manager, in any industry, from a great one.”

Elias continues to find success with SolarWinds N-able, finishing in the top five in net new revenue generation for his position out of all account managers at SolarWinds in 2015. According to Elias, it was his strategic problem-solving approach that helped him achieve this.

“I earned this top spot by building business plans for my partners that are designed to be delivered using our tools, while helping them deliver their services with ease.”

“I continue to learn about international trade every day and hope to provide value as a CITP®|FIBP®, to my company and to other members of the global trade community as well.”

We have no doubt Elias’s drive for success and attention to his clients’ needs will keep propelling him forward in his global trade career.

The post Elias Mansour, CITP|FIBP – Account Manager/Channel Sales Specialist appeared first on Trade Ready.

Finding the right language service provider overseas is very much like looking for your ideal client. Basically, it requires you to research, build a relationship and take risks.

In the process, you may learn more about the translation industry, how it can help grow your business and, hopefully, your vision for a translation expert.

1. What To search for

In the very beginning, you will come across your first dilemma: human or machine translation? Well, Google Translate, or any other automatic translator for that matter, is like the F-word – you don’t want to say it out-loud in public.

GT might help you with your casual communications, but bear in mind that outside informal contexts, it may get you into trouble.

Right now, I hear you saying “But it’s free!” or “I’ve got a small budget!”

I know it’s disappointing, but automation doesn’t solve everything and, for the sake of your international business plans, you really want to avoid translation blunders.

From the outset, you’ll need to invest in several linguistic aspects—copywriting, translating, adapting, editing, and proofreading, just to mention a few —if you expect a higher success rate when internationalizing your business.

So, whether you reach out for a sole translation expert or a translation company during your research, you’ll need to focus on a collaborative approach, one that allows both parties to consistently build a relationship of trust and growth through good business practices.

Then, you no longer look for any translator to simply translate your literature into Spanish.

You want a native Spanish translation expert. A close resourceful collaborator, who can work with other experts when your project needs it, and whose expertise enables engagement of the Spanish-speaking audience with your brand, products or services.

Such a translator should not only have full proficiency in translation competencies and subject area expertise, but also in-depth understanding of the challenges, issues and pains you and your company face, in order to be able to assist you in pursuing your commercial objectives.

For example, your analytics show some interest in your products from a few Spanish-speaking markets and you’d like to poke them a little harder by re-using company videos. Your translation-budget is limited, and due to the considerable Spanish variations across Latin America, you opt out of the localization strategy.

Instead, your translation expert could ‘culturally curate’ these videos and optimize them with International Spanish subtitles. That way, you give your audience a nudge to speed up their buying decision-making process by demonstrating you care about their language needs.

2. Why you need a translation expert

You’re probably wondering “Hey, I speak Spanish. Why would I need a translation expert?!”

It’s necessary because you’d prefer to focus on developing your cultural and communicational skills, rather than your translating competencies, in order to excel at face-to-face encounters, informal meetings, trade shows, interviews or long distance calls.

Your ultimate goal is driving business and keeping the relationship with your potential clients alive. So, let the translation experts be your support when it comes to dealing with the linguistic aspects of your international business plans.

3. Where to find them

Finding in-country accredited professionals should not be that hard, since most of them are listed at translators’ associations.  For example, in Argentina, it’s customary to find them at Colegios de Traductores. These are official registries whose certified members are sworn translation practitioners and bound to confidentiality by law.

You can also ask for referrals from governmental agencies, such as Global Affairs Canada, and international chambers of commerce. For example, in Santa Fe City, Argentina, CaCESFe helps members with translation services. Think of institutions that are closest to you or your potential clients.

4. How to handle the selection process

Thanks to the Internet, you can easily google translators’ professional websites and surf social media to get to know them. But, in order to establish your own assessment process and vet translators accordingly, you will have to contact them personally and start a conversation. Use email, chat and video-conference when necessary.

Remember these crucial tips:

• Using machine translation or having no budget for coping with the linguistic aspects of your international business plans will be like trying to tame a horse without a saddle. Every business transaction carries a certain degree of risk, so try to avoid it by building a strong, personalized, straightforward relationship with your translation expert.
• Language strategies can help you seize business opportunities in the different stages of your product/service development and its introduction to a new market – for example, transcreation during its marketing or keyword translation for website SEO. The impact of translation on your target audience should be close, if not the same, to that of the original version.
• Your translation expert should be able to help you introduce your products or services across Latin America by using International Spanish, a very well-known resource among most of Spanish language professionals. Alternatively they will help to localize them if you’ve decided to target a specific segment and/or go one country at a time.

