Association CEO Index 2024 - Flipbook - Page 21
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Association CEO Index 2024
Career drivers
Communication is a top skill needed by association CEOs. Networking with
industry leaders and other association executives is seen as key to career
growth.
When asked to list the top skills needed by an
association CEO, communication and interpersonal
skills were most frequently mentioned. These were
followed by leadership and management,
relationship and stakeholder management and
strategic and commercial acumen. Personal
characteristics such as adaptability, flexibility and
resilience are also seen as important.
It stands to reason that networking with industry
leaders is seen as particularly important by those
new to the association sector (81%).
Leadership coaching and mentoring are also valued,
with 40% of CEOs highlighting the importance of
these activities. Notable trends include a higher
emphasis on leadership coaching among those from
associations with larger memberships (55%) and with
over 20 staff (50%).
The survey also revealed that networking, both
within their industry or profession and across the
association sector, is considered the most crucial
factor for career growth, with 62% and 60%
respectively identifying these as key.
Conversely, short courses, formal university courses
and association specific qualifications are seen as
less important.
Developing relationships with government is rated as
an important driver of career growth by 41%.
Top skills needed by association CEOs
1. Communication and Interpersonal Skills
2. Leadership and Management
3. Relationship and Stakeholder Management
4. Strategic and Commercial Acumen
5. Adaptability and Flexibility
Career development drivers
62%
60%
41%
40%
29%
16%
10%
Networking with
Networking with
other association
leaders in my
sector leaders
industry / profession
Leadership coaching Short courses / Association-specific
Developing
certification /
/ mentoring
micro credentials /
relationships within
qualification
skills updates
governments
Formal university
courses
Q. What do you consider to be the most important factors for your career growth and development? (Please select up
to three (3) factors)
