The Association Podcast Jake Toohey, Ben Muscolino, Gretchen Steenstra

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome Ted Davis, Director of Digital Experience and Strategy at the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and an adjunct at NYU. Ted shares his journey from working in lifestyle magazines and beauty to embracing Digital Transformation in the association market. We discuss the strategic shift towards a digital-first organization at NACD, the value of education through Ted's lens of teaching digital marketing at NYU and adapting to associations' unique pacing and culture. We also explore the importance of empathy in marketing, the transition from a commercial to an association mindset, and how associations can benefit from corporate practices without losing their community focus. Mabel gets us into a deeper discussion on the future of marketing and keeping things simple within organizations.

Discover the remarkable journey of Don Dea, a key figure in the association industry, as he shares experiences ranging from corporate leadership at Xerox to impactful contributions in nonprofits like America's Vet Dogs. We discuss his perspectives on governance, technology, leveraging volunteers, insights on Digital Now, educational empowerment, community engagement, and leadership wisdom.

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we have special guest Justin Bieganek, Creative Director & Founder of Mercury Creative Group. We discuss the journey and strategic work involved in brand building and management, especially for associations. Justin shares his experiences building Mercury Creative Group and also shares insights into the value of developing a singular brand focus, the client-side perspective, decision-making issues, maintaining brand relevance, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing brand design and communications. We also get into the contrast between working with for-profit and non-profit organizations.

On this episode of The Association Podcase, we welcome Christine Nogal, Chief Operations & Business Development Officer at the Arthroscopy Association of North America. We discuss her unconventional path from music to association management, AANA's Think Tank for innovation, and the successful implementation of a Netflix-style subscription model for AANA's online learning. We also talk about the importance of simplicity in user experience and decision-making, the value of team input, and the surprising diversity of their subscription model's user base. Special thanks to Lauren Janik from Impexium for stepping in for Gretchen as our guest host!

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On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome Rob Barnes, MBA, CAE, and the CEO of BettyBot. We discuss how his company's AI product enhances the accessibility and utility of knowledge repositories maintained by associations. We learn how BettyBot can ingest an entire knowledge base to provide precise, verified information to users instead of forcing them to navigate through traditional search results. We also get into the importance of associations considering their digital strategies, emphasizing how artificial intelligence technology allows for a more efficient, responsive service that addresses users' immediate needs. Finally, we touch on the changing paradigms in decision-making within associations and advocate for a user-based approach.

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome seasoned venture capitalist, Tim McLoughlin, Managing Partner at Cofounders Capital to share his insights on software investment, particularly in the association market. We discuss the differences and resemblances between Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC). Tim explains the concept of 'fund size' and its implication in investment decisions and walks through his fundraising experience. We go on to address the surge in AI applications in business solutions and Tim's advice to entrepreneurs to focus on solving real-world problems and making a difference. Finally, we talk about trends in software procurement, investment cycles, and the importance of nurturing relationships.