The Roadmap For Your Learning

If you're failing to plan, you're planning to fail

Building Your Learning Roadmap as an EA: The Admin Wrap’s Guide

With thousands of courses, webinars, and training programs aimed specifically at EAs, PAs and other administrative professionals, navigating your professional development can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re new to the administrative profession or a seasoned EA looking to future-proof your career, a strategic approach to learning is essential. This comprehensive guide will walk you through building a robust, flexible learning roadmap for the next five years and beyond.

Why a Learning Roadmap Matters

It’s clear that our profession is no longer just about managing calendars and booking travel. Today we are are strategic partners, project managers, tech-savvy communicators, and sometimes even business analysts. The expectations are higher than ever, and so are the opportunities for those of us willing to invest in our growth.

But with so many options-ranging from quick webinars to year-long professional qualifications-how do you choose the right path? The answer lies in creating a personalised, realistic, and adaptable learning roadmap. You can do this by following our 10-step guide.

Step 1: Define Your Five-Year Vision

Start with the classic question: “Where do you want to be in five years?” This isn’t just about job titles-it’s about the skills, responsibilities, and impact you want to have. Consider these prompts:

• Do you want to support a C-suite executive or generally support someone at a more senior level to the person/people you support now?

• Are you interested in specialising in HR, operations, or project management?

• Is there a particular industry you want to master, such as finance or tech?

• Do you want to become an expert in a specific software or business process?

Write out three or four “In five years’ time, I will be…” statements. These can be aspirational job titles, skillsets, or even ways you want to feel about your work.

Step 2: Identify Your Learning Goals

With your vision in place, it’s time to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. This requires honest self-assessment. A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) is a powerful tool here.

• Review job descriptions for your target roles.

• List out the skills, certifications, and experiences required.

• Identify your current strengths and where you have gaps.

For example, you might discover you need to:

• Improve your leadership and delegation skills.

• Master advanced Excel or project management tools.

• Gain industry-specific knowledge.

• Learn about new technologies like AI, automation, or digital collaboration platforms.

➡ Aim for a focused list of five to seven learning goals.

Step 3: Understand Certification Requirements

Some roles, especially at senior levels or in specialised industries, may require formal qualifications. For example, a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, a Mini MBA for EAs, or a specific qualification related to an industry or software can open doors to new opportunities.