NEW EPISODE EVERY WEEK!
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A transatlantic conversation advancing the impact and evolution of non-profit organizations. Together with our special guests, each episode we take a deep dive into the issues, topics, challenges and opportunities facing the association community.
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latest episodes
Ep164: 400 Resumes Later: Real Talk on Landing Your Next Association Role
In this special holiday episode of Association Transformation, host Elisa Pratt is joined by Brewer Pratt Solutions' Client Solutions Coordinator Jess Bellamy for a candid conversation about the current job market in the association space. Fresh from completing an employee search that received over 400 applications, they pull back the curtain on the hiring process and share practical, no-nonsense tips for job seekers. From crafting effective cover letters to perfecting your resume, preparing for interviews, and knowing when (and how) to follow up, Elisa and Jess offer insider insights that can help candidates stand out in a competitive market. They discuss common mistakes that trip up otherwise qualified candidates, share what really catches a hiring manager's attention, and provide actionable advice for anyone looking to launch or advance their career in the nonprofit and association sector. Whether you're actively job searching, considering a career transition into associations, or simply want to keep your application materials fresh, this episode delivers honest, practical guidance from two professionals who've just reviewed hundreds of applications and know exactly what works, and what doesn't.
Ep163: The Real Challenges Facing Trade Association CEOs
Susan Avery, CAE, CEO of the Performance Plastics Association, joins us to expose why trade associations have become the "forgotten format" in association management. With 28 years spanning both sides of the association world, Susan reveals critical differences between serving companies versus individuals that most "best practices" completely miss.
We discuss how the trade association CEO role has shifted from mission-driven to entrepreneurial, why governance models that work for professional societies fail for trade associations, and the unique challenges of industry consolidation and private equity. Susan challenges conventional wisdom, arguing we need to stop looking backward and start building governance and membership models for the future. Essential listening for association executives ready to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions.
Ep162: From Industry to Inside: Navigating the CEO leap into association leadership
What happens when seasoned industry leaders become first-time association CEOs? In this episode, we sit down with Sandy Moore (Pet Advocacy Network) and Melissa Loner(National Society of Compliance Professionals), two executives who’ve made the bold leap from the private sector into nonprofit leadership. From boardroom dynamics to member engagement, advocacy strategy to financial stewardship, they unpack the challenges, surprises, and superpowers that come from leading an association after serving as a member and board member, with perspective from the industry side of things.
Ep161: 🎧 Radical Transparency: The Renewed Role of Associations in a Misled World
Trust is under attack; from misinformation, disinformation, and even unchecked AI “truths.” In this powerful new episode of Association Transformation, Elisa Pratt and Andrew Chamberlain revisit their white paper Restoring Trust in Expertise and discuss how associations can become the custodians of credibility that our fractured world needs. With ASAE’s new Trust in Associations campaign making headlines, the duo explores what it means to practice radical transparency, verify what’s real, and bring people together across divides. Listen in for a candid conversation about how associations can reassert their public purpose and rebuild confidence in expertise; one fact, one member, and one mission at a time.
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