My Work  My Education

 

 

Name: Laurence Ling, CMA

Title: Senior Business Analyst

Company: TELUS 

 

MY WORK

 

Hours worked per week: 45 - 55

 

Years at this position: 

2 (5 years with company)

 

What is the best part of your job?

I enjoy facing challenges that test both my technical and social skills simultaneously. In my current role, I help shape some of the analysis used for our call centre decision making. What I find most rewarding is being able to turn a wall of numbers into useful, easy to understand and actionable ideas. 

 

What are some of the challenges you’re currently facing at work?

I work with a very demanding set of peer and executive stakeholders and being able to predict their needs ahead of time is a constant challenge. One way I try to address this is with disciplined time management. I cut down on meetings with no obvious goal and try to keep my own meetings as efficient as possible. This approach means more time allocated to projects that add value to our organization.

 

How is this position different from other jobs you’ve had?

Where some of my previous roles were in standard financial accounting positions (I.e. month end), I find this job very prospective and forward-looking in nature. Our team supports executive decision making by plotting future scenarios and identifying risk. It’s a great feeling when a plan comes together and is actionable.

 

MY EDUCATION

 

Why did you choose to pursue a CMA?

My father has always been a positive force in my life and I realized that if I ever wanted to go into business for myself, a CMA education would be a strong asset. He’s a successful entrepreneur without a financial background, and so I thought to augment his lessons with a business education. I’m not sure when I’ll make the leap to entrepreneurship – the right idea hasn’t struck me yet, but the focus on people skills really appealed to me. A real education in conflict management isn’t taught in textbooks and the practical nature of CMA made it a no-brainer for me.

 

When did you complete your CMA program?

October 2008

 

LIFESTYLE

 

Favorite recreational activity: 

I’m very physically active and love to compete. My brother is a professional soccer player and I love it whenever I beat him at something physical. I would probably beat him in distance swimming right now, but he’d destroy me in short distance running – something he’s always been good at. 

 

Upcoming Vacation plans:

I will probably stay in Vancouver for the next little while, as my wife just gave birth to our first child and we’ve learned that you don’t get much sleep with newborns.  Besides, Vancouver is a pretty awesome place – where else would I want to go?

 

MY FUTURE

 

Within five years, I see myself:

Professionally, I see myself continuing my education by completing an MBA, and working in a leadership position supporting 20 or more people. I currently volunteer as a mentor in the CMA Mentorship Program, and I would like to continue mentoring future business leaders, hopefully managing 3 long-term mentee relationships. Personally, within 5 years I want to run a marathon, place in the top 3 in a Chinese chess tournament, and finish building the workbench that I started earlier this year!