Highland

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.

Continue ReadingThe Career Partnership Advantage: Rethinking Younger Professional Engagement
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.

Continue ReadingBelonging Beyond Benefits: Building a Stronger Member Connection
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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Read more about the article Encore Episode: What’s Changed—and What’s Working—When It Comes to Young Professional Engagement

Encore Episode: What’s Changed—and What’s Working—When It Comes to Young Professional Engagement

In this special encore episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher welcomes back David Whited, Principal of Design Research & Strategy at Highland, to walk us through fresh insights from the newly released 2025 Young Professional Membership Index (YPMI)—dropping the same day this episode airs.

Continue ReadingEncore Episode: What’s Changed—and What’s Working—When It Comes to Young Professional Engagement