jOANNA sAVVIDES
Joanna Savvides is a pioneer among women in the field of international business. Through her work with multinational corporations, non-profit organizations, consulting and teaching, she has established herself as a leader in the field. She is multilingual and has an excellent multicultural rapport. Joanna has lived and worked in many places around the world.
Joanna was the president of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) from its inception in 2002 to 2009. Under her leadership, the services of the WTCGP contributed to the economic development of the region by generating $350 million in incremental export sales from small and medium -sized companies. The new organization grew very quickly by introducing new training and educational programs with contemporary subjects. Trade specialists offered one-on-one international trade counseling to small and medium-sized companies. Many seminars and conferences were organized, as well as several trade missions to Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and India. Special Programs were created, such as the International Design and Engineering Consortium, the Latin American Trade Development program, American Practices for international students, and many others.
Also among them was the CEO’s China Operations Club, which received the NASBITE Program Excellence award in 2006. The work of the WTCGP was instrumental in bringing the international spotlight to Philadelphia. Joanna’s work paved the way for others to continue to make the WTCGP as successful as it is today
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Upon retirement from the WTCGP in 2009 she ran her own consulting firm, Transworld Ventures LLC, an international business development company. She has strategically developed business for clients in several countries, including Malaysia, Korea, Cyprus, Greece, Canada and the UAE.
She was also the CEO of World Trade Centers Holdings (Cyprus) Ltd, a cluster of 15 World Trade Centers throughout the Middle East and North Africa from 2010 to 2011 where she contributed to the development and promotion of the group’s trade services. A successful leader in the World Trade Centers’ Association, she worked on the establishment of the WTC Thessaloniki, Greece and the WTC Accra, Ghana as a consultant.
Prior to joining the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, Joanna worked for major multinational corporations, including Heinz, the Campbell Soup Company (and its subsidiary Pepperidge Farm), where she spent 15 years of her career, and Vlasic Foods, a spinoff of Campbell Soup. During those years she worked on product development for international markets, technology transfer, due diligence for potential acquisitions, labeling and regulations and other. She worked directly with distributors in over 100 countries, contributing to their success. Joanna was directly involved in the introduction of brands such as Campbell’s, Godiva, Pepperidge Farm, V8, Prego and Vlasic to global markets.
A strong believer in education, Joanna has also taught International Marketing and Global Business Strategy at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. For seven years she was a visiting lecturer at Emirates Aviation University in Dubai, teaching Strategic
Management and International Business in the MBA program as well as Engineering Strategy and Lean Operations in the Masters of Science in Engineering Business Management program.
Joanna has held numerous board and committee positions, including: Advisory Board member of the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) of Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, the Mid-Atlantic District Export Council of the Department of Commerce, the ATAC (Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee) from 1992 to 1998 which provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on trade issues affecting US exports, and the Board of Visitors of the Haub School of Business of St. Joseph’s University among others.
Joanna has received several awards and honors including the “Women of Distinction Award” from the Philadelphia Business Journal, the “Global Leadership Award” from the Consular Corps Association of Philadelphia, the International Women’s Day award from the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York City, the Cyprus Culture and Heritage Preservation Award” from the Cyprus Society of Greater Philadelphia, and the “Artemis Award” from the European American Business Council.
She is the proud wife of George, the mother of Renos and a friend to many around the world.
Joanna was the president of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) from its inception in 2002 to 2009. Under her leadership, the services of the WTCGP contributed to the economic development of the region by generating $350 million in incremental export sales from small and medium -sized companies. The new organization grew very quickly by introducing new training and educational programs with contemporary subjects. Trade specialists offered one-on-one international trade counseling to small and medium-sized companies. Many seminars and conferences were organized, as well as several trade missions to Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and India. Special Programs were created, such as the International Design and Engineering Consortium, the Latin American Trade Development program, American Practices for international students, and many others.
Also among them was the CEO’s China Operations Club, which received the NASBITE Program Excellence award in 2006. The work of the WTCGP was instrumental in bringing the international spotlight to Philadelphia. Joanna’s work paved the way for others to continue to make the WTCGP as successful as it is today
.
Upon retirement from the WTCGP in 2009 she ran her own consulting firm, Transworld Ventures LLC, an international business development company. She has strategically developed business for clients in several countries, including Malaysia, Korea, Cyprus, Greece, Canada and the UAE.
She was also the CEO of World Trade Centers Holdings (Cyprus) Ltd, a cluster of 15 World Trade Centers throughout the Middle East and North Africa from 2010 to 2011 where she contributed to the development and promotion of the group’s trade services. A successful leader in the World Trade Centers’ Association, she worked on the establishment of the WTC Thessaloniki, Greece and the WTC Accra, Ghana as a consultant.
Prior to joining the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, Joanna worked for major multinational corporations, including Heinz, the Campbell Soup Company (and its subsidiary Pepperidge Farm), where she spent 15 years of her career, and Vlasic Foods, a spinoff of Campbell Soup. During those years she worked on product development for international markets, technology transfer, due diligence for potential acquisitions, labeling and regulations and other. She worked directly with distributors in over 100 countries, contributing to their success. Joanna was directly involved in the introduction of brands such as Campbell’s, Godiva, Pepperidge Farm, V8, Prego and Vlasic to global markets.
A strong believer in education, Joanna has also taught International Marketing and Global Business Strategy at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. For seven years she was a visiting lecturer at Emirates Aviation University in Dubai, teaching Strategic
Management and International Business in the MBA program as well as Engineering Strategy and Lean Operations in the Masters of Science in Engineering Business Management program.
Joanna has held numerous board and committee positions, including: Advisory Board member of the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) of Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, the Mid-Atlantic District Export Council of the Department of Commerce, the ATAC (Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee) from 1992 to 1998 which provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on trade issues affecting US exports, and the Board of Visitors of the Haub School of Business of St. Joseph’s University among others.
Joanna has received several awards and honors including the “Women of Distinction Award” from the Philadelphia Business Journal, the “Global Leadership Award” from the Consular Corps Association of Philadelphia, the International Women’s Day award from the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York City, the Cyprus Culture and Heritage Preservation Award” from the Cyprus Society of Greater Philadelphia, and the “Artemis Award” from the European American Business Council.
She is the proud wife of George, the mother of Renos and a friend to many around the world.