Strong communities don’t happen by accident, they’re shaped by the clarity of the leaders behind them.In this episode of Talk About Your Community, host Todd Nilson, founder of Clocktower Advisors, is joined by Dain Dunston - author, executive advisor, and founding partner of Reservoir LLC - for a conversation on the role of clear thinking in community building at the executive level. Drawing from decades of coaching senior leaders and insights from his latest book, Being Essential, Dain will lead us on an exploration of how self-awareness, focus, and disciplined thinking influence the way leaders support, invest in, and sustain communities.This conversation is for business professionals and community leaders who work with—or within—executive teams and want to build communities that are aligned, intentional, and built to last.ABOUT DAIN DUNSTONDain Dunston has spent thirty years as an author, advisor and coach to leaders, helping them frame the foundation of their personal and professional journeys. He is a founding partner of Reservoir LLC, a company designed to bring deep resources to leaders, led by a coalition of some of the most respected executive coaches in the U.S. His latest book is Being Essential: Seven Questions for Living and Leading with Radical Self-Awareness.https://www.linkedin.com/in/daindunston/ABOUT THE SHOWTalk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy.Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online.Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxUConnect with Todd Nilson on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NNFollow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_sSchedule a call:https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf

As organizations embrace AI to scale customer interactions, community leaders face a deeper question than "how do we keep it human." The real risk isn't that AI feels impersonal. It's that AI becomes another layer of abstraction between brands and the people they serve, further distancing organizations from genuine customer relationships.In this episode of Talk About Your Community, host Todd Nilson is joined by Bill Johnston - founder of Structure3C and a pioneer in enterprise community strategy - to explore the growing tension between AI-driven efficiency and relationship-driven trust. With decades of experience building communities at scale at companies like Autodesk and Dell, Bill brings a perspective on what should (and should not) be automated.This conversation will explore the balance between AI implementation and relationship building within a community, when loyalty, trust, and long-term value are on the line.📅 February 20th at 10am Central👉 RSVP to join live and participate in the discussion: Bring your questions, perspectives, and real-world challenges as we unpack where AI belongs in community, and where it absolutely doesn’t.ABOUT BILL JOHNSTONBill Johnston runs Structure3C, a strategy firm focused on making customer relationships a serious business asset through communities and networks. He previously held senior community leadership roles at Autodesk and Dell, and pioneered many "first wave" community events, including the Online Community Unconference.https://www.linkedin.com/in/billj/ABOUT THE SHOWTalk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy.Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online.Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxUConnect with Todd Nilson on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NNFollow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_sSchedule a call:https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf

What if the secret to lasting engagement isn’t more rewards, but better play?In this episode of Talk About Your Community, host Todd Nilson welcomes Toby Beresford, a longtime champion of online community platforms and one of the leading voices in practical, purpose-driven gamification.Toby’s career has taken him across industries and continents—from using leaderboards to motivate United Nations leaders, wearable tech innovators, and global blogging communities, to his current work at the British and Foreign Bible Society, where he explores how online communities grow through meaningful connection in Bible study groups. Together, Todd and Toby will break down the Infinite Gamification Framework, a player-centered approach designed to help community managers stop relying on one-off incentives and start creating systems that support continuous engagement, learning, and intrinsic motivation.ABOUT TOBY BERESFORDToby has been a passionate advocate of online community platforms throughout his career. Most recently he used to use Leaderboards to gamify community and used them to reach into the world of the United Nations leaders, Wearable Tech, Bloggers and many more. Nowadays he can be found at the British and Foreign Bible Society looking at how online communities best form as Bible study groups. His vibe project, Portalry.com, focuses on improving attendance and engagement at recurring meetings, all using gamification.https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tobyberesfordABOUT THE SHOWTalk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy.Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online.Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxUConnect with Todd Nilson on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NNFollow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_sSchedule a call:https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf