LATEST EPISODES

latest episodes

Ep178: Your board says "we should go global." Now what?

In Episode 178 of Association Transformation, Elisa sits down with Brian Weiss (SVP of Society Programs at the American Chemical Society, with PMI, RMA, AMA, and NCMA behind him) for the globalization conversation most associations skip straight past. A few of the highlights:

🌍 Do the non-business case before the business case. Why is the board really asking? You can't meet an expectation nobody's named.

🌍 Your readiness assessment isn't a go/no-go. It's the calibration tool you'll keep coming back to for the next five years as the board turns over.

🌍 You don't need a big balance sheet. Partners, AMCs, and sister associations are all doors in.

🌍 The single biggest thing Brian's seen trip expansions up: HQ won't let go. Centralized brand, localized delivery, that tension makes or breaks it.

If globalization is on your board agenda (or about to be) watch or listen before anyone spends a dollar. 🎧

Ep177: Cybersecurity is a Leadership Issue

Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT problem. It’s a leadership, governance, and organizational resilience issue! In Episode 178 of Association Transformation, Elisa and Andrew sit down with Mike Baker, VP, Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for DXC Technologies, to bring cybersecurity out of the server room and into the association boardroom. They explore what association leaders really need to understand about today’s cyber risks, where organizations may be more vulnerable than they realize, and how leaders can create a culture of security without becoming cybersecurity experts themselves. From protecting member and organizational data to managing human, technology, and third-party risk, this conversation offers a practical perspective on why cybersecurity belongs on every association leader’s agenda.

Ep176: Your Insider's Guide to ASAE Annual 2026

The Association Transformation summer hiatus is over early, and for good reason. Three-time guest Jay S. Daughtry, M.Ed., joins Andrew and Elisa for a timely preview of the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition. Jay just released his annual "What I'm Looking Forward to at ASAE Annual 2026" guide, built with input from voices across the association community, and he shares the highlights: The Classic at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the closing celebration at Lucas Oil Stadium, how to navigate a packed schedule, getting real value from the trade show floor, cracking the evening party circuit, and energy management tips for introverts.

Elisa will be at #ASAE26 in Indianapolis, so say hello if you see her! You can grab Jay's guide here.

Ep175: Project Management Paralysis

Most associations are not short on ideas. The real struggle is moving from plan to progress. In episode 175 of Association Transformation, we dig into Project Management Paralysis — why association projects stall, how communication and culture get in the way, and what it takes to turn good intentions into real execution. Because plans do not execute themselves.

Ep174: The Small Charity Bunfight

This week on Association Transformation, we’re unpacking another UK controversy: members can ask hard questions about outcomes and value, but they don’t get to design the org chart. Instead of letting leadership lead, parts of the charity sector has jumped straight to a public “bun fight" with one of its membership organisations (the NCVO), including open letters, outside pressure, and a not-so-subtle attempt to dictate how the organization should staff itself. Elisa and Andrew get blunt about what’s really going on: member overreach. Accountability is fair game. Operational control is not. The CEO’s job is to design the structure, deploy talent, and run the business, without members trying to manage the org by petition. Listen in and weigh in: where does legitimate scrutiny end and governance-wrecking interference begin?

Ep173: Dissecting and Defining Engagement

Inspired by recent industry research, including member experience and membership marketing benchmark reports, this episode explores what “engagement” really means for associations, where organizations may be confusing communication with connection, and why success should be measured by more than clicks, attendance, and activity. Tune in for a thoughtful, practical conversation on member value, belonging, and retention.

Ep172: Recovery is Not Success: The Case for Anti-Fragile Associations

What if the goal isn’t to bounce back… but to move forward stronger?

In this latest episode of Association Transformation, co-hosts Elisa Pratt (Brewer Pratt Solutions) and Andrew Chamberlain (Elevated) unpack a bold idea: 👉 Stability isn’t success and recovery may actually be holding associations back. Recorded (literally) from the road as Elisa drives home from the Pennsylvania Society of Association Executives conference, this conversation challenges leaders to rethink resilience, question “best practices,” and embrace disruption as a catalyst for growth—not something to survive. If your organization is:
• Trying to “get back” to where it was
• Playing it safe to avoid risk
• Or measuring success by stability…

…it might be time for a different approach.

🎧 Listen in and join the conversation: Are you building resilience… or becoming truly anti-fragile?

Ep171: Navigating the Ethics Minefield

March is National Ethics Awareness Month, which makes it the perfect time to talk about something every association faces, but few discuss honestly: ethics in leadership. In the newest episode of Association Transformation, co-hosts Elisa Pratt of Brewer Pratt Solutions and Andrew Chamberlain of Elevated unpack what ethical governance really looks like inside associations. Not just policies. Not just conflict-of-interest forms. And definitely not a once-a-year board training slide. Instead, they explore the real issues that surface in boardrooms every day: • When does poor behavior cross the line into unethical conduct? • Why do so many governance problems come down to structure and communication gaps? • Who is actually responsible for enforcing ethical standards in an association? • And how do organizations build cultures where integrity is lived and not just written into policy? From volunteer pathways and board recruitment to risk management, accountability, and leadership culture, this conversation digs into the practical realities of ethics in association governance. 🎧 Listen to the latest episode and join the discussion: Where have you seen ethical leadership done well (or poorly) in associations?

NEW EPISODE EVERY WEEK!

Welcome to THE PODCAST

SUBSCRIBE VIA YOUR CHOSEN PODCAST PLATFORM