Great Wolf Lodge sponsored a Build a Bear group event at MPI’s WEC 25, which was held in St. Louis, MO.

Before you ignite your path, you need a spark. Knowing what drives you to be a meeting planner is your first step. The meeting planning arena is highly diverse, offering planners ample opportunities to pursue roles that fit their strengths and interests. Taking time to thoughtfully evaluate your options is essential. Identifying the path that aligns with your skills, passions and long-term goals ensures you’re building the right experiences to grow into leadership roles and stay fulfilled throughout your career.

“Event planning has become much more common and recognized than it was 10 years ago,” says Lisa Ivler, head event planner for Lisa Ivler events. “These days, many vendors like photographers, venues and entertainers recommend or even require that clients work with a planner because it makes the event run more smoothly. Today, hiring a planner is viewed as a normal step, right alongside booking a venue or band. The industry has also become more saturated, which means more competition, but also more awareness of the value meeting planners bring.”

Lori Pugh, M.S. MEM, PMP, CMP, CMM, CED, DES, vice president of MPI Academy, points out that eight to 10 years ago, professional association meeting planners were primarily focused on logistics, contracts, catering and schedules. While planners still manage those tasks, the role today demands strategic leadership, emotional intelligence to guide teams and stakeholders, and fluency in AI and data analysis to drive measurable business results. “The career has evolved into a multidisciplinary path where planners are expected to be innovators, strategists and experience designers,” Pugh says.

Most industry professionals agree that there isn’t really one “typical” path into the association planning career. Some planners earn a hospitality degree, while others come from creative fields like graphic design. Many start by working for larger organizations or assisting established planners to learn the ropes before branching out to work within the association realm of meeting planning. That was part of Ivler’s own journey too. Early on, she would ask established planners for opportunities to assist them. “Watching how these professionals managed events gave me a real education and helped me develop the skills I still use today,” Ivler says.

Indeed, Pugh says that many people still “fall into” the profession from marketing, admin or hospitality roles, though more are now pursuing formal education and choosing events as a strategic career path. Planners often move between supplier and planner roles, gaining perspective from both sides of the business.

“On the planner track, careers typically progress from coordinator to manager to director, but the industry needs to create more vice president and chief event officer positions to reflect the strategic impact of events,” Pugh says.

Evaluating Your Event Planning Career Path

Association meeting and event planning is not a 9-to-5 career. It requires passion, problem solving and the ability to stay calm under pressure so attendees can enjoy their event.

“I’ve always put my ‘all’ into this business, spending countless hours working on details and building relationships,” Ivler says. “You truly get out of it what you put in, so evaluating your path ensures you’re aligned with the kind of work you love doing. It helps you decide where to focus your energy and how you want to grow in the industry.”

Janaye Coleman, creative director and founder of Everything Social, adds that technology has played a major role in shaping the trajectory of today’s meeting and event planners. Ten years ago, platforms like Zoom (launched in 2013) and Cvent (1999) existed, but planners weren’t necessarily expected to be proficient in them.

“That changed dramatically during the pandemic, when reliance on technology became essential. Now, tech skills are a baseline requirement, with knowledge of event platforms and digital tools being assessed on nearly every meeting and event planner application,” Coleman says.

Coleman also doesn’t believe the trajectory for event and meeting planners is monolithic. When she talks with peers in this industry, each of their journeys is unique.

“For me, it began as one of my many responsibilities in a graduate assistantship at Michigan State University. My supervisor noticed I had a knack for planning and casually suggested I might be good at it. That moment sparked something in me,” Coleman says. “At first, I would host events simply because I wanted them to exist. From there, it grew into volunteering for nonprofits, earning a nickname among friends, and eventually building a career that spans from intimate gatherings to servicing global companies across educational and entertainment events.”

“Over the last decade and especially post-pandemic, meeting and event professionals have experienced a major shift. There’s been more crossover into different industries, and our roles have evolved far beyond logistics,” says Sandy Yi-Davis, founder and meeting strategist at Strategic Meeting International. “We’re no longer just executing events; we’re driving strategy and business outcomes.”

Previously, association meeting planners weren’t often seen at the leadership table unless they were part of a large organization. As Yi-Davis explains, many were still dismissed as “party planners.” But that’s changed dramatically. “Today, we’re being asked to measure not just ROI (Return on Investment), but also EOR – Emotion on Return. Events now have to justify their existence through meaningful engagement and alignment with business goals, plus drive registration and membership growth,” Yi-Davis says.

“The biggest shift? We’ve become community architects,” she adds, “We’re not just filling hotel rooms; we’re creating ecosystems where professionals connect, collaborate and advance their careers. This evolution has elevated our strategic importance within organizations.”

From Yi-Davis’ perspective, most meeting planning careers start in coordination roles handling registration, housing, exhibits, logistics or vendor management. Then you grow into larger scopes: marketing, content development, production, risk management and budget oversight.

From there, it’s about moving into roles where you’re not just planning the meeting, you’re shaping its purpose. That’s where strategic titles like director or vice president come in.

“The real evolution happens when you’re in the room helping your organization answer: How do our events fuel our mission? What role do meetings play in engagement, growth and advocacy?” Yi-Davis says. “But here’s what’s often overlooked: Your trajectory isn’t just about climbing the ladder within your organization. It’s about building bridges across the industry. Some of the most successful planners I know made lateral moves that seemed risky, but connected them to influential networks that accelerated their growth exponentially.”

