What does it take for a 100-year-old, campus-based organization to stay relevant in a world of virtual chapters, AI search tools, and shrinking higher education enrollments?

And in an era of time poverty, information overload, and eroding trust, how can associations help young leaders not only serve—but truly thrive?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Bob London, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director of Alpha Phi Omega (APO). Bob discusses:

1. How APO develops leadership skills through service on nearly 300 campuses, measuring long-term success by how alumni improve their communities after graduation.
2. Why APO focuses exclusively on leadership, fellowship, and service, and how its partnership model with universities differentiates it from other campus organizations.
3. How APO has endured for 100 years by attracting students who are committed to improving their communities, regardless of political or cultural turbulence.
4. The bold decision to remove “campus-based” from APO’s vision statement, and what that means for the future of the organization.
5. Why time is APO’s biggest barrier to membership, and how the organization helps students manage “time poverty.”
6. How Bob fosters a culture of calendar control and focused work within his staff, encouraging everyone yo protect their “golden hours.”
7. APO’s successful $6.5 million capital campaign, combining cash and planned giving to secure the next 100 years while keeping student membership costs to just $85 for a lifetime.
8. Why foresight thinking is now embedded in APO’s board culture, and how scenario exercises and agenda restructuring have shifted the board’s focus toward long-term plausible futures.
9. The signals Bob is watching closely: disruption in higher education and the explosion of information overload.

References:

1. APO Website

What are the “rugs” that your association keeps tripping over but no one talks about? What if there was a common, accessible language to help your staff and board name and move those obstacles? How can an association help members lead with more heart in a fast-moving, AI-driven world?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Sherry Budziak, Founder and CEO, and Kevin Ordonez, President and Managing Director of OrgSource. Sherry and Kevin discuss:

1. Why they wrote their new book, RUG: How to Move What You’re Tripping Over and Lead with Heart, and how the real-life story of a literal rug in a boardroom inspired it.
2. The H.E.A.R.T. Framework: Humanize, Empower, Ascend, Reimagine, and Transform.
3. How the book offers a practical toolkit with discussion questions and “micro-moves” to help teams identify and address cultural and operational obstacles.
4. Why the rug metaphor is so powerful, creating safe, non-threatening language to name problems.
5. How using “the rug” as a metaphor has allowed teams to have more honest conversations and make real progress.
6. Examples of typical “rugs” in associations: over-reliance on outdated processes, fear of making decisions, board bottlenecks, and member experiences designed for internal convenience.
7. How leaders often misattribute cultural or operational issues to technology alone.
8. The need for associations to reframe how they see AI not just as a tech initiative but as a strategic shift in how work gets done.
9. Why leadership involvement is key to moving the “AI rug” and reimagining what’s possible.
10. OrgSource’s new Mastermind and AI Accelerator groups that help leaders and teams take action on these ideas.

References:

1. .orgSource Website
2. Get the book: Rug: How to Move What You're Tripping Over and Lead with H.E.A.R.T.

What happens when you gather four leaders representing distinct, identity-based association communities? You get a bold conversation about visibility, representation, and creating spaces where people feel they truly belong.

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda sat down with four Association Community Group leaders:

1. Rebecca Achurch, Chair of Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)
2. Kelli Baxter, Vice President of Black Association Executives (BAE)
3. Carlos Cardenas, President of Association Latinos
4. Diana Lee Tucker, Chair of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Association Community

They discuss:

1. How each of their organizations was formed out of a need for community and visibility.
2. The power of representation and why identity-specific mentoring matters.
3. Why cultural proximity helps build confidence and unlock leadership potential.
4. Their commitment to allyship and how they've collaborated across groups.
5. The importance of welcoming allies into their communities to foster inclusion.
6. Innovative programs, like peer mentoring and CAE funding, that uplift emerging leaders.
7. Challenges around growth and sustaining energy as founders transition out of leadership.
8. The importance of financial sustainability and succession planning for long-term impact.
9. Their hopes to inspire association CEOs to create similar communities within their industries.
10. Why now is not the time to back away from DEI-focused spaces, despite current headwinds.

References:

1. AWTC Website
2. BAE Website