![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.tradeready.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Mathieu-Cousineau-Degarie.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
For Mathieu<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Cousineau<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>DeGarie<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>b<\/span>ridg<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0cultures and societies<\/span>\u00a0is a passion<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>It was this\u00a0<\/span>e<\/span>n<\/span>thusiasm<\/span>\u00a0that led him to<\/span>\u00a0do a\u00a0<\/span>Master\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0degree in the study of International\u00a0<\/span>Relations.\u00a0<\/span>He soon realized that the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>best<\/span>\u00a0way to\u00a0<\/span>follow<\/span>\u00a0his interest and incorporate it into hi<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span>profession<\/span>\u00a0was<\/span>\u00a0to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>pursu<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0a career in international trade.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of Mathieu\u2019s most memorable\u00a0<\/span>experiences was helping<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a startup from Sherbrooke in South-East Quebec\u00a0<\/span>with the\u00a0<\/span>financing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>they needed to get their technology to their client \u2013 a university in Greece.\u00a0<\/span>The startup consisted of a small team of engineering students<\/span>\u00a0who had developed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a prototype of solar panels that were very cost-e<\/span>ffic<\/span>ient and easy to install for high volume heating systems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mathieu\u00a0<\/span>believed in their project and was convinced of its viability. After callin<\/span>g a dozen colleagues from various departments at\u00a0<\/span>his bank, he was able to\u00a0<\/span>offer them a comprehensive service\u00a0<\/span>(overseas\u00a0<\/span>payment solutions<\/span><\/a>, contract guarantees,\u00a0<\/span>cash<\/span>fl<\/span>ow\u00a0<\/span>fi<\/span>nancing<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0etc).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>When\u00a0<\/span><\/i>my client<\/span><\/i>\u00a0got their\u00a0<\/span><\/i>fi<\/span><\/i>rst payment in from their Greek client, I got an\u00a0<\/span><\/i>ecstatic<\/span><\/i>\u00a0call from the<\/span><\/i>m<\/span><\/i>. I think it was one of the most rewarding moments<\/span><\/i>,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0to have<\/span><\/i>\u00a0made<\/span><\/i>\u00a0something that seemed impossible a reality for a young business<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mathieu has an impressive array of\u00a0<\/span>professional accomplishments<\/span>\u00a0to his credit:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Helping<\/span>\u00a0a growing tech company from Montreal set up shop in Nantes, France and<\/span>\u00a0turning a\u00a0<\/span>long-term<\/span>\u00a0project into a concrete new step in the business’ history.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Promoting\u00a0<\/span>foreign exchange risk<\/span><\/a>\u00a0hedging within the Canadian TV and Motion picture industry and getting a lot of production companies to include this strategy in their business plan and budget.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Supporting a small medical equipment distributor<\/span>\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0secur<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0a deal equal to three times its previous annual revenue to supply a Quebec City hospital during the COVID-19 crisis<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A\u00a0<\/span>great piece of advice from Mathieu\u00a0<\/span>to young entrepreneurs is\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>think ahead and ask questions that go beyond one\u2019s field of expertise.\u00a0<\/span>This is crucial to be\u00a0<\/span>able to fully comprehend your client\u2019s situation<\/span>\u00a0and offer\u00a0<\/span>timely,\u00a0<\/span>relevant\u00a0<\/span>assistance<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 either by yourself or\u00a0<\/span>by referring\u00a0<\/span>the client\u00a0<\/span>to a trusted partner<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>But this can be\u00a0<\/span>possible only if\u00a0<\/span>have the know-how<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>ask the right\u00a0<\/span>questions and\u00a0<\/span>get the<\/span>\u00a0answers<\/span>\u00a0to properly help our clients overcome challenges and achieve their goals<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Being an international trade specialist is being able to have an end-to-end view of your client’\u00a0<\/span><\/i>sales<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>cycle<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mathieu<\/span>\u00a0signed up for\u00a0<\/span>FITTskills\u00a0<\/span>courses<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>for a chance to\u00a0<\/span>delve into aspects of international trade that he had<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0yet<\/span>\u00a0explored\u00a0<\/span>in his career<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>It helped him acquire a holistic understanding of the subject<\/span>\u00a0and to fill in any knowledge gaps he had.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/em>The<\/span><\/i>\u00a0FITTskills\u00a0courses<\/span><\/i>\u00a0really helped me deep-dive in\u00a0<\/span><\/i>fi<\/span><\/i>elds of international trade related to mine that I never really got to explore. They also provided me with that famous end-to-end view of an international\u00a0<\/span><\/i>trade<\/span><\/i>\u00a0sales cycle. I am now more con<\/span><\/i>fi<\/span><\/i>dent when I talk to clients and am more precise in my conversations with them<\/span><\/i>.<\/p>\r\n <\/cite><\/p>\r\n<\/span>\r\n<\/blockquote><\/em><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n <\/em><\/i><\/span>Global Value Chain<\/span><\/i><\/a>Helping a\u00a0<\/span><\/b>young team<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>secure their<\/span><\/b>\u00a0first overseas contract<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
An impressive array of career highs\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Be curious and ask questions<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Exploring the finer points of international trade<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n