What’s Next for Admins? Highlights from EA Ignite’s State of the Profession Panel

At EA Ignite Spring 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky, a panel of experienced professionals gathered to discuss the 2025 State of the Profession Report, produced by the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP). Moderated by Julie Perrine, founder of All Things Admin, the session offered an in-depth look at the latest research on administrative roles and where the profession is headed.

With voices from different areas of the field, attendees gained practical insights grounded in day-to-day experience.

Who Was in the Room?

The panel featured:

• Joshua Washington – Organizational Psychologist and Co-Founder of EA Pro

• Jodie Mears – Executive Assistant & Mentor, Bentley Systems

• Katie Hendrickson – Executive Assistant to the President & COO, AIT Worldwide Logistics

• Mia Lane – Manager, Executive and Administration, UKG

They spoke candidly about their work, their challenges, and the evolving expectations placed on administrative professionals.

A Closer Look at the Data

Julie Perrine opened the discussion with highlights from this year’s report, which covers everything from compensation and titles to professional development and technology adoption.

Among the key findings:

• Senior-level admins, particularly Executive Assistants, are seeing measurable increases in salary—though pay equity across industries remains a work in progress.

• Opportunities for training and development are growing, but not always consistently available.

• Skills like change management, digital literacy, and strategic support are becoming essential, not optional.

“You need to be your own best advocate,” Jodie Mears shared. “But first, you need data to know what to ask for. That’s what this report gives you.”

Ground-Level Perspective

Rather than sticking to the numbers alone, the panelists spoke from experience and offered examples of how they’ve navigated changing roles, advocated for growth, and worked within their teams to build influence.

Katie Hendrickson emphasized the importance of boundaries and proactive communication:

“You have to define your own guardrails. If you don’t, the job will do it for you.”

Mia Lane spoke about helping admins step into leadership by encouraging initiative and self-trust:

“I always tell my team—don’t wait to be invited. If you’re not in the room, build your own.”

The panel also explored how workplace culture, executive expectations, and hybrid work models continue to shift what support looks like.

Why This Conversation Matters

This discussion comes at a time when administrative professionals are being asked to do more, yet face fewer clear roadmaps for how to grow. Fortunately, ASAP's 2025 State of the Profession Report offers a snapshot of where the field is today along with indicators of what skills and strategies will matter most going forward. The report also provides a 4-Step Career Stages Framework that helps:

• Evaluate your current skills and career level

• Clarify your responsibilities and contributions

• Benchmark your compensation against your peers 

• Build a path for continued development

Events like EA Ignite offer space to process this kind of information alongside peers, helping attendees translate research into action.

Download the 2025 Report

Whether you’re preparing for your next review, exploring a new career path, or supporting a team of admins, the State of the Profession Report is a valuable tool. It’s available for free and offers benchmarks that can guide conversations about compensation, development, and workload.

Download the report here

Watch the Panel On-Demand

If you missed the session or want to revisit the conversation, the full panel recording is available to watch on-demand. 

Watch the panel here

Want more from EA Ignite?
Explore our lineup of upcoming events and expert-led sessions designed for Executive Assistants and high-performing admins: EA Ignite.