Podcast

Read more about the article From Intention to Action: Building More Inclusive Associations

From Intention to Action: Building More Inclusive Associations

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, recorded on the show floor at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Indianapolis, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Celia Chomón Zamora, Ph.D., CAE, AAiP, Executive Director of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT), to explore what it takes to build inclusive organizations, develop effective leaders and create environments where people can thrive. Drawing on her experience in education, association leadership and professional development, Celia shares why meaningful change doesn't require starting from scratch, how small adjustments can make organizations more neuro-inclusive and why curiosity, vulnerability and mentorship are essential to stronger leadership.

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Read more about the article Keeping Associations Indispensable: Lessons in Advocacy, Member Value and Leadership

Keeping Associations Indispensable: Lessons in Advocacy, Member Value and Leadership

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, recorded on the show floor at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Indianapolis, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Patricia (Patti) Montague, FASAE, CAE, CEO of the School Nutrition Association (SNA), to explore how associations can remain relevant, strengthen advocacy and deliver meaningful member value through decades of change. Drawing on more than 13 years as CEO and a career spanning multiple leadership roles at SNA, Patti shares lessons from leading an association of 50,000 members, making difficult decisions about legacy programs and advocating for the resources school nutrition professionals need to serve millions of children every day.

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Read more about the article Leading Change Without Losing What Matters

Leading Change Without Losing What Matters

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher welcomes back Preeti Vasishtha, AAiP, Director of Content and Editor-in-Chief at the American Academy of Actuaries, for a conversation about leadership, navigating change and knowing when to let go. More than a year after her first appearance, Preeti shares how her role has evolved from revamping a flagship publication to shaping a broader content strategy – and what she's learned about bringing people along, making difficult decisions and redefining her own contributions as a leader.

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Read more about the article The Career Partnership Advantage: Rethinking Younger Professional Engagement

The Career Partnership Advantage: Rethinking Younger Professional Engagement

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, we wrap up our special fall series with Highland, exploring how associations can better attract, engage and retain younger professionals. Host Colleen Gallagher welcomes back David Whited, Principal of Research & Strategy at Highland, for a final conversation connecting the lessons from our association leader interviews with Highland's broader research into what younger professionals really need. David shares why associations must move beyond simply distributing benefits and resources to become trusted career partners – and how creating more intentional experiences at critical career moments can strengthen engagement and retention.

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Read more about the article Belonging Beyond Benefits: Building a Stronger Member Connection

Belonging Beyond Benefits: Building a Stronger Member Connection

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, we continue our special fall series with Highland, exploring how associations can better attract, engage and retain younger professionals. Host Colleen Gallagher and special co-host David Whited, Principal of Research & Strategy at Highland, sit down with Ryan Vanderbilt, Vice President of Membership, Marketing & Communications at the American Psychiatric Association (APA), to explore what it really means for members to feel they belong—and how associations can foster meaningful connections throughout their careers. From APA's new strategic plan to research-driven experiments with mentorship, micro-volunteering and member communities, Ryan shares how APA is moving beyond traditional benefits to become a more relevant and supportive professional home.

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Read more about the article When It Mattered Most: The Untold Stories of Associations During the Pandemic

When It Mattered Most: The Untold Stories of Associations During the Pandemic

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher welcomes back Joanna Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker at Matrix Group International, on the eve of the launch of her new book, When It Mattered Most: The Untold Stories of How Associations Protected Professions and Saved Industries During the Pandemic. Joanna shares the remarkable stories she uncovered of associations working behind the scenes during the pandemic – and the lessons they offer association leaders navigating disruption today. From advocacy that kept industries operating to leaders making critical decisions in a matter of days, the conversation explores what associations accomplished, why so many of those stories remain untold and what we can learn from them now.

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Read more about the article Small Experiments, Big Lessons: Rethinking Member Engagement

Small Experiments, Big Lessons: Rethinking Member Engagement

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, we continue our special fall series with Highland, exploring how associations can better attract, engage and retain younger professionals. Host Colleen Gallagher and special co-host David Whited, Principal of Research & Strategy at Highland, sit down with Laura Burch, Vice President of Product Evolution, and Kelsey King, Director of Product Development and Management, at the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to explore how small, intentional experiments can help associations tackle big questions around member engagement, career support and retention. From testing an AI-powered career tool to rethinking how existing resources reach members, Laura and Kelsey share what worked, what didn’t—and why an experiment that doesn’t produce the expected result can still create tremendous value.

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