“…companies that export make 121% more money, grow faster, last longer, are better connected within supply chains, are more resilient to economic downturns, and are more productive, competitive and innovative.” 

It’s no wonder then, that the majority of Fortune 500 entities operate locations in foreign countries, according to research by CapRelo.  

Coming from a broader perspective, there is no bigger pool of consumers than the global one. Take the USA, for instance.

“More than 95 percent of the world’s consumers are outside of the United States,” notes the US ITA (International Trade Administration). “Your competitors are increasing their global market share, and you can too.” 

The story is the same for businesses in all countries around the world too. Whether you’re looking to expand operations or simply want to export your products and services to an international locale, the world is a big oyster for you and your business to take advantage of.  

So, the bigger question on your mind should not be why should I be expanding my business to global markets? But, instead, how do I expand my business into global markets safely and successfully? 

The answers are out there, and they require diligent decision-making processes and strategies that have been tried and tested by the most successful companies around. There is no secret recipe to it all, you just have to do the right research, have the right partners, the right training and the right team. Keeping in mind that female-run businesses often face more hurdles when building their companies, it’s especially important to think about expansion with this type of due diligence in mind.  

With that said, here are 5 important steps that female leaders can take to take their businesses beyond domestic boundaries.

Create a Highly Trained International Business Team 

In business, people do not encourage ‘going it alone.’ Yes, there are stories of renegade disruptors straying from the pack and doing their own thing to much-lauded success, but the reality behind many of these solopreneurs and their companies is that they had excellent mentors, staff members and partners who helped them become the success stories that they are today.  

So, when it comes to business expansion, you need a team that understands how to:

• Research target markets effectively 
• Manage international finance and FX intricacies 
• Navigate the complex landscape of international shipping, logistics and transportation 
• Engage in appropriate cross-cultural marketing and sales 
• Adapt products and services to the many regulations in international markets 

This type of team can be comprised of many positions, depending on your company’s size, operational model and needs. Many international business consultants offer-up global trade experience for doing business in international regions, as do import-export consultants, trade compliance specialists, and procurement and purchasing experts—on a more granular level.  

Depending on the size and breadth of your team already, you may want to hire a specialist in a niche area, such as logistics, or you may need someone who can do it all, from researching the right global markets to executing the expansion strategy on a daily basis—like a seasoned international business consultant, developer or manager. 

Regardless of the position, what is exceptionally important for the success of your team is the amount of professional experience and training they have.

For example, many companies that are focused on international trade often look for the Certified International Trade Professional designation (CITP®|FIBP®*) when sourcing top talent.

That’s because CITPs have the knowledge and skills needed to provide services in all of the areas noted above (and more). This type of designation can be extremely beneficial as it provides your clients with added confidence that your team members understand the complexities involved in global expansion and, more importantly, know how to avoid common mistakes that untrained and inexperienced individuals so often make. Just as you need to do your due diligence for your business, your teams also need to be properly equipped to do the same in their areas of expertise. 

Execute a Thorough Feasibility Assessment 

If you are going to expand your business into new markets the right way, then you need to do the right type of research to see if the potential opportunities are viable for your business—both its current and future state. That means you need to:

• Assess your organizational readiness to take on international trade initiatives 
• Understand the best import or export opportunities for your business using the right types of data (such as macroeconomic data) 
• Perform cost-benefit analyses for all of your expansion activities  
• Understand how to mitigate the wealth of risks that can occur day by day in an ever-changing global economy 

These aren’t small tasks by any means, but that’s why adding the right professionals to your business is of utmost importance. They know how to do it all, so you don’t have to. 

Find the Right Partners 

When entering a new international market, partners can help establish effective marketing and distribution systems, region-specific market and consumer knowledge, and important government or regulatory connections that are necessary for successful expansion. However, there are many, many instances where not doing the right research and understanding your liabilities or partner’s liabilities can create disastrous situations for both parties. So, it’s important to understand what type of partnership you need first (distributor, agent, business association, business associate etc.), and then how to ensure you negotiate an agreement that will not only benefit your business but protect it during unexpected scenarios too.  

Establish Strong Female Support Networks  

Female leaders need other female leaders to thrive in today’s business environment. The WPO is just one of many organizations that understands the importance of this notion, creating a network of peer-to-peer support for women who seek advice, experience and resources from women who have succeeded at doing business or, in this specific case, international business. Not only do female support networks offer mentors, conferences, expert advice and opportunities that otherwise would be difficult for female-run businesses to attain on their own, but they also lift up female leadership and diversity initiatives on the whole—continuing an essential growth cycle for the women-led businesses of today and tomorrow. 

