Rachel Crick recently spoke with Blake Waravdekar, meeting planner for the Association of American Medical Colleges, on the challenges and benefits of transitioning jobs.
Blake Waravdekar is a meeting planner at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). She attended George Mason University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in tourism and events management, and she also completed several event internships. She held event planning roles at the American Chemical Society and the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations before landing her current role in May 2025. She is a member of PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties, Class of 2026 and has her Digital Event Strategist certification from PCMA.
Blake Waravdekar
Q: What were the biggest challenges of changing jobs as a young professional?
A: I really wanted to find the right fit. I just wanted to try a bunch of different roles and see what stuck. I think the hardest part for me was deciding where to start because there are so many options out there. So that’s why I made a few jumps early on in my career — to see what I liked and what was the best fit. It’s definitely challenging, especially now post-COVID, with what some jobs are requiring. Entry-level experience has now changed to three to five years of experience. People coming out of college trying to break into the industry have it harder because there are not really that many entry-level jobs these days.
Q: What were the strengths that you had coming into these new roles as a young professional?
A: For context, I started in the events industry a little over a year before COVID, so I got a sense of what things were like pre-pandemic. But when everything shifted to virtual in 2020, there was a lot of uncertainty during that time. I feel like it really pushed me to become more flexible and adapt quickly. So that’s shaped how I approach my work now. I know a lot of planners feel the same way, just given the uncertainty during that time. Coming out of that, I feel like I’m much more comfortable navigating last-minute changes in events and thinking on my feet, which is such a big part of event planning. And I also think it’s made me more proactive to anticipate potential changes and being prepared to find solutions for any outcome.
Q: What skills would you say helped you master the transitions to new roles?
A: I would say communication and making sure that I’m connecting with my team or any potential vendors — and making sure that any stakeholders I’m working with are all on the same page. So, even if I don’t have all the answers, just letting people know that I can get the answers alleviates stress and keeps everybody in the loop. I would say that’s something that’s really helped me transition from different positions where I may not be doing exactly the same thing, but if I operate in that way, it seems to be beneficial. And then I would also emphasize the adaptability piece with being prepared with solutions for any outcome because, in the events industry, anything can happen.
Q: What advice would you give to other young professionals in the events industry who are thinking about making the leap to another role but aren’t sure how?
A: A piece of advice I would give is to not be afraid to try new things and new roles. If it’s something you haven’t done, and you apply, and you just be yourself, and it ends up working out. I would emphasize networking, joining your PCMA local chapter or attending any local industry events to meet people. And it’s honestly a little intimidating at first. Seems like there are so many people in this industry to meet. But I can speak for most planners when I say if somebody newer in their career were to reach out, I would be more than happy to provide any advice or helpful words of encouragement. I definitely would want to emphasize just getting involved with your local event planner chapters because you never know who you’ll meet and what opportunities that could bring you. I have an unofficial mentor; one of my former coworkers who’s involved in the industry has been such an incredible resource to me and really helpful every step of the way.
Q: Do you have any goals for your career growth going forward you’d like to share?
A: So, over the past few years, I’ve been getting more involved in PCMA. Being in the 20 In Their Twenties was a huge goal of mine. So now, in terms of my career, I’ve found a really great fit at my current position, so I’m planning to stay here and grow in my current role as a meeting planner. And the next goal on my list is to work on getting my CMP certification. I’m hoping to get that within the next two years, I would say.
