World Trade Center Atlanta Academy
Global Market Entry Program Overview
About the Global Market Entry Program
The World Trade Center Atlanta Academy’s Global Market Entry Program is a custom-designed course designed to give business leaders, functional leaders, and executive MBA students the information and connections required to develop and manage a profitable global growth strategy. The course leverages the WTCA strengths as a center for global trade but organizes the information onto one platform taught from the corporate perspective. The corporate perspective and the corporate mentors mean the confusing and contradictory array of market entry options and requirements become clear and easily aligned with participant’s business strategy.
The program explains the critical infrastructure components for successful global market entry. The program consists of four modules containing related topics specific to the corporate view of global market entry. Within each module webinars, guest speakers, articles, and information resources are used to support participant understanding of the subject and the topics. At the end of the program participants will see and hear from global business executives the key considerations they faced. All of the executive educators in the program have “boots-on-the-ground” experience in global market entry and serve as mentors and coaches to answer questions.
Each participant in the full program is assigned a personal mentor with significant in-country, global market experience, year-long membership in the World Trade Center Atlanta, direct access to all the executive educators in the program, access to libraries of information, program discounts, and World Trade Day participation.
Each module takes approximately 15-20 hours to complete. At the end of each module there is a target list of outcomes and suggested documents to complete. There are no pre-requisites, however participants should be familiar with business fundamentals. The program is especially useful for business owners growing a global business, functional specialists with little or no international experience, and MBA students who need to see how their academic curriculum translates into actionable business decisions. The program is certified by the World Trade Center Atlanta, Birchtree Global LLC, HRCI, and SHRM for continuing education credits. Certifying participants must complete the certifying assignment at the end of each module to receive credit.
Each of the four modules contains multiple topics, webinars, white papers, presentations, website information and specific insights to related subjects. The modules and key topics discussed are as follows:
The World Trade Center Atlanta Academy’s Global Market Entry Program is a custom-designed course designed to give business leaders, functional leaders, and executive MBA students the information and connections required to develop and manage a profitable global growth strategy. The course leverages the WTCA strengths as a center for global trade but organizes the information onto one platform taught from the corporate perspective. The corporate perspective and the corporate mentors mean the confusing and contradictory array of market entry options and requirements become clear and easily aligned with participant’s business strategy.
The program explains the critical infrastructure components for successful global market entry. The program consists of four modules containing related topics specific to the corporate view of global market entry. Within each module webinars, guest speakers, articles, and information resources are used to support participant understanding of the subject and the topics. At the end of the program participants will see and hear from global business executives the key considerations they faced. All of the executive educators in the program have “boots-on-the-ground” experience in global market entry and serve as mentors and coaches to answer questions.
Each participant in the full program is assigned a personal mentor with significant in-country, global market experience, year-long membership in the World Trade Center Atlanta, direct access to all the executive educators in the program, access to libraries of information, program discounts, and World Trade Day participation.
Each module takes approximately 15-20 hours to complete. At the end of each module there is a target list of outcomes and suggested documents to complete. There are no pre-requisites, however participants should be familiar with business fundamentals. The program is especially useful for business owners growing a global business, functional specialists with little or no international experience, and MBA students who need to see how their academic curriculum translates into actionable business decisions. The program is certified by the World Trade Center Atlanta, Birchtree Global LLC, HRCI, and SHRM for continuing education credits. Certifying participants must complete the certifying assignment at the end of each module to receive credit.
Each of the four modules contains multiple topics, webinars, white papers, presentations, website information and specific insights to related subjects. The modules and key topics discussed are as follows:
Strategic Module
These elements are foundational to any global market entry program and represent the critical business questions that should be answered before a firm expands internationally. The major topics included in this section include:
- Global Market Entry Strategy
- Ethics, FCPA Implications
- Political Implications and Trends
- Strategic Resources
Economic Module
The content in this section describes the markets, tariffs, trends, and economic incentives that drive companies to expand outside their home country. The key topics reviewed include:
- Market, Economics, Tariffs, and Trends
- Importing, Exporting, Certifications
- Economic Incentive Programs, Trade Services
Corporate Entity Module
The legal, financial, tax, and human resources infrastructures are completely different from country to country. These critical issues determine how a company will establish operations, maximize revenue, minimize taxes, and strategically utilize people. The major topics in this section include:
- Global Legal Issues, Legal Incorporation, GDPR, and Intellectual Property
- Global Human Capital, Labor Law, Statutory Requirements
- Global Tax Strategy, Cross Border Strategies
- Banking, Finance, Trade Credit
Operational Module
This module focuses on operational issues related to the day to day management of a global business. This is the biggest module and reviews multiple topics businesses must consider when managing a global company and workforce.
- Staffing, Outsourcing, Compensation, Expatriates
- Technology Limits and Options
- Supply Chain, Procurement, and Development
- Product Distribution Channels
- Cultural Issues
- Communications and Marketing
- Compliance and Regulatory Environments
- Risk Management, Insurance, and Safety
Other Resources
Additional resources which contribute to successful market entry are provided including:
- Complimentary Membership in the WTCA with full program purchase.
- Complimentary Memberships in Participating Organizations
- Professional Organizations Memberships
- Complementary and Fee Based Consulting Services
The Academy also provides access to Government websites and resources in the program and through the World Trade Center Academy Library. Resources include:
- Bi-National Chamber Resources
- US Department of Commerce Information and Materials
- US government services and websites
- Printed resources
- Library Resources and Information
- Access to the Atlanta based Consular Corps
- Access to 330 World Trade Centers around the globe
- WTC Atlanta event recordings
The WTC Atlanta Academy provides one-on-one global mentors who can help participants quickly find resources and information or make sense out of a confusing market entry issue.
Participants who successfully complete the WTC Atlanta Academy program and receive a certificate may access special incentive programs from the bi-national chambers and country economic development organizations which provide financial and operational incentives for their specific country.
Global Market Entry Certificate Track Program
Required Pre-Work
The program is certified by the World Trade Center Atlanta, Birchtree Global LLC, HRCI, and SHRM for continuing education credits. Certifying participants must complete the certifying assignment at the end of each module to receive credit. To ensure participants get the most out of the program and are eligible for certification they must complete the following pre-work activities.
- Complete Cohort Member Profile, Country Interests, Special Requests
- Review “Welcome to the WTC Atlanta Academy” videos, Max Sutherland and Dr. Janet L. Walsh
- Review Program Outline, Program Distribution, and Schedule
- Review Program Certifications Requirements at the end of each Module
After completing the review pre-work activities, the participants requesting certification will be included in the certification cohort and their participation tracked. Participants will be contacted, and additional information provided based on the type of certification required.