Dr. Kannan Vanumamalai, CITP®|FIBP®, is the Marketing Manager at Kheeran Inspection Services Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta.

With twenty years of international trade experience and an exceptional academic background in trade, Kannan’s skills and knowledge are equaled only by his passion for his work.

Kannan’s career started when, after completing both his Bachelor’s and his Master’s degrees in commerce, he became a management trainee with Varadhalakshmi Mills Ltd in Madurai, India.

At the end of his trainee period, the company decided to give him the opportunity to select the area of business in which he wanted to specialize.

“I chose international trade,” he explains.

I realized that, for an international trade professional, each work day will be a lively day composed of lots of challenges, problems, solutions, decision making situations, rules, regulations and so on.

Kannan spent a total of just over five years at the company, under the title of Executive (Purchase and Imports).

With the sole responsibility for all man-made fiber imports, he monitored inventory, made purchases when needed, ensured all documents and licenses were in place and guided it through all customs clearances to get materials to the mills when needed.

After a brief stint taking care of exports for another mill, Kannan returned to the import side of trade as an Assistant General Manager (Imports) for Machado Sons P Ltd—a leading Custom House Agents company at the port in Tuticorin, India.

In the role, he was able to expand on his previous import experience by combining responsibilities for customs clearance and import documentation with a broader-scale marketing role.

His new duties included bringing in new customers, providing them guidance, updating customers with any changes in the import policies/rules, ensuring customer satisfaction and retention, and promoting the company’s import clearance services.

Kannan also expanded his educational credentials during the thirteen years he spent in the role. Since it required a greater focus on marketing than his previous positions, he earned his MBA with a focus in marketing, as well as his M.Phil in international business.

He then followed those up by earning his Ph.D in Management in 2011 from the Birla Institute of Technology in Mesra, India, with a focus on international logistics and marketing.

In 2011, Kannan also received two international awards. First, he won ‘The Emerging Economies Doctoral Student Award (EEDSA)’ from the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), USA for his contributions to the subject ‘operations management’.

He then also received the ‘Highly Commented Award for Excellence 2011’ from the Emerald Literati Network in the UK, for a research article he had published in ‘Benchmarking: An International Journal’ the previous year.

On top of these awards, he has published several articles in reputed management journals, and is a regular presenter at Indian as well as international conferences on topics related to international logistics, shipping, export/import, services marketing, etc.

In 2013, Kannan transitioned to his current role, which allows him to focus on international marketing full-time.

Balancing everything from market research studies to product development to client satisfaction, budgeting, accounts management, and training, he has found the opportunity to excel in a role where he can draw from all of his education and experience.

When Kannan learned about FITT and the CITP®|FIBP® designation, he immediately recognized the benefits it could have for his career and decided to apply.

I understand that the CITP®|FIBP® designation will bring international recognition to my knowledge and experience in international trade. I also realize that it will help me to develop networking with other international trade experts.

Kannan described his reaction to earning the designation as “elated.” He says he hopes it will help him toward his goal of gaining a top-level management position in a global corporation in the shipping, freight forwarding or international logistics industry.

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Hoda Ahmed, CITP®|FIBP®, is currently a Marketing Manager with the Business Development Group at Export Development Canada (EDC).

EDC provides insurance, financing and bonding solutions to Canadian exporters and their international buyers in up to 200 markets worldwide, helping Canadian companies stay in control in situations beyond their control.

Hoda is passionate about international trade and development; she has always had an international mindset.

Having completed her post-graduate and undergraduate studies in International Business Management and Historiography, with a focus on Research and African Economic History, Hoda saw the global economy expanding and knew she wanted a borderless career.

Hoda has also had the opportunity of being selected as the Ambassador of Ontario and recipient of the Ontario Global Edge grant provided by the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation—a program dedicated to encouraging entrepreneurship in young people.

“International opportunity gives companies the chance to expand their business; the word opportunity, however, does not always translate directly into success,” she says.

“Readiness and due diligence are central, and my curiosity of different countries, cultures, diverse markets and different types of risk have facilitated my passion for international trade and development.”

Hoda’s international exposure began at a young age. She has family all over the world directly engaged in international business and trade, particularly in Middle Eastern, Asian and African markets.

Upon completing her studies, Hoda lived and volunteered in Bermuda. Her curiosity then took her to China, where she lived on and off for two years. While there, she also worked for a small consulting firm in Sichuan. Already speaking several languages, she taught herself Mandarin in just seven months.

Her fascination and deeply vested interest in the Asia Pacific markets grew significantly with her experiences in China, giving her a great perspective and understanding of how business is conducted in China.

Since then, and in addition to having been exposed to how business is conducted in Africa and Bermuda, Hoda often emphasizes the importance of being culturally aware when entering a market.

“A central element that is often overlooked is knowing the importance of having a cultural understanding of the market you are entering,” she says.

“Culture defines every aspect of a society’s norms, business practices, communication standards and negotiations methods. In the same capacity no two countries are the same, no two cultures are the same. It is important to have this cultural element reflected in the early stages of a market entry strategy.”

She feels that her CITP®|FIBP® designation will help her be a trusted business partner!

“Being young in my career, it is essential to find ways to diversify your background,” she says.

FITTskills training and the CITP®|FIBP® designation not only gives you the core competencies and knowledge needed in trade, but they also connect you to a community of industry leaders and innovators!

“The Forum for International Trade Training has a dedicated team that helps you explore the possibilities of the FITTskills program.”

With an enterprising spirit and a young career fuelled by curiosity and a natural drive, Hoda is setting herself up for a fruitful career in international trade.

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