Following a successful beta cohort that began in 2022 and stretched over an 18-month period, ASAE incorporated participant feedback in designing the second iteration of ReadyMe with all-new, interactive educational modules focused on essential skills development; a four-month, engaging cohort experience; and content and activities created for association professionals by association professionals, instructional design experts and content SMEs.

ReadyMe also includes engaging webinars, virtual meetups and other unique opportunities to network and build community with other association professionals; one-to-one mentoring with highly qualified, well-respected association C-suite leaders; and an immersive, in-person Leadership Academy focused on hot topics in leadership and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) education.

“Cultivating leadership pathways for talented, ambitious and entrepreneurial-thinking association professionals is a strategic priority for ASAE, and research tells us that career success comes in large part from having well-developed essential soft skills and people skills,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “The feedback from ReadyMe participants last year was overwhelmingly positive but we want to continue to evolve the program to meet the changing needs of our developing leaders. We’re excited for year two of this unique program.”

ReadyMe participants this year can expect a more streamlined experience. The cohort that began at the end of February 2024 will end in June 2024, and then the final cohort for Fiscal Year 2024 will begin in July 2024 and end in October 2024. Over that four-month timeframe, participants will complete seven online educational modules. The in-person Leadership Academy for this year will take place June 20, 2024 at ASAE’s Conference Center in Washington, DC. The Leadership Academy allows cohort participants to take a deeper diver into key facets of leadership development through facilitated training, “hot topic” discussions, peer-to-peer activities, meetings with mentors, and more.

“It’s tremendous to see the ReadyMe program continue to evolve to be of even greater benefit to aspiring association professionals,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association and chair of the ASAE ReadyMe Steering Committee. “We have a responsibility to develop the next generation of association talent. I am proud to be associated with this critical initiative, grateful for ASAE’s commitment and excited to continue to mentor and learn from ReadyMe participants.”

The ASAE Research Foundation will once again utilize the John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fund in 2024 to provide scholarships to deserving applicants pursuing professional and personal development through ASAE’s ReadyMe Program. The scholarship application period is open until April 1, 2024. The fund was established in 2020 by the ASAE Board of Directors with the support of ASAE Past Chairs and ASAE Fellows, in celebration of the life and legacy of ASAE’s former president and CEO, John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE. The John H. Graham Fund is a restricted fund administered by the ASAE Research Foundation to support the development of research, resources, tools and programs to help associations in their DEI journey.

For more information about ASAE’s ReadyMe Program, consult the Frequently Asked Questions.

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Vest, CAE, 202-626-2798, cvest@asaecenter.org

 

About ASAE

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 48,000 association executives and industry partners. Since it was established 100 years ago, its members have and continue to lead, manage, and work in or partner with organizations in more than a dozen association management disciplines, from executive management to finance to technology. With the support of the ASAE Research Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession and provides resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. Visit ASAE at Welcome to ASAE — American Society of Association Executives (asaecenter.org)