Lessons in Disruption, Resilience and Reinvention: Adapting to the Future of Associations

In this episode, hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Markert welcome Dr. Tracey Wilen, the closing keynote speaker at this year's New Ideas Annual Conference in San Antonio. Dr. Wilen shares her unconventional path from the world of fashion magazines to leadership roles in technology and manufacturing, highlighting how resilience, curiosity, and adaptability shaped her career. The conversation explores the major forces reshaping today’s workplace — rapid technological disruption, economic uncertainty, and global instability — and what professionals need in order to stay relevant. Dr. Wilen discusses the value of continuous learning, the mindset shifts required to navigate change, and how AI can serve as a powerful collaborator rather than a threat. They also talk about the importance of networking, the evolving skills landscape, and the vital role associations play in equipping their members for the future of work.

Better By Association is produced by Association Briefings.