By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Someone once asked me a polite but pointed question on LinkedIn: “Why so many degrees, certifications, and credentials?”
I gave a simple answer: Business acumen is like a professional toolbox. You don’t use every tool every day—but when the moment comes, you’re glad you have the right one.
He replied: “Great answer.” That’s when I knew the explanation worked.
Fun fact: Most complex business failures don’t happen because people lacked intelligence. They happen because someone reached for the wrong tool—or didn’t know another one existed.
Education Was Never the Goal — Understanding Was
My education was never about collecting letters after my name. It was about learning how systems actually work—across borders, institutions, and cultures.
Along the way, that meant:
- Two bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Foreign Affairs
- A master’s degree in International Commerce and Policy
- An MBA in Finance
- Advanced doctoral-level studies in Law and Economics (later paused)
Some paths ended early—not from confusion, but from responsibility. Work called. Family came first. Life happened.
What didn’t stop was learning.
Interesting tidbit: Many of history’s most effective leaders followed non-linear paths. The straight line looks neat on paper, but the real world rewards adaptability.
Credentials as a Toolkit, Not a Trophy Case
Over time, I added professional credentials the same way a surgeon adds instruments—deliberately and for use. That toolkit includes:
- CPA (licensed in DC, Virginia, and New York)
- CMA, CFM, CIA, CFE
- Government auditing and financial management certifications (CGAP, CGFM)
- Technology and systems credentials (CISA, CITP)
- Valuation (ABV), planning (CFP), and execution (PMP)
- Series 63, 65, and 66
- Registered Investment Adviser Representative
Each one exists for a reason.
Fraud requires one lens. Valuation requires another. Technology risk, governance, capital markets, execution—all require different tools.
As Warren Buffett put it: “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.”
Tools reduce guesswork.
Fun fact: Most of these credentials require ongoing exams, ethics requirements, annual fees, and continuous education. None are “one and done.” The real cost is not money—it’s discipline.
Why This Matters Globally
In many parts of the world—especially Africa and emerging markets—certain credentials are rare.
That rarity matters.
For example, accredited business valuation expertise is uncommon in markets where capital decisions still rely heavily on judgment rather than structure. When you bring disciplined frameworks into those conversations, outcomes change.
Not because of titles, but because decisions improve.
And as Peter Drucker famously said: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
You can’t create it without understanding the system you’re operating in.
Interesting tidbit: In many countries, the presence of a globally recognized credential instantly lowers transaction friction—fewer explanations, faster trust, better conversations.
The Real Point (And the Fun Part)
Do I use every credential every day? Of course not.
But when a complex problem appears—involving money, people, policy, technology, or trust—I don’t need to borrow perspective.
I already have it.
That’s business acumen.
And it’s why I still believe the most important skill isn’t intelligence or confidence—it’s preparedness.
Light truth: Prepared people look calm not because they’re relaxed, but because they’ve seen the problem before—just wearing a different outfit.
Final Thought
Some people collect credentials. Others build capability.
Mine was built deliberately—over time—to operate calmly in complexity and credibly across borders.
Not to impress. But to be ready.
Because when the moment comes, the right tool makes all the difference.
Author: John S. Morlu II, CPA is the CEO and Chief Strategist of JS Morlu, leads a licensed public accounting and management consultancy firm. He has more than 20 years of professional experience in auditing and advisory work, including service as Auditor General of Liberia and FAR and DCAA compliance work at Unisys Federal Systems. The firm’s technology products include AI-powered reconciliation software (ReckSoft.com), a handyman services platform (Fixaars.com) and advanced cloud accounting solutions (FinovatePro.com), built for finance and operations teams.