How does your business deal with the linguistic aspects of entering new international markets?

The post The 4 keys to finding the right translator for Spanish-speaking markets appeared first on Trade Ready.

This year’s FITT Education Awards once again go to a talented group of individuals, among whom there are mentors, passionate social activists, and driven global business dynamos, all ready to take the industry by storm.

Future entrepreneur Mohammed Tahir wins Student of the Year

2014’s Student of the Year Award has been presented to Mohammed Tahir, graduate of the International Trade Management and Logistics program at Discovery Community College in British Columbia.

Mohammed attained the highest overall grade point average after completing all eight FITTskills courses.

The Student of the Year award is presented by Export Development Canada (EDC), FITT’s strategic partner, and they are thrilled to present it to a student of Mohammed’s character.

“We’re honoured to present the Student of the Year Award, which recognizes academic excellence in the field of international business,” says Catherine Decarie, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources and Communications, EDC.

Mohammed will continue Canada’s proud tradition of developing the next generation of strong business leaders who think globally.

Mohammed’s professor at Discovery Community College, Fouad Menasa, is also proud of their high-performing graduate.

“Discovery Community College is very pleased that our student Mohammed Tahir is the recipient of the valued FITT/EDC Student of the Year Award. Throughout his courses Mohammed has demonstrated the qualities of an entrepreneurial-minded individual.  We wish him a successful future.”

Looking to the future, Mohammed wants to become an expert in his industry and start a successful business.

“My motivation is to learn every aspect of international business. There is no greater gain than knowledge and that’s what the International Business program provides. My goal is to become a prosperous entrepreneur.”

The winning International Marketing Plan brings SMEs to South Korea

The International Marketing Plan Award goes to Ryan Carkner for his detailed, well-researched and insightful plan to bring IT solutions created by SMEs to South Korea’s global multinationals.

The award is given to the student to has earned both the highest grade for a completed marketing plan, and the highest grade point average overall.

Ryan was able to identify the gaps or weaknesses in South Korea’s technological infrastructure, not an easy task since the market is notoriously tough to penetrate, and controlled by a handful of powerful corporations who wouldn’t typically look to SMEs for help. After careful research, he struck on a game-changing insight.

“I finally gathered enough information to find out that these corporations had their hands full with big businesses and even bigger problems, specifically their handling of an evolving SME market. After weeks of researching, it was the weakness I had been looking for. At that point, I knew I could make a partnership or strategic alliance look tempting.”

Ryan’s professor and Coordinator of the International Business Program at Algonquin College, Norman Lomow, is very pleased at his student’s success.

On top of his achievements in the program, Ryan is also a graduate of the International Business Major. Well done Ryan, you did us proud.

When we asked Ryan what his dream job would be, he didn’t hesitate.

“I’d like to get into the video gaming industry. It has been a market that has fascinated me ever since I was a kid, and is now becoming progressively globalized. I would also like to get the opportunity to work in different countries and really exercise my international business skills to their fullest extent.”

International Business Plan Award winner helps Canadian business go Dutch

This year’s International Business Plan Award, awarded to the student who has received the highest grade for a completed business plan, combined with the highest GPA, goes to another Algonquin College student, Claude Goudreault.

Claude nailed it, turning in a project that crunched the right numbers, and used insights from those calculations to formulate an actionable plan to expand a Canadian retailer successfully into the Dutch market.

“The project was about Agrium, a Canadian company which sells agricultural products and services. In this plan, Agrium would acquire 60 percent interest in an existing company, and also build a retail chain in the market.  After having done the research, I determined that Agrium could enter the Dutch market without any problem and the return of investments would be very profitable.”

Norman Lomow congratulated him as well, adding that “I am pleased with Claude’s accomplishments with his International Business Plan Award and in the International Business Major. I look forward to following your career Claude.”

Claude decided to study international business for some pretty great reasons.

“The idea of being able to visit countries and work at the same time was extremely appealing to me.”

My mother taught me to always help others when they are in need. Being willing to help others, whether domestically or internationally, is something I’ve always wanted to do.

His plan for the future?

“I have three goals: being part of a research team, living abroad for a few years, and consulting. Living abroad is something that intrigues me very much, because I would be able to learn different cultures, different languages and meet new people.”

A born leader wins this year’s FITT Achievement Award

The FITT Achievement Award is awarded to a student who has shown notable combinations of community involvement and academic success.

Marilia Machado de Arruda Brasil has gone above and beyond her studies to earn real-world experience, bringing that valuable knowledge back and sharing it through mentorship to her fellow students.

