Leading Through Transition: Stewardship, Stability, and Global Momentum
In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host OnWrd & UpWrd’s Colleen Gallagher welcomes back Louise St. Germain, Interim Executive Director of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) for a powerful conversation on leadership during transition, global scale, and what it truly takes to maintain stability while building momentum.
After more than a decade in senior leadership at the ISTH—and over two decades in global health communications, advocacy, and crisis response—Louise has stepped into the organization’s top leadership role during a pivotal period. With 7,500 members across 120 countries and major milestones ahead—including the 2026 Congress in Paris—she shares what it means to lead with humility, curiosity, and clarity.
🎧 Whether you’re navigating executive succession, scaling global impact, or supporting teams through change, this episode offers grounded insight for association leaders at every level.
Key Highlights
Continuity Lives in People, Not the Org Chart: Rather than focusing solely on structure during leadership transitions, Louise emphasizes investing in relationships, culture, and mentorship. Succession planning, she reminds us, is a strategic responsibility—not a crisis response.
Leading at a Truly Global Scale: With members across 120 countries, the ISTH operates in a deeply multicultural environment. Louise shares why humility and lifelong curiosity are critical—and why global leadership requires listening before assuming your frame of reference is universal.
Crisis Communications as Executive Leadership Training: Louise’s background in crisis and advocacy communications has sharpened her ability to lead with clarity under pressure—knowing what you know, being honest about what you don’t, and creating enough calm and consistency for teams to stay oriented during uncertainty.
Building Sustainable Leadership Pipelines: For associations planning executive succession, Louise offers clear advice: plan earlier than you think you need to, invest continuously in leadership development, and build cultures of mentorship that create internal pathways for growth.
🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful, energizing conversation on stewardship, stability, global collaboration, and how association leaders can guide organizations confidently through moments of change.
Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.
Follow us on LinkedIn at OnWrd & UpWrd for the latest in association trends and strategies.
Coming Soon
We’re continuing to sit down with association professionals across sectors to share candid perspectives on top trends, emerging challenges, and the strategies leaders are using to move their organizations forward. Stay tuned for what’s next.