Dig for Initiatives, Resources and Funding Opportunities for Women  

At first glance, it can be daunting for women to find resources, financial assistance and business guidance when growing and expanding their businesses. But now, more than ever, the world is ripe with opportunities for women to take advantage of, especially in the form of diversity initiatives. For example, many government sectors in Canada, the US and Europe actively seek female-run companies for events, start-up and incubator programs, and supplier diversity programs.

Many large companies do too; in fact, 97% of Fortune 500 companies have supplier diversity programs, according to EDC.

It may take a bit of digging for the right help, but the investment in time is more than worth it. Better yet, if you have already established the right team and networks, you may not even have to look for these opportunities. People will bring them right to you. 

Going global shouldn’t be daunting. On the contrary, it is exciting and ripe with opportunities for large-scale success—especially if you have the right teams, partners, networks and resources at hand. Luckily, for those who are members of the WPO network, you’re already part of the way there. 

* Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) is trademarked for use within Canada. FITT International Business Professional (FIBP) is trademarked for use internationally. Both reflect the same FITT certified designation. 

To all valued members of the FITT community,

The coronavirus outbreak is being felt globally and is a serious concern for everyone. It is important that we all take the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our families and our communities.

Last week at FITT we joined the many organizations adjusting to a work-from-home environment in order to protect our staff, clients, and “flatten the curve” by playing our part in reducing the impact of COVID-19 on our global community. This was our first step.

The second step is looking to the future. From a business perspective, and global economic perspective, we are dealing with unprecedented and unpredictable times.

And whether we are working from home or from our “home offices,” the FITT team is committed to leveraging our network of international trade experts to help each other meet the unique challenges of today and tomorrow and how COVID-19 will affect business continuity.

How can FITT help you?

A crucial activity in this initiative is to ensure we are all staying informed through credible sources. This is the role the FITT team is taking part in – providing as much relevant and actionable information as we can to support trade practitioners and the international businesses we serve.

We are looking especially at the economic impact, and being prepared to navigate risks today so that we are prepared for the future, however that may look.

Valuable resources from FITT

Please follow the links below for a collection of valuable resources. Check back often, as we will continue to add information as we receive it.
FITTforTrade.com/COVID19-Resources
TradeReady.ca/COVID19-Resources

If there are resources or information you are seeking, please let us know how we can help you navigate COVID-19.

Wishing you health and safety,

Caroline Tompkins, CAE, CITP
President & CEO
Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)

Let’s face it. You know why you want to go global – to increase your bottom line. And you know how to increase the bottom line by selling more and spending less. If you’ve been looking at going global you probably already know what you need to do, but crucially, do you or your team know how to do it? In business, if you don’t have the know-how to go global, you’ll give your profits to someone else.

The vision to take your business global needs to be considered in the context of ensuring you have the necessary know-how, both in-house and through your suppliers and advisors, so that you’re prepared to take advantage of the opportunities while mitigating and minimizing the risks.

Taking your product or service global can grow your business. But regardless of how good your offering is, without trade capable people success will be harder and riskier than it needs to be.

For SMEs, entering global markets is a significant undertaking, and like any undertaking, it requires know-how; and developing or securing that know-how will require an investment of time, and money – proving once again that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

The solution isn’t always in additional staff, it’s in empowering your current team

The good news is that documented evidence proves when companies sell to more than one foreign market they are more profitable, grow faster, and are more resilient to economic downturns. These days, the dynamics of trade are more and more complex, and therefore the need to invest in upskilling employees to develop international business know-how has never been more important.

The bad news is that if you are not yet in a position to invest in doing a deep-dive into learning the intricacies of trade or ensuring your employees have the know-how, your company may not be trade ready. A lack of employee readiness can negatively affect your bottom line.

After making the decision to go global, upskilling your employees is the next best decision you’ll make to help your bottom-line, increase retention rate and client satisfaction, and improve productivity.

I’m not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.

— Stephen Covey, Author, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

It is critically important because the functions within your company will now be international, often a huge shift from domestic operations, and your employees will need to know how to take on these new responsibilities.

