Boardroom Association Podcast

In Part II of the Boardroom Association Podcast's 2026 open ing episode , host Naomi Smith explores what events are revealing about association leadership this year in places where strategy becomes vis i ble: association events. Joined by Ariane Brusselmans, Senior Nonprofit Executive and Director of Conferences at the International AIDS Society, and Professor Peter Van Daele, Secretary General of...

If you lead an association in 2026, the question isn't whether things are changing – it's which changes actually matter. In this first episode of the Boardroom Association Podcast for 2026, host Naomi Smith brings together members of the Boardroom Advisory Board to discuss the shifts and decisions shaping association leadership in the year ahead. Joined by Susan de Bièvre, Senior Association Manag...

Making DEI Matter: From Principle to Practice At one of the world's largest oncology congresses this year — amid the science, research, and policy discussions — a Pride side-event took place. It was a small but powerful reminder that visibility and representation matter, even in the most traditional spaces. That moment opens this episode of the Boardroom Association Podcast , where host Naomi Smit...

What really goes on behind the scenes of your association's flagship events? In this episode of the  Boardroom Association Podcast , host Naomi Smith lifts the curtain on congresses, conferences, and summits —the moments that leaders attend and celebrate, but rarely see in full. From the marathon planning to last-minute problem-solving, events are more than logistics—they're strategic tools for vi...

Kicking off Season 2 of the Boardroom Association Podcast , this episode dives into the layered world of governance—not as a dry checklist, but as a living system that shapes trust, purpose, and performance.   Simone De Ioanna , Executive Director of the European Psychiatric Association, brings a human lens to governance— revealing it as something deeply layered and full of potential.   Beatrice R...

In  The Superpower of Empathy , host Naomi Smith explores how association leaders are turning the often-overlooked quality of empathy into a strategic force—for both their teams and their members. Martina deSole, Director of ENOLL, opens up about facing burnout within her team early in her leadership—and how empathy and structured mental health policies helped rebuild trust and resilience. Birgit...

In this episode of  Leading Through Change – Adaptability & Innovation , host Naomi Smith speaks with association leaders who didn't just weather disruption—they used it as a springboard for transformation. Dianna Steinbach, Senior Vice President at IMA, shares how the association pivoted when a major revenue stream collapsed. Typhaine Beauperin, CEO of FERMA, reflects on how a shift from sponsors...

Welcome to Unlocking the Art of Exceptional Leadership , a three-part series exploring the qualities that define impactful leaders. On this first episode, host Naomi Smith speaks with two association leaders who've shaped their organisations through bold vision and purpose-driven leadership. She first talks to Paolo Falcioni, Director General of APPLiA, who shares how a daring rebranding effort—pi...

Welcome to the Boardroom Podcast, a new initiative exploring the people, ideas, and stories shaping the future of associations.   We're very happy to bring you in-depth discussions on the latest trends impacting the association world, from leadership to strategy   to member engagement and beyond. Produced in collaboration with our partner, the European Society of Association Executives, this is yo...