ASAE is furthering its commitment to creating leadership pathways for diverse association professionals by launching the ReadyMe Program this summer. ReadyMe provides a combination of virtual and in-person training components that will build resilient and adaptable leaders by unlocking essential traits and the career management acumen that are critical for advancement and success in association management.
ReadyMe follows ASAE’s adoption last year of a Conscious Inclusion strategy that is designed to help ASAE and other associations fill the gaps of DEI training by installing a practical, action-oriented framework to cultivate the desired culture and environment of organizational diversity, inclusion and belonging. ASAE has also redesigned its Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) to better align with ASAE’s new strategy and program of work.
“ASAE has a strong track record of investing in the leadership development of under-represented populations who in turn contribute back to the association management profession,” says ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “ReadyMe was conceived in recognition that there is more we can do to support the career advancement of diverse association professionals. Through our Conscious Inclusion strategy, DELP and now ReadyMe, we are helping to develop motivated leaders to enhance the success of the broader association community.”
Association professionals will start their ReadyMe journey with seven online modules, coupled with virtual mentorship from experienced association leaders, all powered on the JUNOLIVE.COM platform. The online portion of ReadyMe can be completed in as little as seven weeks.
Upon completion of all seven modules, participants will be eligible to participate in a one-day Extraordinary Leaders Bootcamp, which will enable participants to conduct a deep dive into key areas of their development. The bootcamp covers topics such as interviewing, vision casting and enhancing essential traits. The bootcamp will be convened in person and will be beta-tested with the first 50 graduates of the ReadyMe online curriculum.
Once a ReadyMe participant has completed the online modules, attended the bootcamp and completed a “My Story” video, they will receive a certificate of completion and be included in a talent pool for ASAE member association CEOs to access when seeking senior-level leadership candidates. ASAE will also launch a ReadyMe web page to showcase the program participants and include ReadyMe graduates in the Association CareerHQ candidate database which is accessible to all employers with active job postings. ReadyMe program participants will also earn CAE continuing education credits for completion of the program.
ASAE is building a collaborative team for the ReadyMe Program and will announce other partner organizations soon. ASAE developed the ReadyMe concept in partnership with Josh Hotsenpiller, CEO of JUNO, and Maunda Land, CMP, CAE, President and CEO of Land Consultants LLC and ASAE’s lead for its DEI initiatives.
“The ReadyMe Program brings an innovative approach to developing diverse association leaders and is aligned nicely with ASAE’s three-year strategy that is guiding the organization’s work,” says ASAE Board Chair Steve Anderson, FASAE, CAE, IOM, president and CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. “Key pillars of ASAE’s strategy are geared toward building meaningful community through omni-channel platforms and events and creating leadership pathways for association professionals. The ASAE Board is excited about the opportunities ReadyMe provides for ASAE to maximize its value for current and future audiences.”
ReadyMe will formally launch at ASAE’s 2022 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Nashville Aug. 20-23. ASAE will pilot the Extraordinary Leaders Bootcamp in the winter or first quarter of 2023 in Washington, DC.
