Skilled international trade practitioners are driving their companies’ global growth

International trade practitioners tend to be the drivers of growth, rather than a factor in supporting growth. So how do you know if you have the right competencies to work for a globally competitive company?

Caroline Tompkins, CITP|FIBP

Caroline has served as President & CEO of the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) for over 21 years. She is a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal holder for her outstanding contribution to Canada's trade community.

5 ways due diligence can prevent fraud in your international contracts

All parties in all commercial transactions should be aware of the potential for fraud. In some cases those parties you negotiate with may not even be aware of the liability they pose. Being vigilant by doing your due diligence is the only real way to prevent fraud in your international contracts.

Pamela Hyatt

I am the Content Marketing Specialist for the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). You can find some of my work on TradeReady.ca. My background is in copywriting, journalism and social media. My passion lies in connecting people to the stories that are most important to them.

Joel Fernandez, CITP|FIBP – Executive Director

Joel Fernandez is the Executive Director of the Global Chamber in Miami, Florida, and the Vice Chairperson of the Environmental Impact Committee in his town, and an international trade entrepreneur with his own company, Intradeservice LLC.

Ewan Roy

I'm a Digital Marketing Specialist for the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). My background is in writing and research, and I am passionate about communicating new ideas and telling stories that matter to you.

A marathoner’s tips for a race to international trade success

Sometimes the status quo, even if it’s worked in the past, may lead to some of the pitfalls of exporting and importing instead of continued international trade success.

Lora Rigutto Vigliatore, CITP|FIBP

Lora is an International Trade and Business Development "Coach." She has a passion for international trade development and many years experience coaching businesses to expand into global markets. With fluency in Spanish, Lora has a keen interest in finding strategic partnering opportunities between Canadian and Latin American businesses and maintaining those cross-cultural relationships.

Four ways to engage in international networking that work

Business pressure will often blind an executive to other ways of international networking. The following out-of-the-box methods can bring surprising results.

Ennio Vita-Finzi, CITP|FIBP

Ennio Vita-Finzi is a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) and was a Trade Commissioner in Europe, Latin America and the US as well as President of the Canadian Council for the Americas during NAFTA negotiations. He has been a multinational executive and entrepreneur and is now a College lecturer, keynote speaker, and author based in Montreal. (e.vita-finzi@sympatico.ca)

Build an intelligent supply chain by putting big data to work

Supply chains are becoming increasingly integrated and more intelligent. Collaboration, knowledge sharing and learning are at the center of intelligent supply chain management.

Irina Rosca

Irina is a results-oriented leader with a strong history of successful operational stewardship, driving supply chain efficiency, and implementing best of breed solutions. She works with small and medium sized companies to help them find the best enterprise management solution suite fit for their unique needs and budget constraints. Irina has over 10 years of experience supporting global organizations with efforts to create streamlined supply chain processes, optimize inventory and logistics, and create increased visibility within complex networks.

11 global business product characteristics that customers value

Any clear definition of a business should be accompanied by an understanding of who the customers are in that business. The next step is to develop an understanding of what global business product characteristics those customers value.

FITT Team

The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) is the standards, certification and training body dedicated to providing international business training, resources and professional certification to individuals and businesses. Created by business for business, FITT’s international business training solutions are the standard of excellence for global trade professionals around the world.

Could Vietnam become both the world’s next factory and business frontier?

One of the newest stories on the business frontier in Asia is Vietnam, which is well positioned to become the region’s manufacturing and trade hub across a range of sectors. Here’s what you need to know.

Emmanuelle Ganne

Emmanuelle is Vice President, Europe with the global strategy consulting firm Allam Advisory Group and a former counselor to the WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy with over 15 years of experience in international commerce, trade policy, and diplomacy. She has worked extensively on Europe, including Eastern and Central Europe, Russia and Central Asia, South Eastern Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and managed Vietnam's WTO accession process.

The risk of using contractors for your international hiring needs

When you take your business into a new foreign market, one of the first things you need to do is put boots on the ground. Are contractors the best way to meet your international hiring needs?

Cody Silverman

Cody is a Global Solutions Advisor for SafeGuard World International, and works with a variety of multi-national organizations, ranging from IT companies to non-profits. Cody seeks to understand the individual specific needs of organizations that face challenges in managing their global workforce, and then advises on available solutions in the market while cautioning on risks and limitations.

Is there a place for old-fashioned values in today’s tech-driven supply chain world?

“Schwinn” had a magical name in the 1960s that became synonymous with bicycles. The brand had developed a great reputation for quality and durability. Over the intervening years, the processes and technologies have changed the industry, but is there still a place for good old-fashioned values in today’s tech driven supply chain world?

Charles Intieri

Mr. Charles (Chuck) Intrieri is a highly experienced and credentialed Supply Chain Management professional and is a recognized thought leader and innovator, primarily in the areas of Supply Chain Optimization, Third Party Logistics (3PL), Client Cost Reduction/Profit Improvement, International Purchasing/Importing, and Inventory Management. He is a motivational team builder with a history of conducting significant organizational transformation, and achieving important operational successes at the local, regional and global level.