The Membership IQ with Sarah Sladek
Membership strategy. How much do we really know about it? Membership is not a recognized subject of expertise. There are no degrees, defined requirements, career paths, educational tracks, or training programs. Membership organizations employ millions of people and generate billions in revenue, yet the strategies essential to membership engagement and growth have remained largely unknown, overlooked, guessed, or left to chance. Until now. The Membership IQ is a podcast dedicated to helping association executives and membership professionals adapt to change, create cultures of belonging, engage younger generations, and realize growth. Now you can get smart about what's actually causing membership disengagement and decline and learn the strategies key to success. Tune in to hear Sarah Sladek share research-based quick tips and join the global community of listeners dedicated to raising their Membership IQ! New podcasts added twice a month.
Episodes
In this episode of Membership IQ, host Sarah Sladek sits down with Christy Beatty, Vice President of Chapter Services and Member Engagement at the Associated General Contractors (AGC). Christy discusses the pressing challenges facing the construction industry—chiefly workforce shortages and generational shifts—and how AGC is adapting to meet member needs in a rapidly changing environment. She emphasizes the growing importance of wo...
In this episode of Membership IQ, host Sarah Sladek welcomes Kate Solomon, MPS, Senior Manager, B2C Customer Segment, and ASME.
Kate shares her journey from being new to the association world to now leading innovative membership strategies. The conversation highlights her early career experiences, involvement in tweet chats that helped her connect with the community, and how Sarah’s books influenced her professional growth.
Kate dis...
In this episode of Membership IQ, host Sarah Sladek welcomes Todd Letts, CCE, President of Todd Letts Consulting. Together, they explore the evolving role of chambers of commerce and how Todd has led his organization to become a leading voice in economic development and community engagement. Todd shares insights on strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and how his chamber has embraced innovation and inclusivity to better serve i...
In this episode of Membership IQ, host Sarah Sladek welcomes Cassandra Price, a leader in generational collaboration and an advocate for workplace transformation. Cassandra shares her experience founding the Canadian chapter of the Multi-Generational Employee Resource Group Exchange (MERGE) at Bayer, which fosters collaboration across generations. She discusses Bayer’s shift to Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO)—a groundbreaking leader...
In this episode of Membership IQ, host Sarah Sladek welcomes April Ellison, founder of the Lights On Collective. April shares her journey from a long-standing career in membership at the American Dental Association to launching her consulting and coaching firm, focused on helping individuals and organizations realize their full potential. Their conversation explores the challenges organizations face today, including capacity constr...
In this episode of Membership IQ, host Sarah Sladek interviews Heather Whyte, MBA, CDMP, APR founder and CEO of Why Communicate, a communications consultancy specializing in helping associations refine their value propositions. Heather discusses the challenges associations face in navigating a rapidly changing landscape, from economic uncertainty to shifting member expectations. She emphasizes the importance of understanding why as...
Join Sarah Sladek on Membership IQ as she dives into the skill of cultivating and sustaining dynamic membership communities. In this episode, Sarah chats with Deborah Curry, CPA, CGMA, an accomplished association executive and Advisory Board Member of XYZ University, about navigating change, fostering intergenerational connections, and overcoming challenges like toxicity in organizations. Discover actionable strategies for leading ...
In this episode of Membership IQ, host Sarah Sladek is joined by Abby Perdue, Membership Director at the National Farmers Union, to explore innovative strategies for building and sustaining thriving membership communities. Abby shares insights on addressing generational challenges, fostering mental health awareness, and adapting to change within grassroots organizations. With over 120 years of history, the National Farmers Union is...
In this episode of Membership IQ, tune in to learn why Sarah Sladek thinks “band-aids” like Artificial Intelligence aren't the key to membership growth.
In this episode of the Membership IQ, tune in to hear Sarah Sladek explain how cultivating a lackadaisical "Hold my beer" attitude within organizational leadership is dangerous. And why organizations should hold different expectations of their board, staff, and volunteers.
This episode of the Membership IQ, Sarah details her own personal and professional experience with “crisis mode”. She also shares how leveraging stakeholders can be the key to making it through the storm.
Welcome back! In this episode, Sarah shares her story of receiving an exclusive invitation to attend the Inaugural White House Business Leaders Summit! She had the opportunity to meet with senior Presidential advisors to discuss current issues businesses - especially small businesses, are facing today. Sarah has observed that after COVID-19, the exclusive invitation has been largely phased out and replaced by digital meetings. Lear...
Join Sarah Sladek on this lively episode of The Membership IQ! Discover the emotional side of member engagement as Sarah shares her story of splurging on fabulous tortoise earrings and the buyer’s remorse that turned into a feel-good moment supporting a community cause. Learn how to elevate your association's marketing by highlighting the greater good your members contribute to. Packed with practical tips and engaging insights...
Welcome back to The Membership IQ Podcast! Get ready for an eye-opening episode where Sarah Sladek dives into the world of membership. Today, things look a bit different—Sarah’s got her shirt and earrings on backwards, all to emphasize a critical point. Introducing her new book, The Member Shift: Why Members Leave and the Strategy to Bring Them Back, Sarah shares why it’s crucial to rethink how we approach membership. Reflecting on...
Join host Sarah Sladek on a journey to unlock membership engagement and understand the profound difference between treating memberships like mere products and recognizing them as emotional commitments. Through candid discussions and expert insights, we explore how membership isn't just a transaction but an opportunity to foster deep connections, a sense of belonging, and true ownership. Discover the power of emotional engageme...
In this episode of Membership IQ, join host Sarah Sladek as she delves into the crucial topic of thriving through recessions within membership organizations. With her wealth of experience in working with associations, Sarah sheds light on the often overlooked 80% principle – a strategy that could make all the difference during economic downturns. She emphasizes the significance of focusing 80% of resources, time, and energy exclusi...
Welcome to "Failure... *Soooo* Delicious!: Embracing Innovation in Associations," the Membership IQ podcast hosted by Sarah Sladek. In this unscripted and authentic show, Sarah explores the power of failure and how it can drive innovation and growth within associations. Join her as she shares personal anecdotes, including a personal conversation with an association CEO, and discusses the benefits of taking risks and stepp...
Join Sarah Sladek, recently recognized as a Woman Who Advances Associations, as she delves deep into the challenges of discrimination, from gender to age, and explores the progress made so far. From outdated bylaws to personal experiences, she uncovers the need for true cultural change within associations and go beyond token recognition. It's time to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect and at every level o...
Join host Sarah Sladek on an insightful journey as she explores the impact of globalization and technology on membership associations on this episode of the Membership IQ podcast. Discover how associations worldwide are facing similar challenges, from engaging younger generations to addressing the workforce crisis. Through compelling anecdotes about her experiences in Holland and the lessons learned from the beloved Stroopwafel, Sa...
Join Sarah Sladek on the Membership IQ podcast, where you'll learn how to improve your membership game. From overcoming fears and obstacles (such as Sarah's first time snorkeling) to achieving success, she shares her expertise and insights to help associations and organizations reach their full potential. Tune in to hear about the Ghosts and Legends exercise, best practices, and inspiring stories of membership triumph.
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