Steps To Ignite Your Career Path

Yi-Davis says it’s important for association meeting planners to focus on breathing new life into their career path because it’s so easy to get stuck. Many planners are excellent at what they do, but they’re repeating the same cycle, year after year, within the same professional bubble.

“Covid should have been the reset button. But some associations and planners reverted right back to ‘how we used to do it’ without asking why,” Yi-Davis says. “Today’s landscape demands more from us: financial literacy, strategic thinking and a better understanding of how to align our events with organizational outcomes.”

Most importantly, Yi-Davis says that if you’re not intentional about your growth, you’re limiting your opportunities. “The planner who only networks within their association misses connections with corporate event professionals, tech innovators or hospitality leaders who could open doors to roles they never imagined existed,” she says. If you want to grow, you have to continuously ask: Am I evolving? Am I learning? Am I contributing to strategy or just checking boxes? And critically: Who am I learning from, and what am I capable of doing?

Yi-Davis admits she waited too long to pursue her CMP. She assumed her years of experience and references were enough until someone told her, “You wouldn’t hire an accountant without a CPA behind their name, right?”

“That hit me. From there, I decided to invest in myself strategically. I started exploring AI not from the meetings industry, but from the tech world and other sectors. I raised my hand for projects that felt scary. I proposed ideas no one asked for. Some worked. Some didn’t. But every time, I grew. I am not afraid of failing,” Yi-Davis says.

But the game-changer for Yi-Davis was building the right community. She stopped only attending association conferences and started showing up in spaces where she was the only event planner in the room, such as tech meetups, startup networking events and marketing conferences.

“That’s where I learned about trends before they hit our industry and where I met people who later became advocates for my career,” Yi-Davis says. “I also became intentional about my support circle. I identified mentors who weren’t just successful event planners, but leaders who understood business strategy. I cultivated relationships with peers who pushed my thinking, not just people who validated my current approach. You have to be willing to pilot new ideas, try new platforms and be seen because no one can advocate for you if you’re hiding behind the scenes or if they don’t know what you’re truly capable of.”

One of the most important techniques Coleman has used to ignite her meeting planning career path is listening to her intuition and honoring her passion. “I’ve always been naturally gifted at organizing and bringing people together. While I’m also skilled in areas like math and science, I know I’m honoring myself by channeling my creativity into events,” Coleman says. “That alignment has allowed me to carve out my own agency, Everything Social, and build it into something that reflects both my strengths and my purpose.”

For Ivler, networking has been one of the most valuable tools she’s used to “ignite her career path.” Attending expos, events and conferences has helped her learn from peers, exchange referrals and grow her client base. She’s also built strong relationships with vendors, like entertainment companies, who refer her to others.

“Social media has been another big driver. I bring an employee to events with me to capture photos and videos, and sharing them on Instagram and LinkedIn has directly led to new clients,” Ivler says. “At the beginning of my career, assisting established planners was especially impactful. It gave me the confidence and hands-on training I needed to eventually run my own business.”

Ivler recommends association meeting planners network as much as possible. Learning directly from others is invaluable, and assisting experienced planners is one of the best ways to understand how the job really works.

“Use social media to document your work. Instagram reels and posts can be just as powerful as word of mouth for bringing in new clients. And most importantly, have fun with it,” Ivler says. “This career takes dedication and long hours, but if you’re passionate about it, it won’t feel like ‘work.’ That passion is what keeps you going and what clients will connect with.”

Yi-Davis recommends association planners start by branding themselves as the internal expert. Don’t just wait for people to come to you with logistics; position yourself as the strategic partner who connects the dots between goals and event outcomes.

“Your value is more than timelines and floor plans. You create space for human connection and that’s what people crave most. Be the one who asks better questions, identifies opportunities and designs experiences that solve problems,” Yi-Davis says. “But here’s the crucial part: Build the right community for your next step. Attend Cvent or Connect and not just PCMA, ASAE or MPI association meetings. If you’re interested in nonprofit work, volunteer for events in that sector. If technology fascinates you, join event tech user groups.”

Also, the right person can come along and change everything. They might offer you a role you didn’t know existed, introduce you to someone who becomes a career-long mentor or simply plant a seed that grows into your next opportunity. But this only happens if you’re intentional about expanding your circle beyond your comfort zone.

“Find your champions or coach early. These aren’t just mentors. They’re people who understand your potential and aren’t afraid to recommend you for opportunities that stretch you,” Yi-Davis says. “Sometimes, it’s a vendor who’s watched you handle challenges with grace. Sometimes, it’s a peer who sees your strategic thinking. Sometimes, it’s a speaker you supported who remembers how you elevated their presentation. You’re not just planning an event. You’re shaping how people think, feel and connect. Own that. And surround yourself with people who see that value and will help you amplify it.”

Remember, your career is yours alone to shape, and the sooner you embrace that responsibility, the sooner you unlock your full potential.

“No one can do the work for you, but when you put in the time and energy to learn, grow and challenge yourself, doors begin to open,” Pugh says. “Ignite your path by staying curious, building meaningful relationships and seeking out opportunities that stretch you beyond what feels comfortable. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and share generously with others, because growth is amplified when it happens in community.”

Coleman stresses that planners “Keep going, stay curious and stay adaptable.”

“The world is constantly changing, but the need for events and meetings will always remain,” Coleman says. “If you have a natural eye for it, don’t hold back when your moment comes – put your best foot forward. Know your strengths and weaknesses and don’t shy away from either. Instead, use them to your advantage as you grow and define your path.” AC&F