September 15th, 2025

Posted by: Amanda Thwing

Being in a senior leadership position is often lonely. Despite all the direct reports, student staff and colleagues that you work with, it seems no one else manages the level of activities, at the detail you do, with the knowledge and challenges of all the staff, partners, and clients. You often feel weighed down with staffing issues and opportunities, client questions, requests for reports, the desire to streamline processes and procedures, and the directive to find new revenue. When talking to colleagues/peers, you start to share, looking for connection, support and empathy, but quickly stop when your colleague brings up their stress level. For you know you are not the only one feeling this way, you are not the only one working at both ends of the day to find a way to get everything done. But then the question arises, am I destined to feel alone in every leadership position from now on? Does anyone understand my stresses, anxieties, and successes?

This was me, 100%, 2 years ago. I was transitioning into the conference and events area and felt all of this with every fiber of my being. I often felt like a deer in the headlights. Since I was just learning the area, I decided, at the encouragement of a friend, to attend my first annual ACCED-I Conference. I was nervous and wondering if I had made a huge mistake in my current journey into conference and events. Leading up to the conference I remember the slurry of email, the mention of the 1st timer mentor and offers to help with various committees. I just remember thinking, did I just get myself into even more work!? I got to the conference, I registered and then I hid, telling myself that I can do this. As someone who prides themselves on being strong and able to push my comfort zone, I thought I had met my match, and yet, I didn’t understand why. Maybe because I felt like an outsider or imposter. Maybe because I had pushed my comfort level too much. Maybe because I knew for the first time in many years I was not one of the most knowledgeable in my area at my institution.

I forced myself to attend the 1st Timers Session and meet my mentor. She was supportive and encouraging as I tried to show excitement over the inadequacy I was feeling. Then something happened in that session. They broke us up into regions and we introduced ourselves. I met people from my own institution that I had not known, I met people new to the field, and I met people who were experienced. I remember the strong sensation as I left that session, one that I hadn’t felt in a while…hope. As I met up with people heading to the opening speaker I remember saying, “I think I finally found my people.” From that point, the rest of the conference was a blur of meeting people, talking about common issues, hearing great ideas, and most of all people always supporting me and offering to help in whatever way as I navigate the creation of my office. As I traveled home from the conference, I had a few take aways:

1. I met a group of people who quickly became like a family to me. Even today we are there for each other’s ups, downs, and in-betweens.
2. I don’t have to start from scratch on policies, procedures, creating and office. There is a library on the ACCED-I website, and people are happy to provide you with their documents to help you grow and develop. All you have to do is look and ask.
3. I can put as much as I can or want into the organization. When I am busy, so is everyone else. And if I withdraw a little someone is going to be there to check in on me and see how things are going.
4. There are things I can do to learn and become more knowledgeable in the field. I can earn a Collegiate Conference & Events Professional Certificate and start feeling more than just an imposter in the field.
5. I am not in this alone, I have an entire organization that is truly here to help me.

I am sure many of you reading this have felt the same way, either recently or when you first started in the field. So why share something that we have all felt or are feeling. The first is for connection, because maybe there is someone reading this who feels like I did a few years ago, and I want them to know that they are not alone. But the main reason for my diatribe…for those of us who have been in the field more than 1 year. I speak to you…remember what it felt like when you started, and the emotions you had. Remember your need for resources and direction. Remember the uncertainty you had after your first summer and trying to decide if this was really for you. Remember the feeling of pulling off a high-profile event despite everything seeming to go wrong. Remember that our Association is only as strong as our members and what they are willing to give.

​I am still developing my office, training staff and building up our conferences and events clientele. Even though I am feeling more confident these days, I don’t want to forget the impact we can have on the next generation in this field. So, I implore my fellow ACCED-I members, help share knowledge for those learning by putting up items in the eLibrary or doing a presentation during a Regional meeting. Respond to the inquiry emails from someone needing help for the CCEP or needing advice on something you have seemingly mastered. Step out of your comfort group when you attend the ACCED-I conference and meet someone new. Share training ideas, event ideas, and upcoming trends with each other. I know that I am better, more balanced, and happier because of the people I have met in ACCED-I. So my question for all of us…What acts can we individually do to strengthen our support network, and what support can we provide to each other?

Author

Amanda Thwing, Conference, Events & Desk Services, Director, University of Wisconsin - Madison