From Coffee to Certification: A Journey with the CMBE

Rayhan Abdullah Zakaria CMBE, Management Lecturer at BPP University, shares his journey to becoming a Certified Management Business Educator (CMBE), reflecting on how the CMBE framework has helped him refine his teaching practice and create meaningful connections. His experience highlights the power of structured continuous professional development (CPD) and the impact that recognition as a CMBE can have—not just for individuals, but for the broader academic community. 

A Chance Encounter Over Coffee 

It was a dark, rainy November afternoon—the kind that wraps the campus in a sleepy, introspective mood. I had just wrapped up an energetic session teaching the International Business module to my postgraduate cohort. With my laptop bag slung over one shoulder and teaching notes still fresh in my mind, I made my way to the university coffee shop for my ritual post-lecture Americano. 

As I queued, the comforting chaos of academia surrounded me. A familiar buzz of academic chatter echoed between the clinks of cups and the rhythmic hiss of the coffee machine. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, raindrops painted moving patterns on the glass. The air was thick with the rich scent of freshly ground beans—a scent I’ve come to associate with reflection and, occasionally, revelation. 

I exchanged brief nods with several colleagues also seeking caffeinated refuge. But it was a new junior academic—let’s call him Abdullah—who stepped out of the line and greeted me with a warm smile. 

“I heard you’re a CMBE,” he said. “Can I ask—what led you to that?” 

An interesting question. One I’m asked often, though rarely in such an atmospheric setting. We grabbed our coffees, found a corner table, and as the rain lashed against the window and students chatted in low tones around us, I began telling him my story. 

“Well,” I said, stirring my coffee slowly, “my CMBE journey really started long before I knew what CMBE was…” 

You see, I didn’t arrive in academia by accident, but by purpose. After two decades in leadership across industry and consultancy, I found myself increasingly drawn to teaching. Not just sharing knowledge, but shaping the way future professionals think about business, responsibility, and humanity. My faith as a Muslim teaches that learning is a sacred pursuit—‘ilm’—(the Arabic word for knowledge) and that knowledge should always be in service of something greater: - the sustainer of all, the betterment of society, of the environment, of the human condition. That belief is the undercurrent of everything I do. 

Refining My Teaching Through the CMBE Framework 

When I first came across the CMBE, I saw not just a title, but a community—one that valued teaching as a scholarly, evidence-informed practice. I realised it was time to bring the same rigor to my teaching that I had always brought to strategic leadership roles. The CMBE gave me a framework to reflect, to grow, and to measure the impact of my practice. 

I explained to Abdullah how the CMBE’s structured CPD requirements nudged me towards new depths of critical reflection. I began to redesign modules to be more inclusive, implemented assessment practices that encouraged dialogue over memorisation, and engaged more actively in pedagogic research. My students began to notice—not because I told them, but because the classroom felt different. More dynamic. More human. 

He nodded as I spoke, asking questions, sharing his own early teaching experiences. I could see in his eyes the same curiosity I once had. 

I told him how the CMBE had helped me as much as it helped my students. It reminded me that professional learning doesn’t stop when you leave industry or finish your doctorate. It becomes more nuanced—more rooted in values, ethics, and impact. 

For my institution, the CMBE signals a standard. A shared language of excellence. But for me, it’s always been about alignment. Aligning who I am with how I teach. 

As we finished our coffees, the rain still falling steadily outside, I smiled and said,  

“You should consider it, Abdullah. Not because it’s a badge—but because it’s a bridge. Between intention and action. Between knowledge and impact.” 

We parted ways that day with a handshake and mutual respect—two educators at different stages of the journey but equally committed to learning. 

The Ripple Effect of Mentorship in Higher Education 

A few months later, just before the start of a new semester, I received a handwritten thank you card stuck on the door of my office-. It was from Abdullah. In it, he thanked me—not just for my time and our conversation over a cup of coffee —but for showing him, by example, what it means to teach with purpose. 

He’d applied for the CMBE shortly after our chat, encouraged by the clarity and conviction our conversation had given him. Not only was his application successful, but he had also begun mentoring others in his department about the value of professional development in teaching.  

“You said it was a bridge,” he wrote, “but I didn’t realise how far it would take me.”  

In conclusion, to anyone wondering whether the CMBE is worth it, I say this: if you believe that teaching can transform lives, if you see education as more than instruction—more like inspiration—then yes. Take the leap. 

Let your story become someone else’s inspiration. Just like mine did, on a rainy afternoon, with a coffee in hand—and a conversation that travelled further than either of us could have imagined. 

The Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE) scheme is helping the global business school community to raise standards in business & management education. If you are interested in learning more about how the CMBE can support your professional development and amplify your role as an educator, visit here for more information.