Kim Longmuir — March 2015 Member Spotlight

How did your path to business relationship management unveil?

It all started when I was in Business Advisory Services in Finance, which was really a BRM role though it was not branded in those terms. I spent five years building a relationship with Information Technology and became the Finance trusted advisor for the IT Executive. When IT decided to reorganize, one of the new teams to be created was a formal BRM team. As I had great passion for the work I had been doing with IT from a finance perspective, I really wanted to be a part of that new BRM team and was successful in achieving that goal. I continue in the BRM role today and am still very passionate about it!

 

What do you love most about business relationship management?

I love bringing groups together to achieve a common goal and seeing the “two-sided” success that both business and service provider achieve. I love the challenge of teamwork and success relying on influence rather authority. It can take a complex set of soft skills to achieve and is a great personal reward for me when successful.

 

Where do you draw inspiration from, for work?

I am fascinated by people, learning their stories and, in turn, finding out what motivates them and what they value.

 

Describe your interactions, as a BRM, with business and provider teams.

I am fairly new to an organization and my interactions thus far have been getting an understanding of how the business and service provider currently work and interact together. I am meeting one-on-one with various leaders looking to understand what they see as successful and how we might work together to evolve the IT/Business partnership.

 

What do you value most about your BRM Institute membership?

First and foremost it would be the amazing people I have met through the Institute, who are more than willing to share their wealth of knowledge and experience and in turn appreciate any insight I may have. It is a very collaborative and engaging community.

 

Do you have any valuable information you would like to offer your fellow BRMs?

I would suggest they become a BRM Institute member and get involved with other BRMs. There is so much support out there and it is truly underutilized.

 

When you’re not working, what do you like to do?

I love to spend time with the two most amazing granddaughters in the world. They remind me to see the world through the eyes of a child. I also love to spend time outdoors, walking along our many beautiful pathways and parks.