Who We Are
We are business advisory thought leaders, innovators, creators, connectors, educators, influencers, strategists, warriors, communicators, profit generators, career builders, and more.
Our Members
IBA members are geared towards all types of professionals who provide value-added business advice in some capacity. Our members include accountants, attorneys, bankers, management consultants, private equity operators, and more. We empower our members to strengthen on-the-job skills, accelerate careers, effectively advise clients, and help companies thrive. We equip our members to expand their business acumen and to broaden their business advice beyond their current technical niche (i.e., “technical comfort zone”, “technical swimlane”, etc.). The data shows clients want their professional advisors to be broad-based and strategic-oriented business advisors who can provide value beyond a specific niche area. In summary, we help our members become better, broader, and best-in-class business advisors and professionals. IBA membership categories include individual and corporate.
Our Mission
The IBA’s mission is to provide a forum for business acumen education, knowledge sharing, practice development, and advocacy of the highest ethical and best practices in business advisory.
Our Vision
To be the leading resource for developing, equipping, connecting, certifying, and supporting the world’s best business professionals and advisors.
Our Tagline
“Accelerating business acumen + business growth™”
Our CBAP and CCGA Designations
The IBA is the only organization to offer the CBAP™ – Certified Business Advisor Professional™ (free to members) and CCGA™ – Certified Corporate Growth Advisor™ – credentials that equip individuals to become business advisor extraordinaires.
Top 10 Reasons Professional Service Firms Join the IBA + MBA-in-a-Box
The following are 10 primary benefits that professional service firms gain from a corporate membership. These advantages are also relevant to professionals considering our individual membership option.
Future-Proof Your Firm: In an ever-evolving business landscape, the combination of IBA membership and the MBA-in-a-Box learning platform ensures your team remains ahead of the curve, prepared to meet the changing needs of the industry and your clients.- Prestige and Recognition: Membership with the IBA elevates your firm’s stature by aligning with an elite business association committed to the highest level of business advisory education, standards, services, and business growth.
- Comprehensive Business Education: Access MBA-level insights and business strategies through MBA-in-a-Box’s on-demand resources and courses, covering everything from business book summaries to business case studies, tailored for the professional services sector.
- Competitive Differentiation: Stand out in a crowded market by offering strategic, value-added advice to your clients, thanks to the broad business acumen gained through the IBA + MBA-in-a-Box program.
- Enhanced Client Service: Equip your team with the skills to not only serve as technical advisors but as strategic business advisors, adding depth to your client service offerings.
- Talent Attraction and Retention: Demonstrate your commitment to employee growth and development, making your firm more attractive to top talent and aiding in retention efforts.
- Continuous Professional Development: The combination of IBA membership and MBA-in-a-Box ensures ongoing learning and development, keeping your team current with the latest business ideas, trends, strategies, and innovations.
- Flexible Learning Platform: MBA-in-a-Box’s learning management system allows your professionals to learn at their own pace, fitting their education around busy schedules and ensuring optimal learning outcomes.
- Networking Opportunities: Join an exclusive network of business professionals and advisors through the IBA, offering unparalleled opportunities for networking, collaboration, and peer-to-peer learning.
- Tailored Learning Paths for Dual Impact: Utilize MBA-in-a-Box to meet both your firm’s and client’s specific needs and opportunities, ensuring relevant learning that promotes employee business acumen growth and client satisfaction/business growth.
EXTRA: CBAP Certification: Encourage your employee’s to become a Certified Business Advisor Professional™ by successfully completing 15 IBA core courses. The CBAP credential is free and available to all members!
By joining the IBA and integrating MBA-in-a-Box into your firm’s professional development strategy (which by the way does not replace or compete with your existing learning systems but serves as a supplemental and synergistic resource), you’re not just investing in your team’s growth; you’re positioning your firm for long-term success and distinction in the professional services market.
Top 10 Strategies for Leveraging Your IBA + MBA-in-a-Box Membership Effectively
The following represents 10 ways to maximize your IBA + MBA-in-a-Box membership. Generally speaking, these ideas apply whether you have an individual or corporate membership. We encourage you to explore additional ways to optimize your IBA competitive advantage!
- Credential Showcase: Include your IBA membership credentials on your resume, LinkedIn profile, company website, and in proposals.
- Continuous Learning: Utilize the MBA-in-a-Box as a tool for learning and development (engage in weekly document reviews, organize “Lunch & Learns,” start a “Book Club”, etc.).
- Goal Setting: Set personal development objectives using MBA-in-a-Box (aim to read 10 book summaries, 5 case studies, 5 articles on business growth strategies, or achieve a white belt lean six sigma, etc.).
- Insight Sharing: Employ MBA-in-a-Box to discover and share value-added ideas and insights with clients, prospects, colleagues and on your newsletter or social media.
- Marketing Integration: Feature your IBA membership credentials in your marketing materials, proposals, website, and as part of your thought leadership initiatives.
- Recruitment & Retention: Utilize the IBA membership as an innovative tool for recruitment and retention, offering rewards for specific employee engagement milestones.
- Service Expansion: Use MBA-in-a-Box resources to improve, broaden, or create new advisory services.
- Skill Enhancement: Enhance your networking, business development, communication, speaking, and advisory skills with the help of the MBA-in-a-Box platform.
- Free Core Training and CBAP Certification: Participate in core training programs offered for free through the IBA’s learning management system. Take and successfully pass 15 core courses and become a Certified Business Advisor Professional™, which is free and available to members only.
- Certification Advancement: Upgrade your training and certifications with courses like Business Advisor Bootcamp, Business Book Bootcamp, MBA-in-a-Day™, Yellow Belt Lean Six Sigma, or by becoming a Certified Corporate Growth Advisor™.
Grow SKILLS
Grow your business advisory skills.
Grow NETWORK
Grow your business advisory network.
Grow TOOLS
Grow your business advisory tool box.
Grow SELF
Grow your career and confidence.
Grow SALES
Learn top strategies to grow sales.
Grow PROFITS
Learn top techniques to grow profits.
Grow PEOPLE
Learn top strategies to grow people.
Grow PROCESS
Learn business process improvement.
Grow DIGITAL
Learn top strategies to grow digitally.
Grow STRATEGY
Learn proven and powerful strategies.
Grow M&A
Learn top tips for mergers & acquisitions.
Grow INNOVATION
Learn top ideas to grow innovation.
Grow QUICK WINS
Learn low-hanging fruit ideas and strategies.
Grow ANALYSIS
Grow financial analysis tools and methods.
Grow SOFT SKILLS
Grow your communication and soft skills.
Grow TRAINING
Access to value-added training and tools.
Our MBA-in-a-Box resources, core courses, and level-up training all include and synergistically integrate many of the same ideas, tools, frameworks, principles, and strategies used by top consulting firms (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Accenture, Deloitte); taught by top MBA schools and top-selling business books; and employed by continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma.
