For Latifatu Sulemana, 29, the dream of a university education was derailed by financial hardship. After years of depression and low-self esteem, she transformed her life with a CMI Diploma and sheer determination to succeed.

Finding a route into further study

Some professionals have a seemingly straightforward rise to the top, but for many others the path is less linear.

Latifatu (Latifa) studied hard at school and always dreamed of being the first one in her family to go to university. That hope was shattered when she realised that her parents were unable to afford her tuition fees.

“It wasn't feasible financially to support me at the time because they had to pay for my siblings to go to school, so I took a break from education,” recalls Latifa. “What I hadn’t anticipated was that break would last four long years. I couldn’t get a decent job without a degree, all my friends were going off to university and building careers, while I was stuck at home. It was so de-motivating. I had low self-esteem, and I didn't have confidence in myself. I couldn't speak to people. I was shy and timid because my self-belief had been badly shaken. The longer I was out of work, the worse it got. Those four years were the lowest period of my life.”

The door that finally opened

A turning point came when a friend recommended a project in the Challenges Group, which provides advisory, implementation and business support services. Participants who successfully completed this programme were awarded a CMI Diploma, and Latifa jumped at the chance. She enrolled with Challenges Catalyst, and spent an intensive three months helping businesses with planning and exploring the European market. “It was a massive learning experience for me, I hadn’t even used a laptop before!” she laughs. 

Her work on the project led to Latifa obtaining a CMI Level 5 Diploma in Professional Consulting.

The CMI Diploma in Professional Consulting opened doors for me, it gave me extra credibility so I was taken more seriously. It was literally life-changing.

“I wouldn't have stood a chance without that qualification. Everyone was so curious about it. As soon as I arrived at job interviews, they'd ask me about it, they’d google CMI and see what a credible organisation it is. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that diploma or the Chartered Manager status that came later. It meant that I could catch up with the career progression my friends had made because I was finally on the right path.”

Becoming a catalyst for change

Despite the difficult start, Latifa’s negative experience proved invaluable when she became a manager herself. “When I eventually became a team leader at a call centre, I knew that I definitely didn’t want to be like my previous managers. I wasn't going to make an agent go home and cry because they didn't feel supported. I promised myself that I would never do that. I've had that at the back of my mind since day one, and that's what I enjoyed about working as a team leader. Being authentic, knowing that your team would always have something positive to say about you, being approachable, and having their backs.”

In 2023, Latifa became deputy operations manager at a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, working with high-profile clients including Adidas, Puma and Sports Direct.

In 2025, she reached another significant milestone by gaining CMI Chartered Manager status. She is now working for Abundant Grace, a domestic care organisation in Brighton, on a temporary basis while she studies for a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management to further her career.

“I find working there very rewarding. There are a lot of transferable skills that I’ve learned like empathy, patience and understanding. Although I love my current role, I’d eventually like to go back to leading customer service teams because that’s where my background is, it almost feels like a part of me.”

The power of perseverance

“There were times in my life where I felt like I wasn't dealt the right cards. I was very resentful. Looking back though, I wouldn't have it any other way. It just feels more personal now, knowing what I went through. It's all led me to this point. And it's something that I'm very grateful for. I can’t wait to see where the next step in my career journey takes me."

If you feel behind your peers or haven’t had a linear career path, don’t give up. People may start the race earlier than you, but if you work hard and keep going, you will catch up. It will all be worth it.