Whether or not a solid marketing plan supports entering into a new market, or if you’re in a position to react to a request from an international customer, you need to determine all the costs associated with moving across national borders. Do you know how to navigate currency fluctuations and how to protect yourself against them? Can you ensure your product complies with all market regulations and is not held up at the border?

Further, by being involved in the international functions of your company your employees will also begin to play a more strategic role for you. They will help you make decisions that affect the way your company invests, how it grows, and how it competes. The people working in a company that is global help drive international trade growth, rather than just serving to support the company’s growth.

In international business, know-how is survival

International trade is not for the faint of heart, it is for those who are willing to put in the time and investment to ensure risk is mitigated and minimized so that profits can be maximized. If you expect it to happen without an investment of time and effort, it won’t.

Well-trained employees will contribute to your successes and will help you make the right decisions that will grow the company. Knowing the lower limit that your export price can be, and the additional export expenses that will be incurred, will help you determine whether the initiative is financially viable. Planning for successful international transactions will help you determine in the cost of entering a market is too high.

Unfortunately, employee upskilling is not often a priority for SMEs. It tends to be one of those areas that are cut when times or tough or when there is so much going on that upskilling is put on the “some-day” list. We often hear how companies just do not have the time or the resources to invest in the upskilling of employees.

The truth is, if you want to go global, you must invest. Even micro businesses will need to find the time to invest in building their global know-how because it will be even more challenging to follow through on international trade initiatives without it.

In international trade, know-how is survival. And while the decision to trade or not to trade involves many factors, the bottom line is that you will need competent people. You will need people who can recognize international trade opportunities, and who will know how to act on them.

You CAN go global successfully – with the right tools

Trial and error learning just shouldn’t cut it for your business. It’s not always about more people – but about more productive people – and giving them the tools to grow your business globally with you. There is formal and informal training that you can incorporate into your business culture.

Spread the training out among the different roles and interests of your key players. Have your accountant take a course on conducting cost and pricing analysis, or how to obtain financing. Have a manager look into how to assess and create a risk mitigation plan. Have your marketing lead look into market entry strategies or how to sell to international markets. Or, get a FITTskills post-secondary student to create your international business plan, or market research analysis.

And check out the Canada Job Grant to offset the financial costs of training. Having trade competent people to rely on means fewer mistakes, increased efficiencies, and ultimately, increased sales.

When a company is seeking someone to balance their books they go to an accountant. When they are developing a business contract, they go to a lawyer. So, when a company is looking at international trade as a growth strategy, why not go to an international trade expert? Or better yet – create these experts within your existing teams by empowering your employees to learn what they need to know to help you go global.

Companies that make the decision to up-skill their employees will be at the forefront of continued growth in international trade, and it will drive results.

The founder of a company is an expert in what they do, but they are not necessarily an international business expert. When those two experts come together – that’s when they can go global.

— Zeeshanali Fazal, CITP, Account Manager, Export Development Canada

Building the internal capacity to support export initiatives does include having the right product/service, the right price for the market, and the right plan. But part of that plan must include international business talent development – whether for yourself or your staff. It is the critical building block of a go global strategy.

Today marks an exciting milestone for FITT. I’m thrilled to let you know that 2018 marks the 20^th anniversary of Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) designation, the world’s first professional designation for international business practitioners!

International trade is one of the oldest professions in the world, and until the launch of the CITP designation in 1998, it was one of the least recognized professions in the world. In 1998, when the CITP was developed, it symbolized the first time that international trade professionals could be formally recognized for their expertise in this field. Two decades later, the CITP designation is a global standard of excellence for international trade practitioners worldwide.

While this a proud accomplishment for FITT, what this really celebrates is the level of achievement and leadership of the hundreds of dedicated professionals who represent the designation worldwide.

Throughout the month of June, we’ll be recognizing and celebrating the careers and accomplishments of some of the smartest people involved in international business today. Whether you’re a CITP or this is the first you’re hearing of the designation, we want to get you involved in a month of activities that will bring international business people together, discussing the biggest challenges, issues and opportunities of the day.

You can view the full schedule of #CITP20 events here.

Why bother getting a professional designation for international trade?

If this is the first you’ve heard of the CITP designation, you may be wondering – what’s the value in investing time, money and a lot of effort into adding a few capital letters to your resume and business cards? This question has been asked time and again by recent graduates entering the workforce, ambitious career-climbers looking for their next big promotion, and experienced executives looking to make their mark as a leader in their field, all seeking a way to stand out from their competition in the business world.

