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THE VIEW FROM THE PRESIDENT

MELANIE JANINE KANAKA, FCMA, CGMA

uilding a career as an enhance their personal and
accounting and finance professional growth is through the
Bprofessional can be CGMA Leadership Academy. This
intensely satisfying. All the time four-day intensive training
invested in the hours of study and programme is designed to help
hard work means that eventually participants build the digital
we are vested with significant finance and leadership skills
responsibilities and the chance to needed to succeed in the modern
make a real difference. And that business world. I look forward to
gives us a sense of value. seeing what this year’s cohort will
Every successful person has achieve in the future.
received help somewhere along
the way and has stood on the The power of volunteering
shoulders of giants. It could have We also have many opportunities
been from the nurturing parent or to volunteer to help others to grow
the inspirational teacher; or from the profession. At CIMA and the
that first manager who saw Association, we place volunteers
potential, or the committed at the heart of our organisations to
mentor who took the time to offer influence the future of the
advice and guidance. Sometimes it profession. We currently have
was simply from a colleague who more than 2,000 volunteers
was there when some emotional working at various levels, from
support was needed. our local area committees right up
There is absolutely nothing Developing others to CIMA Council and the
wrong with receiving support in Association’s board of directors. If
your career, and it doesn’t in any — and yourself you would like to get involved,
way devalue our hard work to start with finding details of your
accept that we were guided by local branch.
those who came before us. What ‘Every successful person has I have always been a passionate
this must do is spur us on to help advocate for volunteering and
those who follow us. received help somewhere have been actively involved with

Growing through mentoring along the way.’ CIMA for more than three decades
and the Association and many
I met some of our newly qualified other organisations over the years
members on a recent visit to the UK and was — in Sri Lanka, the region, and internationally. I find it
impressed by their talent and enthusiasm. I want us all has not only been rewarding but also very enriching as
to play a part in helping them and others like them I have built numerous and diverse networks both
across the globe to have the most fulfilling careers professionally and personally. I would greatly
possible. encourage you to step forward and do the same.
One of the best ways to do that is through one of
AICPA & CIMA’s mentoring schemes. In January we Finding practical career support
launched a new UK mentoring scheme for CIMA If you feel that you could use some practical support in
members, candidates who have completed their your professional life, I strongly recommend visiting
exams, and strategic-level students. Similar schemes AICPA & CIMA’s Global Career Hub, which has a great
are running in markets around the world including many resources to support your employability and
Poland, Canada, and Sri Lanka. The LEAP (Leadership career progression.
Engagement for Aspiring Professionals) programme in AICPA & CIMA are here to help you grow at every
Sri Lanka aims to develop aspiring students’ stage of your career to become a successful finance PHOTO BY FIONA HANSON/AP IMAGES
capabilities to ensure readiness in the corporate world. professional. As you do, please continue to help others
The programme connects exam completes and KEEP IN TOUCH chart their own professional journey. It is our collective
strategic-level students with corporate leaders, Follow me responsibility to encourage those who come after us to
industry professionals, and successful entrepreneurs. on Twitter: facilitate their professional development and growth
Another way we help our members and students @CIMA_President — and build our profession’s future.

FM-MAGAZINE.COM December 2022 I FM MAGAZINE I 5