Guest Blogger 
The Starlight Welcome Reception was a fun event! Conference attendees mingled and enjoyed hot appetizers, dessert and drinks while a “Rat Pack” Vegas crooner entertained us with lounge music. His playlist was wonderful. I glanced over and saw a few couples dancing to the music. I met attendees from Atlanta, Burlington, San Jose, Utah, South Carolina, Canada and more.
As I have mentioned a few times, last year, when I attend the Accelerated Assistant conference, I learned so many great tips over those four short days from the professional speakers and during the group activities. Joan Burge shared her experience and resources with the group daily to make the conference a true game-changer for … Read more
Real-Life Salary Negotiation Tips for the Savvy Administrative Professional
By Brandi Britton
There’s just something about money that makes talking about it uncomfortable. That’s why asking your boss for a raise or negotiating pay after receiving a job offer can be intimidating. Money could come up as early as the first interview, so it’s important to be prepared for this conversation at any time.
It can be tricky to place a figure on your professional worth, even when you’ve been an administrative specialist for years. And if you’re just entering the workforce, how do you know whether a starting wage is a thumb up or down?
Over the past 20 years, I have attended several conferences ranging in topics from fiction writing to motivational to professional training and even a full weekend trying to become a more educated outdoor woman. Each conference offered a unique learning opportunity, but none of them provided the ideal balance of professional and personal development that last year’s conference did.
The Conference for Administrative Excellence not only provided many educational moments with a variety of speakers, but I was also introduced to some amazing people in my field as well. The conference exceeded all of my expectations.
How better to share the conference experience than a conversation with the creator herself – The professional, personable, and mentor to many, Joan Burge! I’m honored to have had the opportunity to ask Joan a few questions. Her answers are enlightening and encompass the experience that helps create one of the most respected conferences ever offered. I highly recommend reading them more than once (with a notepad!).
There is a team behind the amazing conference event. From the first phone call to register for the conference to picking up my name tag, the entire team carried out the professionalism of Joan. I never imagined my experience and learning would stretch so far beyond those few amazing days in October last year. We have so many ways to learn from Joan; webinars, books, blog posts, etc., yet here I am with another amazing opportunity to know and learn even more!
Q: You’ve been a unique blend of experience as an assistant and now executive and business owner (with so much in between!). Can you share a mentorship opportunity you had as an assistant from another assistant and one or two takeaways from that opportunity?
Getting approval for attending administrative conferences can be difficult and can sometimes be frustrating.
Many assistants struggle with getting past the anxiety of asking, there are assistants who hear “no” and give up asking, and then there are those that may not have the “ammunition” of knowledge to explain why attending a conference can be beneficial.
Office Dynamics understands that it is not easy to get that “yes” you are looking for, so we have put together some tools to help you overcome the possible obstacles you may face.
Registration for the 2026 Conference for Administrative Excellence is now closed for both in-person and livestream attendance. But you can still experience the learning!
2026 Conference On Demand: Access the sessions after the conference and learn at your own pace.
2027 Conference: Secure your spot for next year’s exciting experience, The Conductor, with in-person and livestream options.