Who is Responsible for Training EA’s to Plan Meetings and Events?

Executive assistants are, by nature, organized, proactive, and highly competent, serving as mind readers, personal confidants, diplomats, and trusted gatekeepers. Exposed to senior management and privy to confidential company matters, they wield influence within their purview and are respected as integral parts of the executive team. Because so many make their job look ‘easy,’ they often receive responsibilities beyond their job description. Recently, I’ve identified a missing piece that could benefit both EAs and the companies they serve. As resilient and dependable professionals, they are committed to not disappointing others, which only heightens their own concerns when given the responsibility to plan meetings and events.

Over 80% of executive and administrative assistants are tasked with planning meetings and events on top of their primary responsibilities. Let me make one thing clear: there is no such thing as a 'small' meeting– the risks are the same. When I’m asked about the ‘largest’ event or ‘biggest’ meeting I’ve ever planned, my answer is always the same: whether it was for 12 or 20,000 attendees, both held equal intensity for me, as a professional planner and former EA myself.

Take the 12-person meeting, for example– a Board of Directors meeting. Planning one of these feels like planning 12 meetings simultaneously. Each executive requires personal attention, with their own EA juggling complex schedules. For the event with 20,000 attendees, the focus remained as sharp as it would for a smaller gathering, only we had to scale up our efforts to meet broader needs. Each presented their own unique set of challenges and complexities.

Meeting and event planning has become an essential part of business, serving as a powerful communication tool alongside advertising, marketing, and public relations. It requires strategic planning, clear objectives, and defined goals to create impactful experiences that drive results. Yet, it ranks among the top three most stressful roles, with responsibilities that vary widely in scope and focus.

My concern for executive and administrative assistants tasked with planning meetings and events– after 35 years of observing and teaching as an Adjunct Professor at New York University– is that companies often fail to provide basic training in event management. Many companies unintentionally overlook the skills required for this responsibility, unaware of the risks involved and the effort it demands. Management may not realize that EAs are working tirelessly, like ducks paddling beneath the water’s surface, to keep up.

Meeting and event planning involves much more than what meets the eye, from sourcing and transportation logistics to the intricacies of event design. Seeing this need, I was driven to create an online certificate program to train those responsible for planning at any level. As an educator and someone passionate about the industry, my goal is to help professionals succeed and ensure every event is successful. Understanding the fundamentals helps to make better financial decisions, reduces stress, minimizes risks, and increases return on investment.?

For those reading this, I urge you to invest in yourself through ongoing training and active participation. Make time in your schedule and advocate with your boss for the opportunity to learn and grow. Check out the Certificate Program and join the free Town Halls. We’re all in this together!