CMA Designation and the foot wide business card!

Back in 1994 in the early days of having my CIMA qualification in the UK I started a new job. On the first day I asked my new Boss, whether it was 'appropriate' to have my letters on my business card ...

Today I had the pleasure of finding out that I have gained my CMA designation here in British Columbia, Canada. This will, in due course (once I have the official letter of course!) mean more letters. Shall I put them on my business card? :-)

It's taken a while but I'm thrilled to be able to say that I am a CMA. I can now lead with that as an opening line! Through the breakfast networking sessions I host each month for the Vancouver Chapter I must have met a couple of hundred different CMAs. These, together with my colleagues on the Vancouver Chapter Board and the members of the Society Office have been a huge motivator for me in seeking acceptance through the Mutual Recognition Agreement.

I've been constantly amazed by the wide variety of roles CMAs have. From Police Officers to CMAs in Charities, Tax Inspectors (boo hiss) to big corporate executives, business consultants to business development, not to mention government and not for profit roles. It's been and continues to be very inspiring. It demonstrates to me that this is a designation with huge potential. It can truly help you achieve you career and personal goals, whatever they may be!

Back to that old boss mine. "Sure. " he said. "We have these special concertina business cards that fold out from the normal size to almost a foot wide! You can put your accounting designation, your degree, your school certificate, under 15 swimming award, most beautiful baby award ...."

This was the shape of things to come and I learnt to be a lot more humble or at least modest since. Nonetheless based on the CMAs I've met to date and humbleness aside, I'm thrilled and proud to take my place among them!