One of the best ways to get access to mentoring in the trade industry can be via an initiative of the International Trade & Forfaiting Association (ITFA). The ITFA Martin Ashurst Trade Finance Mentoring Programme was launched in 2016 with the objective of helping early stage and aspiring trade financiers to be able to better understand the trade finance industry, thus empowering them to choose it as a career path, network within the industry, and grow their careers.
HOW:
Experienced professionals from the trade finance industry are paired with individuals looking to enter the industry or grow their careers to:
• Describe the industry, explaining why it is an exciting, challenging, complex and rewarding career option;
• Position trade finance within a wide variety of players (insurers, funds, alternative financers, traders, etc) as well as identify different potential career paths (sales, risk, legal, operations, etc);
• Discuss the mentees goals, strengths and weaknesses, and provide guidance on professional development.
WHO
The Mentors:
• Individual mentors originate primarily from the ITFA Membership pool. These are experienced trade financiers from a multitude of backgrounds within the trade finance industry and who are well-equipped to advise mentees on trade finance related aspects and professional development.
• A specialist mentor pool consists of a number of specialists who will complement individual mentors’ backgrounds and who will be available to provide more focused expertise in certain areas of trade finance.
The Mentees:
• Students and graduates curious about entering the trade finance industry;
• Trade finance professionals working for ITFA members who are at the early stages of their careers;
• Non-trade finance professionals working for ITFA member organisations;
• Professionals working in other institutions/industries.
BENEFITS for Mentees
• Free access to ITFA Emerging Leaders webinars and virtual training sessions;
• Free invitations to ITFA Emerging Leaders networking events and seminars;
• Possibility to participate in other ITFA Emerging Leaders initiatives, such as the Annual Emerging Leader Award.
REGISTER
Learn more about the programme, including how to register or contact ITFA, here.
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