Strong managers change lives, win elections, and sustain our movement.

Arena Academy 201: Management Skills is a three-day virtual training for individuals with at least three months of campaign or movement experience.

During this training, you will build foundational management and leadership skills. We help you understand your unique leadership style and how to cultivate strong teams through effective and equitable hiring, planning, and feedback processes. Alongside these sessions, you’ll take a deep dive into the hard skills that make strong managers. You can select sessions like budgeting, spreadsheets 201, setting goals and managing staff to hit them, and more.

Arena Academy 201 is more than a training. You’ll join a community of passionate practitioners who will be your champions and confidants for years to come. During our training, we create space for you to cultivate relationships and connect with your peers and future teammates.
Every Arena Academy 201 is unique. Below is a sample agenda from past trainings.

Sample Agenda

Day One

• 1:00 p.m. Pre-Event Networking and Banter
• 1:30 p.m. Welcome + Careers
• 2:00 p.m. Break
• 2:15 p.m. Leadership Self-Assessment
• 4:45 p.m. Break
• 5:00 p.m. Careers Fair

Day Two

• 1:00 p.m. Welcome to Day Two
• 1:05 p.m. Google Civics
• 1:35 p.m. Break
• 1:45 p.m. Management in an Electoral Context
• 3:15 p.m. Break
• 4:00 p.m. Hiring and Onboarding Equitably
• 5:30 p.m. Break
• 6:00 p.m. After Dark Evening Panel and Networking

Day Three

• 110:00 a.m. Welcome to Day three
• 10:40 a.m. Giving Feedback
• 12:10 a.m. Lunch Break
  
  Choose Your Own Adventure Sessions I
• 12:55 p.m. Setting Goals and Managing Staff to Hit Them
• 12:55 p.m. Careers Office Hours
• 12:55 p.m. Choosing the Right Political Tech with Higher Ground Labs
• 2:10 p.m. Break
  
  Choose Your Own Adventure Sessions II
• 2:25 p.m. Performance Improvement and Terminations
• 2:25 p.m. Careers Office Hours
• 2:25 p.m. Spreadsheets 201
• 3:40 p.m. Break
• 3:55 p.m. Applied Session To Tie it All Together
• 5:10 p.m. Wrap Up
• 5:30 p.m. Keynote
• 5:45 p.m. END

Training Samples

This video is a compilation of three short clips from past training sessions we have offered to help you get a sense of our material.

What about career support?

During Arena Academy, you’ll hear from the Arena Careers team about the support we provide. Often, there is a Careers Fair during the training at which you can connect with employers or recruit for roles you are hiring for.

After Arena Academy 201, the Arena Careers team provides unique support such as group coaching or bespoke recommendations for roles you’re hiring for.

Apply to Arena Academy 201