Inaugural CGBP Student Pathways Cohort Program Recognizes First Awardee

The Maryland Smith Center for Global Business offered the first iteration of the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) Student Pathways Cohort program during the spring 2022 semester. The CGBP credential is a certification earned by those with a high level of expertise and professionalism in global business and international trade. This certification is awarded by the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators International (NASBITE), the leading authority and industry standard for global business education, trade credentialing, training, and practice.

Led by Phil Grove, MBA ’15, and CGB advisory board member – the Pathways Cohort Program provides students with structured learning to prepare them for the CGBP exam. The program consists of four two-hour workshops and upon completing and passing the exam, participants are reimbursed the exam fees.

Last September, Charles Shell was the first University of Maryland student to receive the CGBP designation. Shell says, “knowing about the exam and the materials was most important and the program helped by providing NASBITE testing materials, like the practice exam and the study guide packet for free.”  There’s a fee for the exam, but students enrolled in the Pathways program who pass get reimbursed.

He also showed appreciation for instructor Phil Grove. “Phil was a great connection to have in the program.  He had also taken the exam in the past so we knew exactly what to expect and that gave us confidence. He incorporated a lot of current events, like the container ship that was lodged in the Chesapeake Bay, and that helped emphasize how what we were learning had many real-life applications.”

In the past, Shell has worked with global commodities and resources in the public sector. Currently, he works at the Farm Credit Administration, an independent agency of the federal government, but he says his CGBP designation is still essential in any field impacted by imports and exports. “You still need to understand supply chain issues and how business works on a global scale. You need to understand the global picture and all of that plays into the picture of agriculture.”

Shell’s advice for future CGBP exam takers is don’t be daunted by the numbers. The student pass rate for the exam is only about 50 percent, but he says, “Smith students are smart. It’s an approachable exam once you’ve prepared.”

CGB plans to offer the second iteration of the CGBP Pathways program as a one-credit course over the winter term in 2023 so students can earn credit toward their degree while training for this industry-standard certification. As this program continues, more students can take advantage of the Center for Global Business’ CGBP Student Pathways Cohort and certification to distinguish themselves in international business.

The CGBP Student Pathways Program is supported in part by CIBE, a Title VI grant provided by the U.S. Department of Education.