- 18 May 2026
Read time: 5 minutes
Summary:Tina Rosenow is the Senior Governance Manager for a health care regulator. In this comment blog, she shares how she completed the Advanced Certificate in Corporate Governance whilst juggling personal responsibilities and why she won’t let constraints hold her back.
Read time: 4 minutes
Roughly 50% of people say one of the biggest barriers to furthering study or educational development is time, with time pressures linked to work and caring responsibilities being the single most frequently reported obstacle. As someone who works full-time whilst managing care and trustee responsibilities, I can relate.
Back in 2019, I completed the CGIUKI Level 4 Charity Law and Governance sector qualification whilst working in the charity sector. After qualifying as a social worker, I initially worked in statutory social work before deciding to move into roles in charities. It was during this transition that I first started to learn about governance. Moving into the charity sector helped me really understand the role of the board and how decisions relating to a charity are made.
The Level 4 Charity Law and Governance took around 9 months to complete. I managed it, but after that, a small seed of self-doubt began to grow as to whether qualifying as a Chartered Company Secretary in the future was the right path for me.
Taking the leap
Eventually, I decided to enrol in the CGIUKI’s Advanced Certificate in Corporate Governance sector qualification to test the waters. I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could pass an exam at the Qualifying Programme level, while juggling all the other aspects of my life. Working full-time for a regulator, having Trustee responsibilities for a national charity, and helping to care for my father created a lot of anxiety around the idea of being able to balance it all.
In reality, finding time to study was nowhere near as difficult as I imagined it would be. Dialling into my weekly study session was my only real commitment - and even that is available to watch as a catch-up video. I was surprised that the course was so flexible and manageable around my life and commitments.
Broadening my governance perspective
Managing my time effectively became my main priority during this period. I developed a study schedule (which I stuck to for the most part!), which helped me to carve out dedicated time for studying and for my other priorities.
I anticipated being busy, but what I didn’t expect was how much the course would change my perspective. My understanding of governance, and corporate governance in particular, is so much broader now. Working in non-profit governance-related roles for the last nine years, it was great to have the opportunity to learn something new. I now have a thorough understanding of the Corporate Governance Code and thanks to my incredible training provider I genuinely looked forward to each study session.
Whilst I enjoyed all of the Advanced Certificate in Corporate Governance modules, it was those that focused on what good governance practice looks like that really grabbed my attention. Delving deeper into the role of the company secretary, exploring the role in relation to governance today, and unearthing what real board effectiveness looks like were useful. I already had some knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility, but being able to explore that at a more in-depth level was really interesting.
Hearing the perspectives of other candidates on the course was really insightful. You are learning with people working in completely different roles and sectors, and this variety opened up some stimulating conversations and helped spark new ideas.
Confidence, impact and looking ahead
Studying for and passing the Advanced Certificate in Corporate Governance has done wonders for my self-esteem. That’s a huge win in itself but completing a sector qualification has also given me an up-to-date knowledge base and the self-belief that I could pursue the Qualifying Programme at some point down the line.
What I’ve learned is that having a passion for governance matters most. Staying open to new opportunities, even when the timing doesn’t feel perfect, has shown me that there is rarely a “right” time to do anything. What matters is making the decision to start and trusting that you’ll find a way to overcome the challenges along the way.
Develop your confidence, knowledge and skills. Find out more about the Advanced Certificate in Corporate Governance and CGIUKI’s sector-specific governance qualifications - governance qualifications designed to support health care, sport, and social housing.