Member Spotlight: Believe and Achieve Your Designations

In today’s competitive world, attaining professional designations isn’t just about adding a line to your resume—it’s a journey of growth, commitment and transformation. Through NACM’s six-level Professional Certification Program, credit professionals have the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, while progressing in their career. A Certified Credit Executive (CCE) designation holder showcases executive-level credit expertise in accounting, finance, domestic and international credit concepts, management and law.

Crystal Carpenter, CCE, senior credit analyst at Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Houston, TX), is the most junior team member of her credit department and was the only one without the CCE designation—until now. “My colleagues, my role models who are constantly inspiring me in my career growth, made me want to follow in their footsteps to earn my CCE.” While taking courses through the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management (GSCFM), she was simultaneously excited and anxious about her performance. “Imposter Syndrome invaded my thoughts with self-doubt and insecurity regarding my knowledge of the material with questions like, Do I belong here? Should I be taking this test? Do I deserved the designation?” she said. “My colleagues helped me break through that mindset to build back my confidence to earn the CCE designation.”

Carpenter knew much of the material from her work experience and also learned new things. “With GSCFM, I gained a deeper understanding about newer topics, such as bankruptcy and lien law,” she said. “Now, I am confident in my knowledge and skills which will broaden my career prospects. For anyone who may also be suffering from low self-confidence on this journey, just know that you are worthy and keep trying.”

💡Study Tips: Find a mentor who can push you to achieve your goals. Carpenter’s direct manager reminded her of her knowledge and her worthiness of the designation. “We held weekly study sessions where we practiced writing prompts together, reviewed my practice answers and discussed my thought processes behind each,” she said. “When I was wrong, she would explain why, and I would redo it until I answered correctly. Find a mentor to partner with and practice with persistence together.”

For more information about each designation within NACM’s Professional Certification Program, visit our website.