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The Protagonist

The Protagonist

Written by: Andrew Chamberlain
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About this listen

A podcast for people who lead, govern, and shape membership organisations, and occasionally feel like they are doing all three at once! Released daily, each episode reframes the dynamics of contemporary membership. Governance myths get challenged. Strategy gets unpacked. Leadership dilemmas are examined without theatre or jargon. This is not commentary from the sidelines but practical, experience-led insights for chairs, CEOs, iNEDs, trustees, and senior executives navigating complexity, accountability, and change. Fewer assumptions. Clearer thinking. Better questions. Solid answers.

© 2026 Elevated Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Is it time to rethink membership renewals? 12-month cycles may be holding us back

    Is it time to rethink membership renewals? 12-month cycles may be holding us back
    Jan 9 2026

    For membership organisations, the 12-month cycle has been a familiar tool, but it’s not the only one. The real opportunity lies in designing systems that match the permanence of the relationships we hope to create, i.e., systems where continuity is the norm, and opting out is the exception.
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    7 mins
  • Stop Letting AI Tell You How to Work

    Stop Letting AI Tell You How to Work
    Jan 8 2026

    The danger of all the “how-to” noise is that it subtly shifts the power dynamic. Instead of being a tool that serves us, AI starts to feel like a system we have to keep up with and we end up chasing features, integrations, and workflows that may have nothing to do with the problems we’re actually trying to solve.

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    6 mins
  • When Innovation Undermines Service: the hidden risks for associations

    When Innovation Undermines Service: the hidden risks for associations
    Jan 7 2026

    The turbulent twenties continue unabated. In today’s constantly shifting environment, the pressure on associations to innovate is relentless. From launching new digital platforms and AI tools to reinventing events and services, the expectation is clear: evolve or risk becoming irrelevant. Boards and executives alike are told that transformation is synonymous with progress, and that those who fail to “disrupt” will be left behind.

    Yet amidst this drive for progress, a crucial truth is being overlooked: constant innovation is increasingly at odds with the fundamental role of associations to serve their members well.
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    10 mins
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