Building a global trade career

Tuğba Arslan, a Trade Operations Executive at SOCAR Türkiye, talks to us about the demands and rewards of building a career in trade and how she expects the sector to make more use of supply chain finance.

Choosing a career path matters

Next to choosing a life partner, choosing a career path is one of the most consequential decisions anyone can make. After all, during a working day, on average, around 50% of our waking hours are hours spent at work.

How, then, do you find a career that is purposeful, challenging and makes good use of your interests and skills?

“To be honest, as a child, I was inspired by films and wanted to become a lawyer,” says Tuğba Arslan who is a Trade Operations Executive (Foreign Trade), who executes trade deals in petrochemicals, managing purchase contracts and ensuring the seamless operation of trading and shipping activities. “But, as I grew older, I became more interested in working for big companies.” On that basis, Tuğba chose to study business administration, which had the added benefit of being taught in English.

Trade requires a diverse skill set

“My interest in trade really began during my university years in the 1990s,” says Tuğba. “The foreign trade courses I took had a big impact on me, and, after an internship in the foreign trade department of a textile company in 1996, I was really set on it.”

That was the start of a journey that saw Tuğba greatly expand her experience and qualifications. Alongside her BA, she has associate degrees in law and in marketing and foreign trade, and an MBA. What might be more surprising is that, despite her deep practical experience of the intricacies of international trade, she also has trade-finance specific qualifications:

Why did she want these?

Trade qualifications matter

“Those certificates added an extra layer of credibility and recognition to my existing experience and skills,” she says. “While I already had a solid foundation in trade finance, these internationally recognised certificates helped validate my expertise and made my skills even more valuable, especially in the global trade landscape.”

Tuğba says that, when she started working in foreign trade in 2001, she was quickly exposed to letters of credit, which she then didn’t know much about. “Initially, I relied heavily on memorising procedures,” she says. “But I had a natural knack for it, and over time I started gaining more experience. Then I noticed a CDCS certification alongside the signature of a bank's trade finance officer. At that time, there were only about 40 professionals in Türkiye who held the CDCS. So, I set myself the goal of taking it.”

A few years later, because she could see a shift away from the use of traditional trade finance instruments towards supply chain finance, she added the CSCF. “The CSCF course has not only deepened my technical knowledge but also helped me refine my approach to managing liquidity and financial risks, particularly in the context of open account transactions,” she says.

CDCS and CSCF are not just for bankers

But what was it like taking exams principally designed to help trade bankers? “The fact that I passed CDCS on my first attempt was a bit of a surprise to me,” says Tuğba. “But I think my day-to-day work, which involved preparing export documents and resolving issues with letters of credit, gave me a strong practical foundation. I also benefited a lot from discussing tough questions with colleagues from the banks, who were kind enough to help me out.”

The CSCF, she says, was “relatively easier”, but she still put in the effort and did two mock exams. She would “highly recommend” both courses to others. “In foreign trade, we get a lot of hands-on practice every day, and these specialised certifications allow us to take our expertise to the next level,” she says.

Trade is about constant change and growth

What does smoothing the flow of global trade actually entail day-to-day? “Working in trade is all about having a global mindset and being ready to embrace constant change and growth,” says Tuğba. “It’s a fast-paced, dynamic field that offers a lot of excitement and challenges. The most rewarding part is that trade allows you to contribute to the global economy, while constantly learning and improving. The sense of fulfilment you get from doing something you love, and from seeing your own growth over time, is something you can't truly imagine until you experience it.”

But a really interesting career also brings real demands. What are the prerequisites of Tuğba’s role?

“Attention to detail is absolutely essential, as I handle complex purchase and sale contracts, ensuring that all documentation is accurate and compliant with legal and regulatory standards,” she says. “To succeed in this, a strong foundation in customs regulations, trade law, and business operations is crucial. Effective communication is equally important, along with a solid understanding of trading and shipping processes, such as chartering, freight forwarding, and vessel operations. Additionally, exceptional organisational and multitasking skills are required to handle complex trading deals and logistics operations simultaneously.”

Tuğba says that she developed those skills through a combination of formal education, hands-on experience, and continuous professional training, including certifications like CDCS and CSCF, which deepened her knowledge of trade finance and supply chain management.

The future means more supply chain finance

Tuğba says that traditional trade finance tools are being gradually replaced by more agile and innovative solutions, which can offer greater efficiency and flexibility. “Supply chain finance, in particular, stands to benefit from technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligence, which are already transforming how businesses manage their supply chains,” she says.

Supply chain finance is already in the ascendant. “Over the past 10 years of my career, open account transactions have become more dominant,” says Tuğba. That realisation, she says, was behind her decision to sit the CSCF. She researched it on our website and saw it could have a significant impact on her career.

“The CSCF course has broadened my understanding of supply chain finance, especially its role in optimising working capital and liquidity,” she says. “SCF is essential for managing financial risks in global supply chains, particularly as the trend towards open account transactions continues to grow.”

Tuğba says that “a key takeaway” was the course’s focus on the diverse needs of market segments, especially the needs of SMEs in emerging markets, which often face challenges in accessing trade finance. SCF offers innovative solutions that help bridge these gaps, enabling smaller businesses to compete on a global scale.

The true measure of success

A successful career is not just about credentials, money and recognition, it’s also about a sense of purpose. What else does Tuğba’s want to achieve in her career? “The opportunity to mentor young professionals and to guide SMEs through the complexities of foreign trade. Helping SMEs improve their international competitiveness and seeing them grow would be incredibly rewarding.”

And she intends to expand that area of her work, “particularly by providing more tailored support to entrepreneurs and businesses that are new to the global market…and by empowering the next generation of Turkish professionals and businesses to thrive internationally.”