Seth Kahan on Big Change

Today our country is facing systemic racism like never before. Associations have a long history of being inclusive, so how do we take this on effectively? How do we make a real impact, and not just throw resources at a topic with no confidence in the results? It’s not clear. On this very topic, I […]

Our nation is living in considerable uncertainty, and associations are being impacted on multiple fronts simultaneously. We are dealing with an intersecting knot of disruption that includes the global pandemic, new social-distancing norms, the economy, upcoming election, and racial justice. Today, I’d like to work my way through that knot via the thread of racial

There is a national conversation about racial justice going on. Many organizations are making public statements but then asking,” How do we pivot to action?” I believe there are three levels of participation that associations leaders should consider when planning any change initiative. Level 1: People who want to know the territory and how to do

We are experiencing disruption on multiple levels. The pandemic has caused disruption to the economy, supply chain, and how we interact with each other, and the impact will likely extend for years. What does this mean for associations? In this video, I discuss creating a strategy during these uncertain times. Your association may be facing

It’s June 2020, and systemic racism has moved front and center on the national stage. Companies across the US, and activists globally, are making statements on the unacceptability of this penetrating fact. The recent supreme court decision on LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination is a ray of light and reminder that that giant steps forward do take

Where there is turbulence, there is energy. The challenge is channeling that energy to create value for your stakeholders while generating revenue for your organization. Through my work with many association boards of directors, I’ve helped to identify, develop, and choose new revenue streams. Pulling from that experience and adapting the Business Model Canvas, I’ve

When I led a leadership development retreat for America’s National Parks’ superintendents, we convened in New Mexico. At one point, we walked together through Bandolier National Monument. Along the way, several of the park superintendents picked up dime-sized ceramic chips, thousands of years old, and educated me about the information found on the chips, including

Imagine that you’re the captain of a ship – your association – and it is your job to keep the boat intact to continue to provide value to your members. But you are in a storm – the pandemic. Many of us hope that we will be able to return to normal shortly. But the

I’ve had many discussions, including interviews, zoom calls, and one-on-one conversations with CEOs and executives this week. I’m eager to share what I’ve learned from those interactions. In this video, I’ll cover three topics: What is taking place right now in terms of the pandemic and its impact on associations Virtualizing meetings and the implications