“For association professionals, the pandemic was not only a disruptor but an accelerator of change in areas such as governance, member expectations, and technology. The challenges associations face has only intensified, forcing association leaders to think differently and reinforcing the need for real change. The steps to take towards this change and the actions needed to thrive in the new climate are the focus of Association Leadership Forum,” said Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group introduces the dedicated event for association professionals taking place at IMEX America in November.
A no-nonsense approach
The highly interactive workshop, titled The Race for Relevance in Post-Pandemic Times, explores concepts from the 10th-anniversary edition of the guidebook for association leaders and takes a bold, no-nonsense look at the challenges. Trust is one of these issues as co-author Mary Byers explains: “We’ve undertaken new research into building trust and have found that a huge board finds it hard to build trust quickly. Smaller groups are better placed to make decisions and there’s no ‘social loafing’.”
Joining Mary and Harrison is a panel of executives who will share their experiences creating intentional approaches to governance; rethinking the scope of their programs and services; and intensifying their adoption of “digital first” thinking. These are: Moira H. Edwards, President of Ellipsis Partners; Steve Smith, CEO of the Association Management Center; and Len Toenjes, President of the Associated General Contractors of Missouri.
Association Leadership Forum is invite-only and open to association leaders including CEOs, COOs, presidents, executive directors, secretary generals, chairs and board members. It forms part of Smart Monday, a full day of free education taking place the day before IMEX America opens.
The show, celebrating its 10th edition at a new venue, Mandalay Bay, brings together the global business events community to plan and book everything from corporate incentive trips to agency-client events. Meeting planners can meet with global suppliers spanning all sectors of the industry. These include European destinations Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Scandinavia and the UK. Australia, Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore are among the Asia-Pacific countries confirmed along with Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa from Africa. From Atlanta and Calgary to L.A and Vancouver, US and Canadian exhibitors are out in force. They join many Latin American destinations including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and more.
