Learn. | Implement. | Innovate. | Accelerate.Grow.

Based on an MBA curriculum,
Built for association leaders.

GSAE brings you a program to accelerate your association's success by mastering the people management & business finance skills of highly successful leaders in a 10-week, fully-virtual training with content based on an MBA curriculum, in the AE-MBA! 
  Refine your leadership skills 
   Master people management
   Demystify the finances
   Grow your bottom line!

LacEy Facer

"I really loved the program, the information was great and I learned a lot! I understand I can access this for a year after, but I will use this information for longer than that!"

Executive Director at IPMA: International Practice Management Association

Jan Price, LCSW, CAE

"The program is very well done from the platform chosen to host the learning, to the live meeting overviews, breakout sessions and discussions. The blended learning design is very engaging."

Vice President Learning Operations

CoreNet Global

"Great course to refresh some concepts you may already be comfortable with and to add a few new tips and tricks to help you and your organization be successful. A definite confidence builder!" 


CAE and VP of Association Management at Etherio

Bill Warnecki

"The program is spectacular. 
The beauty of this is that it could be attributed to anybody at any level of your organization, even us old dogs got something new out of it!"

President at Omega Services Group

Chase Keller

"Two Words: Do It!

This program offers a time-efficient streamlined format and relevant real-world content. Take this opportunity to position your company for success.

President - Granite

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$995
GSAE MEMBER PRICING
March 26
PROGRAM KICK-OFF
Lifetime Access
After the 10-week program

The Transformation

The AE-MBA is a 10-week digital-first program for the current & future leaders of the association industry to master the skills of organizational leadership, people management, & business finance.

It's like a mini-MBA, for association executives.

An interactive, virtual, peer-based learning program.

At Your Own Pace eLearning

Asynchronous eLearning allows you to work at your own pace, around your schedule, with an interactive eLearning portal accessible on both web & mobile.

Live Interactive Conversations

Join bi-weekly live facilitations with our the experts to discuss the learning and work in breakout rooms to implement & gain feedback from your peers.

Your New Professional Credentials

By the end of the program you will have new knowledge, resources, and skills -- so share that with the world with your new digital badge and certificate!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved by Learners!
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W h a t ' s   I n c l u d e d

Explore the AE-MBA

With over 20 hours of video, a private learning community, and an arsenal of templates, resources, and knowledge, it's one of the most comprehensive management and finance programs for the association leaders in the market.

When you join, you'll receive lifetime access to

  • 6+ hours of live facilitated expert coaching
  • 350+ learning modules within the self-paced online learning
  • A cohort of your fellow association leaders to connect & network
  • Continued access for a full year after the 10-weeks
  • Downloadable companion worksheets & materials
  • 20 interactive tools to implement the learning 
  • Knowledge checks to build competency
  • A printable learner handbook to organize it all
  • Lifetime access to the eLearning portal and resources
  • and a LinkedIn badge and certificate to share with the world!
Share your certificate with the world!

PRICING

SPECIAL PRICING AND DISCOUNTS FOR MEMBERS OF
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Solo Price

$995

Team Discounts

Interested in more than 3 from your association or AMC staff?
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Association leaders from across the country!

Join this expanding community of association leaders from various geographies, industries, and backgrounds, coming together to share knowledge, experiences, and expertise.
 
You'll have the opportunity to connect with other association leaders, learn from their perspectives, and contribute to the growth and success of our collective network.

Whether you're a seasoned association professional or taking that next step, the AE-MBA is a place to engage, collaborate, and excel.
L i v e   s e s s i o n s   f o r   e v e r y o n e

What makes this program different?

The real key, is a blended learning experience -- pairing self-paced online learning with live facilitated session to learn with you peers and from the experts themselves in real-time. 
Live Sessions
Self-Paced eLearning
Professional Networking
facilitations

Expert-Led Live Coaching Sessions

Beyond the online learning we come together with a cohort of your peers for bi-weekly facilitations allowing you to be coached in real-time by masters of the craft.

Save the Date for Our Live Program Kick-Off

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Grab Your Seat
Learning

Interactive Self-
Paced Online Learning

The program is designed to provide you with impactful knowledge & resources that will guide you, step-by-step to put into practice immediately.

Want to test-drive the self-paced learning yourself? 

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Networking

A Cohort of Fellow Business Leaders

Connect with both the current and future leaders of industry to learn & share together in a peer-to-peer learning experience, building your support system!
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Become a Master Manager!

What does the AE-MBA curriculum cover?

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Set Goals All the Time

We begin by crafting a vision for the company, our long-term goal 3-5-years from now. This will be the North Star for our entire team. Then we learn what makes a 'good goal' and create company-wide, department-level, & individual goals that align with our vision. 

