RIMS-CRMP Stories

Krupesh Shah is a rising star in the risk profession. A former Rocky Mountain RIMS Chapter Advisory Board member, Shah is now a student at Columbia University. Ahead of graduation and a prestigious Enterprise Risk Management internship, Shah discussed how he expects the RIMS-CRMP to help in his daily responsibilities and throughout his promising career.

RIMS: What inspired you to pursue the RIMS-CRMP?

Shah: My decision to pursue the RIMS-CRMP was driven by early exposure to the risk management profession and the people within it. While engaging in the risk management industry, I attended RISKWORLD and various RIMS events where I could interact with practitioners who held the certification.

Hearing firsthand how the RIMS-CRMP supported their careers by strengthening their understanding of enterprise risk, enhancing credibility, and providing a common professional language made a strong impression on me.

RIMS: You are pursuing a Master's in Enterprise Risk Management at Columbia University with plans to join a major organization as an ERM intern. How did preparing for the RIMS-CRMP and earning the certification, supplement or enable your college work?

Shah: I saw the RIMS-CRMP as an ideal foundational credential. Earning the certification before starting my graduate program helped me establish a structured, practitioner-oriented understanding of ERM concepts, which allowed me to approach my coursework with greater context, confidence, and clarity from the outset.

Preparing for the RIMS-CRMP significantly enhanced my academic experience. While my coursework provided theoretical foundations and exposure to quantitative and qualitative risk methods, the RIMS-CRMP helped me synthesize those concepts into a cohesive, enterprise-level perspective. The exam reinforced how governance, risk appetite, controls, and performance measurement interact in real organizational settings.

RIMS: How does the RIMS-CRMP provide a glimpse into some of your upcoming risk responsibilities when you join the profession?

Shah: The RIMS-CRMP does an excellent job of previewing the day-to-day realities of an ERM professional. It highlights that much of the role involves coordination, communication, and judgment not just risk identification. Concepts such as embedding risk into strategy, aligning risk appetite with business objectives, facilitating risk assessments, and advising leadership are central to the exam and directly reflective of real-world responsibilities.

RIMS: How did you study or prepare for the exam?

Shah: I prepared for the RIMS-CRMP exam using a structured and concept-driven approach. The primary resource I relied on was the official RIMS-CRMP Study Guide, which I used to build a strong understanding of the core domains, frameworks, and terminology emphasized in the exam. Rather than memorizing content, I focused on understanding how the concepts are applied in real enterprise risk management settings.

In addition, I leveraged the practice questions in the study guide to test my comprehension, identify knowledge gaps, and reinforce learning through repeated application. Using practice questions helped simulate exam conditions and strengthen my ability to think critically about how ERM principles are applied across different scenarios.

RIMS: Why should more students pursue the RIMS-CRMP?

Shah: The RIMS-CRMP provides students with a credible signal that they understand risk management from an enterprise perspective early in their careers. For students, it bridges the gap between academic learning and professional expectations by offering a common language used by boards, executives, and risk leaders.

Additionally, the certification helps students differentiate themselves in a competitive job market. It demonstrates commitment to the profession and an appreciation for risk as a strategic discipline. Perhaps most importantly, it encourages students to think holistically about organizations an essential mindset regardless of industry or role.

RIMS: How do you plan to recertify? What are your favorite ways to accrue recertification credits?

Shah: I plan to recertify through a combination of professional education, industry engagement, and thought leadership. Attending RIMS events, webinars, and chapter events is particularly valuable because it allows me to stay current on emerging risks while learning directly from practitioners.

RIMS: What excites you about a career in risk and ERM?

Shah: The opportunity to operate at the intersection of strategy, operations, and governance. ERM professionals have a unique vantage point they see how decisions ripple across an organization and can help leaders navigate uncertainty with greater clarity. I am particularly motivated by the idea that good risk management enables growth, resilience, and trust. In a world defined by rapid change and complexity, ERM plays a critical role in helping organizations not only survive but make informed, forward-looking decisions. Being part of that process is both intellectually engaging and professionally meaningful.

See the full RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep calendar.

Interview by Justin Smulison, RIMS Business Content Manager