Article: “People need to know you’ve got their best interests at heart” Written by Hazel Davis Thursday 29 January 2026 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email Julia Constable CMgr MCMI, our Chartered Manager of the Week, was thrown into management at a young age, which led her to formalise and deepen her skills Being a vice president in a high-profile London firm at age 29 might sound like the path of someone who always knew they were destined for leadership. But Julia Constable CMgr MCMI went through something of a baptism of fire, albeit one of her own choosing. Originally from Norwich, Julia studied business management and German at the University of Leeds. From the start, she was always drawn to the idea of working internationally. “I knew there were lots of different people in the business field, and adding a language felt like a way to stand out,” she says. A year in Germany working for a pharmaceutical company confirmed that she wanted a career with an international, outward‑facing dimension. In at the deep end After graduating, a role in London felt like the natural next step, so Julia joined information services company AlphaSights on a graduate scheme. A module on consulting and management came with one year of CMI membership. Julia remembers devouring resources on coaching, supporting colleagues and managing through change. “It was the first time I saw management framed as a skill you could study, not just something you picked up as you went along,” she says. Are you a Chartered Manager with a story to tell? We’re always on the lookout for inspiring stories from our community of Chartered Managers. You could feature in an article on our website and in our member newsletter. Contact us AlphaSights connects corporate clients with subject‑matter specialists to help them make better decisions. Julia’s clients include heads of product, heads of strategy and market intelligence officers. Organisations turn to the firm for insight on everything from strengthening supply chains to preparing for green energy regulation or making everyday products more sustainable. It is, she says, “a place where you see how decisions ripple out into real‑world change”. She had been attracted to the role by the promise of early responsibility. However, nothing quite prepared her for that first big step into management. Suddenly, she found herself leading a team of five men. “I felt thrown in at the deep end,” she admits. “You go from being an individual contributor, totally in control of yourself and your time, to being responsible for other people’s performance, development and wellbeing.” From doing to leading The diversity of the team Julia managed was both a positive and a negative. She realised that communication was a crucial difference that needed to be managed. “We could all be trying to say the same thing, but it would come out in completely different ways,” she says. Keep reading – more from Julia Login or register below for Free Instant Access Login If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article. Confirm your registration Login below to confirm your details and access this article. Log in Register for Free Access Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox. Article Our extensive range of articles are designed to keep you in the loop with all the latest management and leadership best practice, research and news. Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.