The answer depends on the designation those letters represent, and the qualities and credibility that it validates within an industry or a profession.

Despite headlines, and some major upheaval in policy, global trade grew 4.7 % last year, which was the largest increase in six years, and is predicted to grow of 4.4% this year and continue that growth into next year. In an increasingly connected world, there have never been more opportunities for businesses to go global. But as the world gets more connected, trade also gets more complex.

FITTskills graduates told us they recognized just how unique the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in international trade were. As such, they were looking for professional status for their field – just like accountants, architects, etc. The FITT Board looked at this and agreed that the obvious evolution in the creation of training standards, was to formalize the international trade profession by creating the designation.

Certified International Trade Professionals assume a variety of roles and functions within an organization. Ultimately, they are business professionals tasked with supporting companies that rely on international trade as a growth strategy. So why should a logistics manager, international marketing professional, global accountant, and procurement specialist all see themselves as international trade practitioners? And why should they all seek the same professional designation?

“International trade is a team sport. It takes dozens of people to complete transactions over international borders when you consider all the different points of contact involved.”

“The CITP®|FIBP® designation provides empowering leverage for not only individuals but companies too. When staff members have the full picture of what needs to be done in international processes it adds value to everyone within the organization.” Dieter Hollweck, CITP, FITT’s Founder and past President.

The CITP designation is your USP

By associating yourself with the profession of international trade, and validating that association with a professional designation, you are demonstrating that you understand the full picture of international business and its processes. If your previous roles have focused mainly on domestic markets, this is a crucial element in proving your readiness to take on an international role.

This is accomplished by: demonstrating competence of the international business functions, upholding standards of ethical conduct, and committing to ongoing professional development in the field of international business. Professional designations are often considered proof of an individuals credibility and commitment to a field of practice. Those letters that stand beside your name represent acceptance and approval by a collective of experts in the field of international trade. Not only do you have the expertise – with the CITP you have the industry-backed credential to prove it.

The CITP designation is like a USP – a unique selling proposition. If somebody sees “CITP” beside your name on your business card or email signature and they know what it is you’ll have immediate connection. If they don’t know what it is, they’ll be curious about it, and again you will have an immediate connection. Their curiosity allows you to explain the value of the CITP designation and therefore the value you will bring to them not only as an employee, but as an individual who has chosen international business as your profession. A profession which requires special education, training and skills.

“Risk mitigation provided by FITT and the CITP designation is the ability to thrive globally in order to preserve margins for businesses through knowledge more than price.”

“The future in the global competitive environment lives with those who can be price and value makers. This is particularly true for small businesses. The designation helps them to do business effectively in these markets based on know how and competitiveness that does not rely on price alone.” – John Treleaven, CITP, Member of FITT Board of Directors.

Take part in a month of #CITP20 interactive trade events

Throughout June there will be opportunities for you to ask the questions that matter to you, through interactive events on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. We will be connecting expert CITPs with those who want to learn and grow in their international careers through a mentorship contest, and a networking ebook that will give you a direct connection with the industry’s leaders.

Help inspire others! Post a 1-2 minute video or social post to share a memory, a congratulations or thoughts on what being a CITP means to you using the #CITP20 hashtag on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

For companies, particularly SMEs, developing international business savvy among their most important asset – the people who work within their international business functions – is critically important.

This is because it is often these professionals who have more of a strategic role in the organization, and who make decisions that affect the ways the company invests, how it grows, and how it competes.

These international trade practitioners tend to be the drivers of growth, rather than a factor in supporting growth.

Working within the global marketplace demands expertise in international trade.

Today more than ever, moving goods and services across international borders requires a unique set of skills and knowledge, in addition to the essential skills required to run a business.

Trading products and services across borders requires companies to be prepared for international finance, cross-cultural relationships, international trade law and a host of other international management competencies that differ from their domestic counterparts due to their multinational context.

So how do you know if you have the right competencies to work for a globally competitive company? And who determines what the right competencies are?

Defining the skills you need to know

Focused on the needs and priorities of business, the FITT International Trade Competency Framework was designed by international business practitioners for the purpose of defining exactly what skills and knowledge an individual should have in order to work in international trade.

The framework contains a comprehensive library of skills associated with the field of practice for international trade, and takes into account varying types of work environments, levels of complexity, and job types.

The aim in developing the model was to create the first all-inclusive, international competency framework for trade practitioners that is both dynamic and sufficiently flexible, in order to respond to new and emergent demands.