“Marilia not only exceeded academic expectations and emerged as a leader in the class, motivating her classmates, but she immediately put her trade skills to work in the community as a vital member of the Brazilian Business Opportunity Committee of the London Chamber of Commerce,” says Albert Knab, Coordinator, International Business Management, Lawrence Kinlin School of Business, Fanshawe College.

Marila says that she was able to put her education to use right away, applying what she’s learned in class directly to her work at an internship with the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC).

“I was able to develop a market-entry strategy for an Italian medical device company to enter the North American market.  It really helped me to reassure myself that I was able to deliver a “first-class” report.  Our work was very well received by all the stakeholders.”

Marilia is working hard to land her ideal role in international trade, and has some clear ideas as to what that will be.

“My ultimate career goal is to become an arbiter specializing in International Trade. It would allow me to use both my education as a Bachelor of Law, and my more recent education in International Business.  As an arbiter I would be able to foster healthy relationships in the global business community by helping to solve contractual problems before they become a barrier to trade.”

If there is opportunity I would also like to continue to be involved in international business education, either by teaching part-time or advising students and faculty.

It’s clear to see that Marilia has the right skills and attitude to lead future generations of international business students to success.

Congratulations to all of this year’s talented, ambitious education award winners! We’re looking forward to see where the future leads you, and to have you as valuable members in the global trade community.

Do you have any pieces of advice for these new graduates at the beginning of their careers?

The post The new generation of talented global business pros; 2014 FITT Education Award Winners appeared first on Trade Ready.

Following my undergraduate studies and initial international experience, I decided to further my education, and looked for an international business program that offered a practical application of the curriculum; enter the FITT-accredited Graduate Certificate in International Business Management at Algonquin College.

The program was detailed and the curriculum applied to real-world scenarios. This provided me with a strong foundation for an international trade career.

Over the course of eight months, and with the support of my peers and instructors, I achieved success in the program. In fact, in 2012 I was awarded a FITT Educational Award for my International Business Plan.

Applying international trade training in the real world

Following my graduation, I received a job offer from the South African High Commission in Ottawa. My position was focused on public diplomacy and aiding the mission with research and analysis of key priorities, Canadian governments and businesses, the Canadian market, and investment and partnership opportunities.

FITT laid the foundation for me to jump in and adapt to the international environment.

The work at the High Commission was diverse and culturally vibrant; it offered a series of challenges everyday that were conducive to my personal and professional growth. I had opportunities to conduct political and foreign policy analysis, review investment and partnership opportunities in western Canada, and experience the inner workings of the BRICS relationships.

Working in this diplomatic environment also provided me with numerous opportunities to expand my professional network.

I worked at the High Commission for seven months, and following the end of my term I was offered the opportunity to work for the World Trade Centre Dublin (WTCD), part of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA).

Building global experience and forging connections

A few days after finishing at the High Commission I stepped off a plane in Dublin, Ireland, and was thrown into a work environment that was diverse and multifaceted.

Account management, sales, marketing, and trade facilitation; I experienced it all while at the WTCD. The experience was hands-on, rugged and exciting. It forced me to expand my thinking and use my FITT-accredited education to drive the growth of the organization, while continuing to build my global network.

From aircraft, medical and defence equipment, to food and textiles, there wasn’t much that didn’t filter through the Trade Centre.

Using the skills I gained from FITT, I worked with other traders, trade centres, governments and businesses from around the world, establishing relations with trade teams from over 15 countries.

The WTCD is a relatively small operation, and because of this, I had the opportunity to work directly with everyone from the heads of diplomatic missions and company executives from small-scale, locally-oriented businesses to tech and internet giants, such as Google, Twitter, PayPal and Facebook.

Having the confidence to take chances

Following my tenure at the WTCD, I returned to Ottawa and was offered a new position at the South African High Commission where I’m currently working on the economic and trade portfolio.

As part of a small team, I’m focused on the economic diplomacy efforts of the mission. Each day we explore opportunities to connect Canadian and South African businesses, and increase the visibility and awareness of South Africa as a market of great opportunity.

I deal with topics such as foreign direct investment, international marketing, trade events and importing and exporting. I try to find drivers for the growth of Canadian-South African economic relations.

Some of the most valuable lessons the FITT-accredited program and my experiences afterward reinforced were to build your network whenever you can and not shy away from any opportunities to gain experience.

The job market for young professionals is tough, but with those two things in mind, and FITT training in my back pocket, it has made moving forward with confidence and exploring the vast field of international trade a little bit easier.

The post Laying strong foundations for an exciting international trade career appeared first on Trade Ready.

