u/_UseYourIllusion

People working in GRC, risk advisory, or any role where you’re regularly dealing with stakeholders and executives, I could really use some advice.

I'm relatively new to the field and one area I’m very much struggling with is becoming more articulate in meetings. A huge part of the job is communicating with stakeholders, explaining risks, giving recommendations, and handling day-to-day discussions. I know what I want to say and in my personal daily life I'm quite good communicator as I've been an avid reader and consume a lot of media and all, but often with executives I find myself struggling to structure my thoughts clearly or express them as neatly and precisely as one experienced professional do.

This is a skill I really want to develop.

I know the usual advice is to read more, practice, and gain experience, and I’m already doing that. But are there any deliberate techniques, frameworks, mental models, or exercises that helped you improve? Anything that made a noticeable difference in how you think, structure your communication, or speak with executives and business stakeholders.
I’d really appreciate hearing what worked for you.

For context, I’m relatively new to the field, so I know this is something that will improve with experience. I’m just looking for ways to accelerate that learning.

Emotional depth.

Your eyes can make you ignore the absence of something much quieter. Much rarer.

Intellectual intimacy.

And unlike lust, it doesn’t arrive all at once.
It builds.

Slowly. Subtly. Almost imperceptibly, until one day you realise you’ve been seen in a way that has nothing to do with how you look.

There’s a different kind of attraction in being understood.

Not just heard, but followed. Not just listened to, but engaged with. The kind where you don’t have to simplify your thoughts to be digestible. The kind where your sentences don’t trail off because you assume they won’t get it.

I think that’s what I’ve been craving(not me) without having the language for it.

To be met in my mind.

- not me

Hello everyone,

Looking for some honest advice.

I’m 26M based in Australia. My background is in tech, I did an IT degree, worked in dev for a while, then completed a Master’s in Cybersecurity. I’m currently working as a Risk Analyst, mainly in supplier and operational risk.

Over time, I’ve realized I’m much more interested in the business side of things than pure technical work. I enjoy understanding businesses, strategy, markets, finance, risk, and decision-making.

I’m at a crossroads between CFA and FRM.

FRM seems like the logical path given my current role and experience. However, I keep feeling pulled toward finance more broadly, particularly markets, valuation, and business strategy. Long term, I’d also consider doing an MBA in my 30s if the opportunity makes sense.

For those working in finance or who have made a similar transition:

Would CFA make sense from my position?

Or would FRM be the smarter move given my current background?

If the goal is eventually moving closer to business/finance roles without completely abandoning my risk experience, which path would you take?

Appreciate any advice.

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for some honest opinions and guidance.

I’m 26M, based in Australia. My background is mostly tech. I did my undergraduate degree in IT, worked in development for a bit, but eventually got fed up with raw programming. I realised I’m more naturally inclined toward the bigger-picture, strategic side of things, understanding businesses, numbers, risk, decision-making, and how companies actually operate.

I then did a master’s in Cybersecurity, and I’m currently working as a Risk Analyst, mainly around supplier risk and operational risk.

Now I’m at a bit of a crossroads.

Part of me thinks FRM makes sense because I’m already in risk, and it could help me move deeper into financial risk, banking risk, operational risk, or enterprise risk roles.

But at the same time, I keep feeling a strong pull toward finance. I enjoy business, markets, valuation, strategy, and the analytical side of finance. Honestly, money is also a motivation, but I’m also attracted to the grind and the long-term challenge.

Another thing I’m considering is an MBA later in life, maybe in my 30s, ideally from a strong school, possibly in the US, if I get accepted and if the finances make sense. So I’m also trying to think about which path would position me better long term.

For people who have done CFA, work in finance, or have seen people transition from tech/risk into finance:
Would CFA make sense in my situation, or would I be better off doing FRM and building from my current risk experience?

Also, would CFA or FRM make more sense if an MBA is potentially part of the long-term plan?

Any honest advice would be appreciated.