With this in mind, when developing the framework, FITT ensured it would be:

• practical, accessible and simple to understand, containing familiar language and terms understood by trade practitioners.
• future-oriented and flexible.
• sustainable – designed to be easily maintained.
• globally relevant and benchmarked against global practice.
• scalable and able to integrate tools and resources to support a broad range of practice, for individuals and for institutions (industry associations, employers, academic institutions).
• designed and led by expert trade practitioners who could define the needs; with significant and meaningful stakeholder engagement.
• inclusive of competencies for individual efforts and for work functions that require team collaboration.

A peek into FITT’s International Trade Competency Framework

The FITT International Trade Competency Framework contains 15 major competency categories, 35 task/skill areas, containing a total of a 121 competency elements (sub-categories).

Each of the 15 major competency categories contain explicit and detailed information that defines the expected standard of a fully proficient international trade practitioner.

The competencies apply to different occupations or areas of responsibility, including frontline/production or administrative roles, supervisory or midlevel managers, and directors or executive positions.

The competencies were designed by business, for business and therefore are focused on business priorities.

They apply to any individual working in international trade, regardless of what country they live and work in; and, they apply to all types of international trade practices taking into account import and export, and the trade of products, raw materials and services.

These business-centric competencies are forward-looking and aim to prepare people for practice into the year 2020.

They are NOT simply a statement of current practice or the embodiment of how people function today, and they can be linked to industrial sectors, occupations, and/or professions, that serve international trade practices, e.g. customs brokers, supply chain managers, freight forwarders, etc.

The FITT International Trade Competency Framework, funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program launches in 2016.

In the meantime, login to FITTforTrade.com and download our white paper to learn more.

Fifteen years ago, almost to the day of writing this, I was at a FITTskills graduation ceremony listening to Fred Kruberg, who was Chair of the British Columbia Institute for Studies in International Trade (BCISIT) at the time.

Fred was not the keynote speaker, but he is the only speaker I remember from that day.

I remember him so clearly because before introducing the FITTskills graduates we were honouring that morning, he spoke passionately about their role in developing international trade as a profession.

As President of FITT, this of course resonated with me.

Even today, when speaking about the profession of international trade, I often think of Fred’s presentation and wonder:

Just how long will it take for international trade to be seen by business as not only an activity of exchanging products and services across borders, but a true occupation and profession that takes a specialized set of knowledge, skills and abilities to perform?

International trade is a profession

As an example of how professions develop over time, Fred introduced me to the evolution from the medicine man to the highly specialized doctors we have today.

Despite being one of the oldest professions in the world, international trade just doesn’t have the same level of visibility or recognition as other vocations.

Ask a CEO who has an export growth strategy in place “What do you do?”, and they will answer to their sector: “I am in: agriculture, aviation, mining, fish, French fries, breakfast cereals…”

Ask their employees what they do, and they will answer to their job title: “I am a: business development manager; account manager; accountant; supply chain specialist; logistics specialist; compliance officer…”

Generally speaking, neither the CEO nor the employee will readily define themselves as being involved in international trade, so it is no surprise that even today people will question whether international trade is an activity – or a profession.

We at FITT consider it to be both.

What defines a profession?

As Fred noted, a profession normally evolves over time. The medical profession began with an all-around medicine man who looked after all the illnesses and broken bones in his community.

Today, along with general practitioners, we have a regulated system of highly specialized doctors – feet, ear, heart specialists, and so on.

In its evolution, each profession begins by providing a service needed by society; and, initially, these services would be provided by self-taught practitioners.

Over time, common practices, or “norms”, within the field are introduced, then transferred to new entrants into the field as needed, usually on a one-to-one basis.

As the knowledge increases in a specialized area, teaching vehicles begin to be established and bodies of knowledge are developed.

Today, there are the standard characteristics that are commonly associated with a profession. These include:

• Having in place competency or occupational standards;
• Formal education and training programs;
• A governance structure;
• A code of ethics;
• A recognition program;
• An ability to accredit other training programs as meeting the standards of the profession;
• A credential renewal process including ongoing professional requirements.

International trade: A profession going global

Trade happens between people. In practice, it is one individual working with another individual in a different country, that ends in a sales transaction.

Like Fred Kruberg, I believe that today’s international trade professionals are what the medicine man was to the medical profession a few hundred years ago.

