The 2024 winners embody the values of dedication, innovation, and global vision. Their stories reveal the impact of FITTskills training and international business education, not just in shaping professional skills, but in opening doors to opportunities that connect people, cultures, and economies worldwide.

Student of the Year: Chika Sato, Canadian College

The Student of the Year Award, presented in partnership with Export Development Canada, goes to the student with the highest overall GPA after completing all FITTskills courses at a delivery partner institution. This year’s recipient, Chika Sato of Canadian College, stood out not just for her academic excellence, but for her consistent drive to participate, learn, and contribute to class discussions.

Her professor, Kumar Varma, CITP, recalls Chika’s approach vividly:

“The success of Chika Sato lies in her outstanding focus on the subject when she is in class, her mental aptitude to understand international trade events, and her eagerness to participate in discussion. Punctuality with her assignments, her commitment to attendance, and her curiosity to ask questions made her a truly exceptional student. A rare pearl in the ocean!”

For Chika, the award is a validation of years of hard work. Her journey through the FITTskills program not only strengthened her understanding of global markets but also provided the tools to approach complex international challenges with confidence. Her recognition as Student of the Year shines a spotlight on the transformative impact of dedication and persistence.

International Sales & Marketing Plan Award: Rajveer Kaur, triOS College

The International Sales & Marketing Plan Award recognizes the strongest submission of a comprehensive sales and marketing plan. Rajveer Kaur of triOS College received this honour for her detailed and innovative plan outlining Old Navy’s entry into the Indian market.

Her project balanced the company’s global identity with India’s diverse cultural and consumer landscape. She identified key challenges, such as intense local competition and the need for cultural adaptation, and addressed them through product localization, festival-inspired collections, influencer collaborations, and a phased market entry strategy.

Reflecting on the experience, Rajveer shared:

“I felt very accomplished because I was able to combine strategic thinking with practical marketing tools. It showed me how theory translates into a real-world global business scenario, which was motivating and rewarding.”

Rajveer’s career goals extend beyond this project. With aspirations to become an international trade consultant and strategist and eventually build her own global business. She sees this award as both a milestone and a motivator.

Her professor, Dr. Kamaljit Kaur, Program Coordinator of the Global Business Management program at triOS College, praised her achievements:

“As a student, Rajveer consistently demonstrated critical thinking, creativity, and strong team-building skills. Her positive attitude, leading class discussions and timely submissions, made her an exceptional student. It is wonderful to see these strengths celebrated through this achievement.”

International Business Plan Award (Tie):

Teniola Animat Oke & Calvin Immanuel Suseendiran, Algonquin College

This year’s International Business Plan Award ended in a tie, with two equally impressive projects emerging from Algonquin College. Both demonstrated the ability to combine deep market research with strategic, real-world application.

Teniola Animat Oke developed a market entry strategy for Hanwha Vision’s DIY home alarm system in France. Navigating challenges around GDPR compliance, financial projections, and cultural preferences, she created a hybrid entry strategy combining online sales with partnerships through French retailers and telecom providers.

“Completing this project was incredibly rewarding,” Teniola said. “It pushed me to integrate everything I learned – market analysis, financial planning, risk management, and cultural adaptation – into an actionable plan. It reinforced my passion for international business and my confidence in tackling complex, multifaceted challenges.”

Her long-term vision? To work as a Global Strategy Consultant or International Market Expansion Manager, helping technology firms navigate new global frontiers.

Meanwhile, Calvin Immanuel Suseendiran built a comprehensive business plan for Privacy Shield, a Swiss privacy-enhancing technology firm, to enter the Italian market. By applying tactics he learned through the FITTskills program and his own cybersecurity expertise, he developed a strategy that aligned advanced technology with regulatory and cultural realities in Italy.

“Completing the project was deeply rewarding. It allowed me to apply both international trade frameworks and cybersecurity principles to a practical, forward-looking business strategy,” Calvin reflected.

His dream career lies at the intersection of cybersecurity and international trade, leading secure market entry strategies and driving digital transformation across borders.

Clarecia Christie, CITP, FITT Coordinator at Algonquin College, celebrated both students:

“Teniola and Calvin displayed a disciplined approach with a global mindset and intense curiosity. Teniola excelled in in-depth research, while Calvin showcased risk management skills. Their dedication to FITTskills courses was evident, and we are proud of their well-deserved success.”

FITT Achievement Award (Tie): Oruba AL Refa’i & April Channer, St. Clair College

The FITT Achievement Award is unique among the honours. It recognizes not just academic performance, but also leadership, community involvement, and perseverance. This year’s award was shared by two outstanding students from St. Clair College: Oruba AL Refa’i and April Channer.

Oruba AL Refa’i pursued International Business Management – Logistics Systems, inspired by the role logistics plays as the backbone of international trade. With a background in project management and supply chain, she excelled academically while balancing her role as a mother of three.

“Honestly, I feel thrilled and grateful to be this year’s recipient,” Oruba shared.

“Graduating with a 4.0 GPA as a full-time student and parent was already a major accomplishment, but this award validates my dedication and motivates me to keep striving for excellence in international trade and logistics.”

Her professor, Paul Jacobs, CITP, highlighted her impact:

“Oruba distinguished herself as an exceptional student through her academic excellence, leadership, and meaningful volunteer contributions. It is a privilege to celebrate her success.”

April Channer brought an entrepreneurial perspective shaped by her experience running a distribution company in Jamaica. She was drawn to international trade by its ability to connect people, products, and opportunities across borders.

“Being the recipient of the FITT Achievement Award is an incredible honour,” April said. “It validates my hard work as a student and as a young business owner, and motivates me to keep pushing boundaries and pursuing opportunities in global trade.”

Her instructor, Tammy Bombardier, CITP, praised April’s contribution:

“April brought incredible entrepreneurial insight to our program and generously shared her experiences with classmates. Her enthusiasm, creativity, and willingness to contribute will undoubtedly make her a great asset to our international trade community.”

Both students represent the spirit of the FITT Achievement Award, balancing academic success with leadership, resilience, and a vision for the future of global business.

Just the beginning

The journeys of Chika, Rajveer, Teniola, Calvin, Oruba, and April highlight the transformative power of education in international trade. Their projects reflect real-world challenges, from market entry and cultural adaptation to cybersecurity and logistics. Their professors’ praise underscores the discipline, creativity, and leadership they demonstrated along the way.

Together, they represent the future of international trade: innovative thinkers, strategic problem-solvers, and global citizens ready to shape cross-border business.

For current and future students, their stories serve as inspiration. The FITTskills program equips learners with the practical tools, analytical frameworks, and global perspective needed to succeed in a world where borders matter less and collaboration matters more.

As these award recipients step forward into their careers, one thing is clear: the classroom lessons they mastered are already translating into global impact.

Congratulations to the 2024 FITT Educational Award winners! Your achievements reflect not only your hard work, but also the bright future of international trade.

If you’re considering a career in global business, or want to equip yourself with the knowledge to succeed across borders, explore the FITTskills program and take the next step toward building your own international trade success story.

The post From the classroom to global impact: The inspiring journeys of FITT’s 2024 Educational Award winners 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.

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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.