“ChMC will change the shape of our industry”

Zoe Bennion MCMI ChMC’s journey to Chartered status began with the inception of the Chartered Management Consultant (ChMC) standard itself. 

After the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) and CMI partnered to establish the ChMC in 2018, Zoe represented her then employer on the industry working group which helped to shape the development and launch of ChMC. She subsequently became a board member of the MCA and chair of the working group. “I guess you could say I’ve been involved with the award right from the beginning,” she says. 

In 2020, she was also one of the first to become Chartered through the on-programme route for consultants who have completed their organisation’s accredited ChMC programme. 

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“Having transitioned from banking to consultancy a few years before, to have my professional competence and impact as a management consultant recognised was important to me. And, if I was to advocate for this award, it was essential that I walked the walk.” 

Keeping up-to-date

For the past year, Zoe has also acted as an award assessor, a role she sees as a privilege. There is a real responsibility to maintain the standard of the ChMC status while making the experience for candidates positive. 

“I also get to hear about so many different and amazing approaches from across the industry,” she says. “It’s exciting and a great way of keeping up-to-date with what’s going on.” 

Why wouldn’t you wish to achieve the highest accolade in our industry?

“I’d had the opportunity to be involved in masterclasses and panels, and in 2024 was involved in a review of the competency framework. The more involved I became with the award, the more I realised how much I was enjoying it,” says Zoe. “I decided I wanted to spend more of my time and influence in bringing it to a wider audience.”

Holding yourself to account

For experienced professionals, undertaking the ChMC process is about demonstrating leadership and setting up your business for future success, says Zoe, who believes that ChMC status will change the shape of the industry. 

“Clients will be asking for a team that wholly or predominantly consists of Chartered Management Consultants. Organisations will need to be able to deliver this.”