For all countries that rely on international trade to support economic growth, finding ways to enhance the professionalism of these practitioners is in everyone’s best interest.

When a company is seeking someone to balance their books, they go to an accountant; when they are developing a business contract, they go to a lawyer; and, when they are seeking to establish an HR division, they hire an HR professional.

Companies that rely on international business as a growth strategy are well-served, knowing that their employees making trade happen are professionals. And they have the credentials to prove it.

Learn more: Download the full whitepaper “Is International Trade an Activity or a Profession?”

As a first-timer to Chile, I have to say what I like most about the country is the people. I just love their Latin American personalities, which tend to be professional and respectful, but also warm, open and full of life!

I arrived in Santiago in the afternoon on November 4^th and was greeting with sunny 30 degrees Celsius weather. By the evening the temperature had dropped to about 15 degrees, but this was still warmer than what I’d left behind in Ottawa.

FITTskills developments in Colombia and Chile
Our FITTskills program is already being taught at the Universidad Sergio Arboleda in Bogotá, Colombia. And by this spring, our courses will start being delivered in an evening-class format to professionals in both the private and public business sectors in Santiago, Chile at the Universidad de Chile.

The University is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country. Nearly 40,000 students attend the five different satellite campuses and several experimental stations situated across the country. The plan is to eventually expand the evening program and incorporate FITTskills into the school’s current full-time international business master’s program.

Down to business in Santiago
On the morning of the 5^th, I met up with Carlos Ronderos for breakfast. Carlos is a partner at Ronderos y Cardenas S.A.S., the Colombian consulting firm we’ve teamed up with to help deliver our FITTskills program in South America.

Carlos is very committed to getting our FITT training into the region. His company has been assisting us by translating our FITT program-material into Spanish as well as by helping us make some invaluable local connections.

After breakfast Carlos and I headed over to the World Trade Center Santiago. We met with the General Manager Matías Pérez and his colleagues Francisco Gutierrez A. and Jéssica Baio Freire. It was great to hear that they’re very interested in FITTskills, and that they support the Universidad de Chile with their delivery plans for the program.

We then visited the University, where I had the pleasure of meeting Olga Lucia Lozano F. and Doris Lopez Giral in person for the first time. I’ve exchanged emails with both of these ladies as they’ve worked to spearhead the implementation of FITTskills at the University. Doris works as a professor, and is very keen to start incorporating more practical and usable skills and knowledge development into the University’s programs. This is where her interest in FITT and the FITTskills program comes in.

We ended the day at the Canadian embassy in Santiago, where we met trade commissioners Peter Furesz, Brenda Wills and Evelyne Coulombe. We updated them on FITT’s activities and plans in Chile, as well what we’re currently doing in Colombia.

There’s a lot of interest from the embassy with respect to doing speaking engagements at the Universidad de Chile once the FITTskills courses start being offered.

It will be our pleasure to keep the embassy in-the-know going forward so that we can foster connections between the embassy and the international trade program at the University.

International trade training at the Universidad de Chile

On Wednesday, the University set up a mini-conference for me. I had the opportunity to speak to individuals from the public and private business sectors in Chile, as well as some of the school’s faculty members, about FITT’s international trade competencies. I discussed what these competencies are, why they’re so important for individuals working in global business, and our latest integrative trade competencies developed through the research we finalized this year as part of our International Trade Workforce Strategy.

There was a lot of interest from the audience, and I was able to answer some great questions about the competencies and our training program.

After the conference, we had time to chat more with University faculty with respect to how they can start delivering the FITTskills program. We had a couple of suggestions whereby R&C in Colombia will send several of their instructors to the University to deliver training, but also to provide train-the-trainer sessions for local instructors. This will enable us to familiarize local instructors with the FITT material as well as our teaching methodologies.

Later in the day, a colleague of Carlos invited us to have a special lunch with several individuals from the Banco de Chile. I met with Christian Schiessler, Director, and Francisco Garces G., who sits on the board. Both were interested to hear about our current activities in the country, and were very supportive of our plans for the future.

Looking ahead to more FITT activity in Latin America
It was certainly a whirlwind two-day trip, but I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to visit Chile. I’m looking forward to building on our relationships with our new FITTskills delivery partner and contacts, and I’m excited to continue expanding the FITTskills program in Latin America!

Have questions about FITTskills in Latin America or have comments about the Colombian or Chilean markets? Leave them for me below!