Learning Outcomes of this Section

  • Set a company-wide vision.
  • Learn how to create good goals.
  • Create goals for the company, departments & each employee.
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Focus On The Process Not a Plan

We’ll get a baseline of our company's current status by collecting valuable information. Using that as a baseline we will adopt a planning process so our company can adapt to today’s ever-changing conditions.

Learning Outcomes of this Section

  • Measure current company state.
  • Replace the business plan.
  • Create strategies for a constant planning process.
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Coach the Right People

We’ll clearly define positions at our business, and create position descriptions for ourselves and key roles within the organization. Then we identify the right natural abilities needed for these roles, and if we have our people in the best place for success currently.

Learning Outcomes of this Section

  • How to build the right team.
  • Learn to identify natural abilities.
  • Create position descriptions for yourself and every employee.
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Serve the Right Customer

We begin by identifying our right customers, then determine how we find more of these right customers, building a sales process to serve them, streamlining our operations processes around them, and finally fostering a culture & strategies necessary to serve the right customer.

Learning Outcomes of this Section

  • Identify your good customers.
  • Define your generic strategy.
  • Create a sales process & refine your operations processes.
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Empower Your Entire Team

Learn how managers empower their team members by establishing clear goals and allowing people to achieve those goals in their own way, through our system of “wide boulevards, high curbs”. We determine if our team members meet the criteria required to work in an environment of empowerment and how to coach them in they can.

Learning Outcomes of this Section

  • Learn the life-cycle of a manager.
  • Build an empowerment culture.
  • Create an organization of 'Wide Boulevards, High Curbs'.
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Do the Right Things Right

We will use six tools to monitor and manage our company’s performance and build our own System of Managing—a clear and effective means of providing clarity and purpose to team members while steering everyone to accomplish their individual goals, as well as the company’s goals. 

Learning Outcomes of this Section

  • Learn the six tools to measure & manage goal achievement.
  • Create a system of management for your team.
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Demystifying the Financials

Using a case study, we will understand how to read and use financial statements. With the case study as real-world context, we will also learn about projections, inventory, accounts receivable, and cash flow and how to use this information to build stronger businesses.

Learning Outcomes of this Section

  • Using a real-life case study we will:
  • Learn how to properly read the financial documents.
  • Further understand the benefits of accurate projections. 
  • Build out your own financial models of success.
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Applying the Financials

With a new understanding of the basics, we will focus on specific elements that grow the bottom line. We start by calculating our own financial ratios, and how to set realistic goals for your business with them. From there we learn how to easily use break-even analysis to inform everyday decisions. 

Learning Outcomes of this Section

  • Dive deep into how to calculate the important financial ratios and set realistic goals for each of these ratios.
  • Understand the cash flows (in and out) of your business.
  • Calculate your break-even to inform every decision. 

Maximize your learning with a blend of self-paced eLearning with interactive live sessions!

Self-Paced eLearning

The content is engaging and approachable built to suit all different learning styles helping to simplify concepts into practical application within your association.

Printable Workbook

Along with the digital learning, engage with the physical workbook which can be printed out as your physical companion to guide your time in the program.

Bi-Weekly Zoom Calls

Participate in our live bi-weekly facilitations, as well as  the community forum, to share thoughts and ideas, increase connection, get help implementing the learning.

Save These Dates!

Within the program there will be live sessions to network and learn in real-time with your cohort.
All live sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 12:00– 1:00 pm EST

PROGRAM ONBOARDING AND KICK-OFF

March 26

VISION GOALS & PLANNING PROCESS

April 9

THE RIGHT TEAM & CUSTOMER

April 23

AN EMPOWERED SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT

May 7

DEMYSTIFYING THE FINANCIALS

May 21

APPLYING THE FINANCIALS

June 4

Can't make one of the live sessions? No worries, all are recorded for you to review later!

Based on a streamlined MBA curriculum, the AE-MBA will help you learn, understand, and apply the best practices of people management & business finances to improve your association's success and grow your bottom line.

hours per week

hours of live coaching

interactive modules

days of access to the eLearning

Gain up to 10 CAE credits! 

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This program meets the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential.
The live hour portions of the program may be applied for 5 credits toward your CAE application or renewal of professional development requirements.

While under review, we anticipate the self-study and assessment portion of the program will also have 5 additional CAE credits. 

Testimonials

This program is effective | This program is affordable | This program is easy to follow | This program is a great networking experience | This program is a 'no brainer'

Meet the Team

Created specifically to teach the fundamental skills every association leader needs for sustaining success and growth. From people management to association finances, and all in between.