FITT Student of the Year is from the Vancouver Career College

Our FITT Student of the Year for 2013—the student who scored the highest GPA of all students who graduated from a FITT Delivery institution world-wide—is Takashi Imai, graduate of the Vancouver Career College international business program.

“This is great news, and it’s a huge credit to him,” said Rick Pasin, Campus Director at Vancouver Career College. “He was there every day, he’s very intelligent, and he was always involved and engaged in the program.”

Strategy for Brazil wins the International Marketing Plan Award

Aitor Molina Encabo of Algonquin College is the winner of our FITT International Marketing Plan Award. His plan focused on an Ottawa company called Flywheel Energy Systems, and detailed a strategy to help the company expand into the Brazilian market.

Aitor comes from an engineering background, but has always had an interest in business.

“Since graduated I’ve worked with a small electronics company to secure new clients, and then for a 3D-printing start-up. This enabled me to use my international business training to find new markets and new products, and helped me solve problems for these companies.”

He says that after completing the program he has a much better understanding of how businesses run and how his decisions as an engineer can affect business.

“Aitor was a star performer in the international business program,” says Norman Lomow, CITP|FIBP, Professor and FITT Coordinator at Algonquin. “He came to classes with enthusiasm, was always up-to-date on issues and subjects of an international business, economics and political nature, and he always acted with a very professional approach.”

Business Plan Award for helping Blackfly enter New York State

The winner of the 2013 FITT International Business Plan Award is Patrick Godon, a graduate of Fanshawe College. Patrick’s plan focused on Blackfly—a London, Ontario-based producer of vodka and tequila mixed drinks made with premium ingredients including pure juices. The company was curious about possible expansion into the United States. Patrick developed a business plan for potential market-entry into New York State.

“It was a big project and it was a lot of work, but I’m really glad the work paid off.”

The international business plan project helps students develop the skills to create compelling business reports, says Patrick’s former instructor, Murray Morgan, CITP|FIBP.

“Patrick consistently asked how he could improve his assignment, which prompted him to gather additional market and competitive intelligence. He is to be commended for his efforts. Winning FITT’s International Business Plan Award is a fine achievement to add to one’s resume.”

Two outstanding candidates win the FITT Achievement Award

There are two winners for the 2013 FITT Achievement Award—both of whom have shown notable combinations of community involvement and academic success. These two individuals have gone above and beyond their studies to earn real-world experience with companies and organizations in their communities, and they brought that knowledge back and acted as mentors to their fellow peers!

Laura Barnard is a fourth year student in the International Business Management Program at Conestoga College.

“She is very hardworking, highly motivated, and she has a very hands-on can-do attitude,” says Oded Tal, who taught Laura in five courses during her four-year program.

Laura completed an internship with Blackberry, where she received mentorship from a Director. She then went on to start working with a local tech start-up in Waterloo called EnFlick, where she is still employed as a Fulfillment Specialist.  Using her experience and the theoretical knowledge she gained during her international trade studies, Laura is looking forward to helping EnFlick expand into several foreign markets.

I would love to see myself working for an international firm either in Canada or internationally.

“The types of business are pretty basic, but when you go international you get to work with different cultures and you get to mix with different types of people, and I think that’s what draws me in. I want the opportunity to see what different people are like all around the world,” says Laura.

Patrick Belliveau, our second winner, is a grad from Sheridan College’s Global Business Management Program. During his time at Sheridan, Patrick worked as a student ambassador for Pearson Education, and was later elected as a representative to the company’s North American Student Advisory Board. Patrick also did a market research internship with Innovation Norway, where he was able to perform Canadian market research for Norwegian companies to identify potential new business opportunities.

“My co-op placement with Innovation Norway sort of kick-started everything for me,” said Patrick. “It’s the first time I was directly involved in international business.

My favourite part was getting to see a product in stores that wasn’t previously available to Canadian consumers. That was quite rewarding.

Patrick acted as a mentor to other students in the program and added a lot of value to the learning environment, says Charles Minken, Program Coordinator for Sheridan’s School of Business, and Patrick’s former instructor.

“He’s good at researching and he’s very analytical, but he’s also good at communicating and networking. He really has a lot of good qualities, and I foresee him doing well in his career.”

Patrick now works for Ford’s National Sales Operations Team as a Western Scheduling Analyst, and says he sincerely doubts he’ll ever stop his involvement in international business.

Good going and best wishes to all the FITT Educational Award winners!

Keep in touch; we can’t wait to hear about you’re your future endeavors and adventures in the world international business!

Readers, it’s your turn to congratulate our winners in the comments section!

The post Know your next international trade achievers! Winners of the 2013 FITT Educational Award appeared first on Trade Ready.