A Passion for the Profession: Why I Support the CAE
I joined the nonprofit management profession in 1988 with my first Washington, DC job at the US Chamber of Commerce. As my career evolved and my next job took me to a professional society for corporate attorneys, my eyes were opened to the fact that this is a defined and unique profession. It’s not a job you can just walk into and do; you need experience, knowledge, and ongoing professional development.
What else I learned is that I love this profession because it is driven to make a difference, not a profit. Growing up in a neighborhood that had an active community association and an active church community, as I advanced in my career these dots were connected with what I was doing for my career -- people coming together to make a difference.
As a child and teenager, I saw wonderful examples of volunteerism and leadership among my parents and their peers. To me, it was just the way people lived and did things – collaborating and problem solving while having fun doing it.
Our profession is valuable and worth protecting. As a long-time advocate for the profession and our unique role in society, I am sometimes discouraged that we are still not well-known in society for what we do and contribute. But then I presented to a group of nonprofit management interns about the profession, gave them an assignment, and the thoughtful responses restore my hope in the future. The next generations want a livelihood but they also are motivated by making a difference. Our profession could be the one for them.
One of the reasons I created an education program for our profession, centered around earning the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, is the excitement and enthusiasm for our work that I see in the CAE Candidates. It’s always fun, interesting, and insightful. No matter how many times I review a question with a study group or a course cohort, someone brings a new and interesting perspective.
Working with CAE Candidates keeps me sharp and up to date too. It encourages me to continue my own professional development so I can be a better guide and mentor as people prepare for the exam or take our ethics course.
My attitude is that someone passing the CAE Exam is not my success; it’s theirs. I’m here to celebrate it, not take credit for it. It’s why our courses evolve and adapt to the needs of each cohort. While we have a strong content base, we know that each group is unique and has different questions and learning styles.
When it comes to CAE preparation, it does matter who you work with and how they do things. Give careful thought to how you learn, what type of support you would like to receive, and the approach to creating a strong mindset for exam and career success. This is where experience counts.
If you are checking out study groups, ask them about their course outline. Is the content curated and consistent? Do you work with the same mentor each session or do they rotate? If they rotate, do they use a similar presentation style? Can you contact them outside the sessions? Are the sessions recorded in case you miss one or want to use it as a study tool?
If it is a self-forming study group, do you have a CAE Mentor to guide you through the content and question analysis? This is key to success on the exam.
The CAE Exam is not the end of the journey; it is a stop along the way. What matters most is what you do AFTER the CAE Exam. Most people in our profession do not even attempt to earn the CAE. The fact that you have made that commitment sets you apart. Hit the pass score or not, your decision to become a CAE Candidate is already a win.
Learn more about our education program at www.roguetulips.com/education
