Leadership isn’t just a title; it’s about confidence, making decisions, and understanding how your choices affect others. For someone starting out in management, it can feel daunting, but the right support makes all the difference. 

Milly Clarke recently completed Educationwise’s CMI Recognised Aspiring Manager & Future Leader Course, and her experience shows how structured learning and practical reflection can really boost confidence and career readiness. 

Even though she’s not yet in a formal management role, Milly found the course invaluable. It helped her think about how she might lead in the future and identify areas she wants to work on, like being assertive and speaking up. “It’s made me think about how I would be as a manager and highlighted things I might struggle with,” she said. “It’s good because I have time to work on those things before stepping into the role.” 

The course isn’t just theory: Milly has already started putting what she’s learned into practice. She feels more confident running meetings, managing conflicts, and expressing her opinions clearly. She’s also been paying closer attention to how others lead, thinking about what works, what doesn’t, and how she wants to approach things herself. 

“I’ve started watching how my manager handles situations and thinking about why it works or doesn’t. It’s made me more aware of my own style and how I might lead in the future,” she said. These small insights, paired with practical guidance, are helping Milly develop skills like emotional intelligence and self-awareness, things that really matter in leadership. 

She also appreciated how the course fitted around her life. Balancing studies and work could have made it feel overwhelming, but the programme’s flexibility made it manageable. “It was a really good balance. I could fit it around uni and work, and the content made me stop and think rather than just rushing through it,” she explained. 

The results speak for themselves. Milly has gained not just confidence, but also a clearer sense of direction for her career. “I’d definitely recommend it to anyone thinking about a management role. Even if you’re not looking to be a manager yet, it’s given me confidence and a clearer path for my future career.” 

Educationwise’s CMI Future Leaders Course gives emerging leaders the tools, guidance, and experience they need to grow, approach challenges with confidence, and feel ready for the next step. 

Milly’s journey shows that leadership development isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about learning, reflecting, and gaining practical skills that make a difference today and tomorrow.