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Hi All,
I am about to embark on a short trip to Europe to meet with members, chapters, corporations, universities and potential partners to advance IMA's growth strategy. I am the type that enjoys travel and meeting with members around the world, but the minute I leave home I miss my business colleagues here in Montvale, my kids, my grand-kids, my doggies and (of course!), my spouse.
Quite the paradox! Much like the challenges of being a true global association, not just in spirit but in actions.
IMA serves members in over 120 countries. Like organizations of any size, any structure, any where, there are challenges in HAVING members or customers in lots of countries vs. truly SERVING them in an exemplary manner. I know the saying "think globally, act locally" but that is easier said than done.
But there are some starting points. Do you offer products and services that have global appeal, including the hours of operation for your member service department, the hours and dates that you run webinars and conferences, etc.? Does your governance structure, including the board of directors, reflect the "diversity" of your global membership and profession? Tough questions all, and I can assure you, IMA is addressing these questions head on in the journey to behave like a truly global association. One of the starting points is conducting a thorough environmental scan and physically visiting the region first hand to build enduring relationships with members of the community, in whatever form they may take.
Special thanks to Nina Michaels-Kim, CMA and a founder of the Swiss Chapter, for all the work she has done in arranging the European visit.
What do you think about the challenges of going global? I would like to hear your ideas.
Thanks,
Jeff
Comment
Jeff,
I really appreciate the efforts you and your team are taking in making the CMA the global brand for management accountants. I happen to live in a country with only a hand full of IMA members so literally nobody know of the rigor of the exam. If sitting for an interview your interview partner either will belive you this or not. I strongly believe that it is a great certification and that it has a lot of potential specially in german speaking countries that lack the tradition of professional exams as they are known in the UK or US.
For people like me it would be much easier to show the benefits of the CMA if you would post a small sample exam on IMA's hompage. Just a sample of MC questions that will take 15 min and would give you an indication of a pass / fail, no registration needed. I guess this might attract more people to sitting the exam and help selling it to peers and employers
Pascal
Hi Jeff,
It is great to see that you are committed to expanding the CMA designation in Europe and Globally. I have lived here in the US for 19 years but was born in Europe. I am very excited to see this. I do believe that the CMA should not only mirror the popularity and rigors of certification such as the CFA but challenge it in many ways. Many relatives in Europe know the CFA very well but unaware of the CMA designation. This should change and I hope that one day it will.
I wish you much success and as someone in process to complete the designation and possibly move back to EU one day, this is great to see.
Many thanks.
Ivan