Blog: “It’s about fostering an environment that supports women” Written by Annie Makoff-Clark Friday 22 November 2024 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email Chartered Manager of the Week Emma Finney CMgr FCMI has climbed the career ladder while also finding time to take leadership and management qualifications and volunteer (plus raise a family) Sometimes, we don’t recognise our achievements until we take time to formally reflect. This was the case for Emma Finney CMgr FCMI, head of business engagement at South Eastern Regional College (SERC) and deputy chair of CMI Northern Ireland. During her application for Chartered Manager status, Emma, who now holds a CMI Level 7 in Strategic Management & Leadership Practice, took time to reflect – and was surprised at her achievements and the impact she’d made over the years. Working in both the private and the public sector, Emma had implemented sustainable and positive change for the organisations she had worked for. But she had never really given herself enough credit. “Chartered Manager status was my Everest” “There’s quite a lot I’ve achieved, but I always saw it as just a part of my daily job,” she explains. “It wasn’t until I actually sat down to work on the CMI application five years ago that I was able to reflect, identify and crystallise all the things I’d done.” Taking the lead It was a proud moment for the mother of two, who has climbed the career ladder in a relatively short space of time. After taking a part-time job at retailer Bonmarché during her A-levels, Emma was promoted to training manager a few years later. Now at SERC, Emma is responsible for sales and business development, representing SERC on the Northern Ireland FE sector’s Economic Engagement Working Group. In this role, she cultivates partnerships with local SMEs; provides upskilling, reskilling and innovation support; builds bridges with local communities; and delivers collaborative projects with other colleges in Northern Ireland. Keep reading: why it’s important to set an example 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. Sign in with email Email remember me remember Forget? Please confirm that you want to switch off the "Sign in with email" remember me feature. Yes No 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. You have successfully registered As a CMI Friend, you now have access to whole range of CMI Friendship benefits. Please login to the left to confirm your registration and access the article. Blog This is a space for people to stay up-to-date with all the latest knowledge, opinions and commentary on management and leadership topics from some industry leaders. 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.