Aubie Knight

Vision, Goals, & Planning

CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina. Aubie works with the IIANC Board of Directors to set the association's strategic direction. Aubie is recognized for his bold visions, creative problem-solving, and desire for growth and evolution in the association and insurance industry. He takes great pride in the fact that IIANC has been listed as a top (1st, or 2nd) employer in North Carolina for three consecutive years and that the IIANC team has an office culture and engagement score ranked in the top 1% of US employers.

Liz Richards

The Right Team and Community

Serving as the CEO of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors association (MHEDA) for over 27 years. Liz has has built a culture that will continue to live on even through her retirement at the end of 2024. Focusing on creating a team that always 'did the right thing' she has continue to build a strong staff and grown the MHEDA membership and impact through both the good years, and the down years of the industry. 

John Cioffi

Program Creator

The Chief Content Officer at GoalMakers, has spent the last 30-years, coaching hundreds of clients to success. He helps businesses of all types and sizes understand the people management and organizational leadership needed to be successful.

Jeremy Wall

Lead Facilitator

Our lead facilitator has worked with hundreds of business owners & operators helping them not simply learn the material, but implement to success within their organization. Jeremy has founded, grown, and exited businesses and will work with your as you do the same!

Want to learn more about the AE-MBA?

Choose a time below to meet with the GoalMakers team for a 15-minute Zoom call.

Ready to Sign Up?

Sign Up Today!

Improve your association.
Grow your bottom line.

This program is a business education program — much of this will directly apply to your association, and much of it will apply to the businesses of your members. You will cover the fundamentals that every leader of a non-profit and a for-profit should understand. 

Organizational
Leadership

Financial
Mastery

THE GOALMAKERS GUARANTEE

We believe in our program, so much that we offer a money-back guarantee if you don't find value after the first two weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Don't see the answer to your question below?
Scroll to the bottom of the page to book a time to chat with the AE-MBA team !

Who is the AE-MBA for?

This program was built for everyone from the CEO to the sweeper, the more of your team that understands these fundamentals, the better off you will be.

However, this specific cohort is focused new, experienced, and aspiring CEOs or Executive Directors.

How many people from my association should participate? 

The AE-MBA can be used as a great organizational alignment tool to bring your team together, however, this cohort is reserved for CEOs & Executive Directors. 

That being said, if you have a near-future CEO on staff, you can bring them to join this program and learn alongside you to advance their professional career even if they are not yet in the role of CEO yet.

How many CAE credits can I gain?

In short, you can gain up to 10 CAE credits, 5 CAE credits for live attendance, 5 CAE self-study credits.

This program meets the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential. Every program that we offer which qualifies for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation, and we will maintain records of your participation in accord with CAE policies. For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.whatiscae.org.

The live hour portions of the program may be applied for 5 credits toward your CAE application or renewal of professional development requirements. While under review, we anticipate the self-study and assessment portion of the program will also have 5 additional CAE credits.
Note: This program is not endorsed, accredited, or affiliated with ASAE or the CAE program. Applicants may use any program that meets eligibility requirements in the specific time frame towards the exam application or renewal. There are no specific individual courses required as part of the applications – selection of eligible education is up to the applicant based on his/her needs. 

Are there assignments I must complete to get the certificate?

You won't get a certificate just for signing up, no participation trophies here! 

Throughout the program there are 6 end-of-section knowledge checks at the end of each of the management sections, and then a cumulative exam at the end. All must be completed and passed in order to receive your certificate and qualify for all 5 hours of the self-paced CAE credits.

What if I miss the live sessions?

While you will get the most out of joining them and participating in the conversation with both your peers and industry experts, if you can't make one do not worry! All sessions are recorded and uploaded into the eLearning to review later.

How long will I have access to the program?

Great question, while the AE-MBA runs in a synchronous timing with your peers after the 10-weeks you will retain access to the eLearning for a full calendar year after we wrap up.

How long will it take me?

While this program is self-paced, timing is based on averages, some will take much longer and others will take less. The average learner progresses through this at ~2.5 hours per week, so we suggest earmarking at least that much time. 

Then bi-weekly we have 60-minute long live sessions with your peers and industry experts. 

Overall, you should expect anywhere from 20-40 hours over the 10-weeks. (Some learners spend much longer than this and some a little less, but it depends on where you are at in your professional journey)!

Is this an actual MBA degree?

While the AE-MBA is based on an MBA curriculum -- it is not an equivalent to a higher-ed MBA designation.

The program provided is not intended to and does not educate or train attendees in a program leading toward (i) examinations for licensing in a profession or vocation, (ii) employment at a beginning or advanced level, or (iii) a postsecondary educational credential of a Masters degree from a university.

Not ready to register, but want to stay connected?

Add your email address below and we'll stay in touch (no spam) about any special offers for the AE-MBA both for this cohort and future! 
Thank you!