Many organizations believe their biggest challenge is technology. Others think it’s strategy. But for some consultants, real transformation starts somewhere else entirely: governance, execution discipline, and people who trust the change.
For Edward Miguel Roldan, a Certified Management Consultant (CMC®), consulting was never about producing documents or deploying software. It grew out of lived experience—starting work at a young age, rising quickly through leadership, and learning early that systems only succeed when people and accountability come first.
“I started working at 18 and rose to sales management by 24,” Roldan shares. That early exposure to frontline operations and leadership shaped how he would later approach consulting—not as theory, but as execution.
From Early Leadership to Building Systems That Last
At just 25, Roldan founded Red Circle Global, a technology and consulting company initially focused on helping schools modernize their operations. The work began with digital systems, but it didn’t stop there.
“Over time, institutions realized they needed more than software—they needed strategy,” he says.
That realization marked a turning point. Schools weren’t just asking for platforms—they were asking for help with financial governance, operational restructuring, and institutional transformation. What started as technology implementation evolved into advisory work rooted in accountability and long-term sustainability.
More recently, his consulting expanded beyond education, including a major engagement with an aviation school in Clark—a milestone that confirmed something he had long believed.
“It affirmed the demand for strategic consulting grounded in real execution, not just documentation.”
Why Governance Matters More Than Technology
Roldan’s work spans education, aviation training, digital transformation, and financial services—industries where trust, compliance, and accountability are non-negotiable.
“These sectors operate in high-trust, high-regulation environments,” he explains. “They shaped my belief that consulting must create solutions people can use responsibly—protecting organizations as much as improving them.”
That belief sits at the core of Red Circle Global’s approach. For Roldan, transformation without governance is fragile. Technology without discipline creates risk. Strategy without follow-through leads to dependency.
“Transformation built on governance, not just technology,” he says, is what allows organizations to grow without losing control.
The Three Skills That Define His Consulting Practice
Roldan credits his readiness for consulting to hard-earned lessons from leading real transformation projects—particularly in schools and institutional finance.
Those experiences taught him that consulting demands three strengths:
Clear diagnosis — understanding the real problem, not just symptoms
Discipline in implementation — ensuring plans survive reality
Empathy in change management — respecting the human side of transformation
“These skills now influence not just my consulting practice,” he notes, “but also how Red Circle Global builds systems aligned with both culture and compliance.”
This balance—between rigor and empathy—shows up consistently in his engagements.
Where Consulting Is Headed Next
Roldan sees a clear shift in the consulting industry, both in the Philippines and globally.
“Strategy alone is no longer enough,” he says. Organizations now expect consultants who can design policies, manage change, integrate systems, and ensure measurable results.
Consulting, in his view, is becoming:
- Execution-driven
- Technology-enabled
- Governance-based
This evolution mirrors how his own practice has grown—moving away from advisory-only work toward solutions that organizations can sustain independently.
A Leadership Style Built on Independence
Roldan describes his leadership style with three words: clarity, accountability, and collaboration.
“My goal is to empower teams to succeed independently,” he says.
That philosophy shapes every consulting engagement. Instead of creating dependency, his work is designed to prepare organizations to manage change on their own.
“Our work always prepares organizations to manage change sustainably—even without us.”
When Resistance Becomes the Real Work
Like most consultants, Roldan says the toughest challenge is not technology or timelines—it’s resistance to change.
“I address this by co-creating solutions instead of imposing them,” he explains. “When stakeholders participate in the design, they commit to the outcome.”
One school automation project illustrates this clearly. Staff feared that technology would make their roles obsolete.
“Many staff feared technology would remove their roles,” he recalls.
Instead of forcing adoption, the team focused on retraining, clearer workflows, and governance alignment. The result wasn’t job loss—it was role elevation.
“They ended up becoming more valuable to the organization,” Roldan says. “Transformation worked because people were elevated—not replaced.”
Why Trust Beats Buzzwords
When advising aspiring consultants, Roldan keeps his guidance practical.
“Communicate with clarity. Anchor work on measurable outcomes,” he says. “And win trust not with buzzwords, but with consistent progress and ethical decision-making.”
That emphasis on ethics and outcomes is also why he pursued the Certified Management Consultant (CMC®) designation.
Why CMC® Was About Responsibility, Not Prestige
“Because consulting impacts people, institutions, and finances, it must follow global standards,” Roldan explains.
For him, the CMC® represented validated competence and ethical practice, especially as his engagements grew in scale and regulatory complexity.
The most challenging part of the process wasn’t passing—it was articulation.
“The CMC® required not just results, but the discipline behind them,” he says. “It pushed me to formalize what was working in practice so it could scale.”
Since earning the credential, the impact has been tangible.
“The CMC® gave me the confidence to charge for strategic thinking—not just time,” he shares. It also helped secure larger engagements, including the aviation consultancy in Clark.
Building an Ecosystem, Not Just a Practice
Today, Roldan is thinking beyond individual projects. His work now integrates education governance, digital transformation, and financial enablement.
“Many institutions need not just digital and governance support, but access to responsible financing,” he explains. Through CompareLoans.ph, he helps clients secure private financing backed by collateral—creating an ecosystem that supports growth responsibly.
With growing demand, his next step is international.
“I now plan to build consulting capabilities internationally, beginning with Dubai.”
A Final Word to Consultants
“CMC® is a commitment, not a badge,” Roldan says.
“If you want your work to transform organizations responsibly, pursue it. It elevates not only your career—but the industries and institutions that place their trust in you.”
