AI 101 for Association Leaders

AI 101 for Association Leaders: Innovation Without the Hype

There’s a lot of noise about AI right now – some of it breathless, some of it alarmist. But for association leaders, the real opportunity isn’t about chasing the latest tech. It’s about understanding what AI is (and isn’t), so we can make smart, strategic decisions that advance our missions.

Think of this as your AI starting point – no jargon, no grandstanding. Just practical guidance from someone who’s been in the trenches of association leadership.

Many of the ideas I’m discussing today stem from a Wharton Executive Education course I’m currently taking on Strategic Operations Management. Check it out!

Here are three things to keep in mind:

1. AI is a tool, not a strategy.Using AI isn’t innovative on its own – solving real member problems in new ways is. Start by identifying where your team is spending too much time, where your members are getting stuck, or where your data isn’t giving you enough insight. AI might help. But don’t lead with the tech – lead with the need.

2. Risk isn’t the enemy—irrelevance is.Associations are naturally risk-averse. We serve diverse stakeholders, manage limited budgets, and often operate under intense scrutiny. But avoiding AI altogether doesn’t remove risk – it just pushes it down the road. The risk isn’t trying and failing. The risk is doing nothing while your members move on without you.

3. Your staff doesn’t need to be data scientists. They need to be curious.You don’t need to train your team to code. But you do need to foster a culture where people ask: “Could this be done better?” Some of the best AI use cases come from the front lines – membership, communications, events. Start small, share wins, and build from there.

Over the next couple weeks, I’ll dive deeper into how AI can support everything from member engagement to content personalization to operational efficiency. We’ll cut through the hype and focus on what actually works.

Innovation isn’t about shiny new toys – it’s about staying relevant and delivering on your mission in a changing world. And that starts with understanding the tools available to us, including AI.