By Mitchell Clark

Dr. Debbie de Lange, PhD, is a published author, an assistant professor of international business at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a Certified Management Accountant. Debbie takes pride in her CMA designation since it encompasses corporate strategy in relation to accounting.

Prior to becoming a professor, she spent many years in industry in electrical engineering, managerial, and strategy consulting positions. As a PhD from the Department of Strategic Management at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, Debbie is an accomplished researcher and international speaker who also taught at a private university in Boston.

Debbie was attracted to the accounting profession and first started down the CA route.  However, the working environment and level of compensation she received inside a “Big Four’ firm did not suit or satisfy her career aspirations.

She found her previous experiences more satisfying, so she looked into other options within accounting and finance and discovered the CMA designation. Upon entering the CMA program, de Lange found that it offered a higher value experience that was more holistic and addressed critical ‘soft skills’ that are so important in business.

With the strong core knowledge, interpersonal development and applied / practical elements of the CMA program, Debbie felt that her future CMA colleagues – those who she would be associated with for the rest of her career – would be better aligned with her expectations and goals. The program also allowed her to gain the required CMA experience in any type of organization; thus, she could choose her working environment and be paid at a higher level, commensurate with her previous work experience.

Debbie is a person who is motivated by her curiosity and likes to work in new and exciting fields. Her passion is in strategic management and because the CMA designation offers a strategic component within its three-pillar foundation, CMA was a perfect fit for her. The designation also emphasizes creativity which is so important in the challenging environments of international business.

Creativity, and the ability to find new solutions to existing and future problems, is critical as the world opens up and international trade and investment becomes vital to Canada’s economy and interdependence within the global marketplace. CMAs are able to keep up with the fast changes related to globalization and take advantage of the opportunities it offers. Debbie notes that employers really like the CMA designation. In her opinion, CMA also offers more networking oppurtunities than any other accounting designation.

The Professional Development Institute (PDI) allowed her to connect with people after university on a professional level. Debbie also enjoyed the professional development courses she was eligible to take as a CMA member.

The courses helped expand her knowledge and she applied her learning directly in the workplace – taking on leadership roles and training other employees. Her employers were always pleased that she had pursued and obtained the valuable and highly sought after CMA designation. When asked what Debbie thought a unique aspect of the CMA designation was, she stated that “…it makes you stand out in a crowd. It isn’t just rules and numbers.” She also said, “The CMA designation makes you an all-around outstanding business person. You learn real world concepts, integrating important principles of ethics, including fairness and objectivity, in all aspects of business. It offers this higher level of thinking.”

Debbie’s message to all is to seriously consider the CMA designation. It offers a wide range of opportunities, opens many doors, and is excellent preparation for launching your career while offering continuing support throughout your career.

Mitchell Clark is a student at Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management.

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