Relevance and resilience
Reinvent your organization so it stays relevant to its members and future-proof.
Strategic guidance and expertise to empower professional societies and trade associations
Strategy that keeps your association relevant, resilient and ready for what comes next
I help international, regional and national associations find the answers, direction and strategies that are hard to reach alone, drawing on 40+ years of first-hand work with hundreds of associations around the world.
Working globally, in your time zone.
40+ years advising associations worldwide
Experience that shows
Four decades inside the association world
40+
years in the association, events and meetings industry
Hundreds
of associations advised across multiple sectors and geographies
6
continents covered while leading MCI’s worldwide association business
FASAE
Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives
Co-creation is at the heart of what I do
Some answers are difficult to find on your own
A problem shared is a problem halved! Sometimes it helps to have an external, neutral perspective, free of emotion and hidden agendas.
Optimal performance
Sharpen focus and performance so your association thrives in a complex global environment.
The power of community and engagement
Maximize engagement, innovation and evolving business models across your wider community and ecosystem.
How I can help your organization
Six areas where an outside view makes the difference
Strategy and focus
Clear direction and priorities, co-created with your board and executive team.
Performance
Measure and improve how your association delivers value and impact.
Market development
Find the markets, regions and audiences that matter most to your growth.
Product and program design
Shape the offerings your members and customers want, and create a culture of innovation.
Revenue generation
Build sustainable income through new and evolving business models.
Engagement AEI
Understand and grow engagement using the Association Engagement Index (AEI), a global benchmark I spearheaded.
Insights grounded in reality, in-depth understanding and extensive knowledge.
My approach
A shared journey, guided co-creation, lasting outcomes
In-depth research combined with independent assessment and analysis is the starting point. The shared journey we embark on leads to the desired outcomes.
A good consultant guides and coaches you along the way. An outstanding consultant brings an independent view and tried-and-tested methodologies proven across hundreds of associations, so your organization finds the answers, owns the strategy and sees the results.
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Understand
Crucial to the project’s success is learning where your organization stands today. Research, facts and data analysis reveal the gap between today’s reality and the desired outcomes. Evaluation clarifies the journey and the stakeholders to involve.
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Accompany
Drawing on the research, I design and lead workshops (in person where possible, virtual when needed), focus groups and strategic planning sessions, in whatever format best suits your goals. I don’t “tell you what to do”; we find solutions together.
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Deliver
You finish with tangible output to act on: a strategic plan, a go-to-market strategy or a product design, shaped by your goals and defined by the project’s journey.
Board work is grounded in the “3Ds”, giving boards a clear path from conversation to commitment.
- Discussion
- Debate
- Decision
Testimonials
What association leaders say
“Thanks once again for the presentations today. I realize that it was late in the day for you and we appreciate your efforts. Everyone at our end was very impressed with the details of the reports.”
“We were pleased with the Board meeting, and I know that the Board thought that you and your team did a very good job in the work leading up to the meeting and the presentation.”
“Tons of high compliments about quality of content, your style of delivery and knowledge of the marketplace, plus practical applications. Thanks for your efforts on this project.”
“Your careful and thorough work and the session today have positioned us well for the future. Throughout the day, board members mentioned how impressed they were with the work and how they look forward to the final report.”
About
Nikki Walker, FASAE
CEO and Founder, NW Coaching & Consulting
I am a globally connected association professional, business leader and management consultant with more than forty years in the association, events and meetings industry. Hundreds of associations from multiple sectors and geographies have trusted me with strategy, performance, market development, product design and revenue generation.
- Two decades leading and growing MCI’s worldwide association business across six continents, with a global team of some 1,500 professionals aligning MCI’s expertise and innovation to each client’s needs and community.
- Managing Director of MCI Benelux, in the heart of the Brussels association community.
- Developing global benchmarks such as the Association Engagement Index (AEI) and advising the authorities on the launch of the Dubai Association Centre (DAC).
- Facilitating numerous editions of the ICCA Association Expert Seminar, designing IMEX Association Day, launching EIBTM (now ibtm) in 1988 and creating its Hosted Buyer program.
Tried-and-tested methodologies guide my work with boards, executive teams and focus groups as they reinvent their organizations for relevance and future readiness. My passion is maximizing engagement, innovation and evolving business models.
How to begin
Three simple steps from first conversation to project engagement
The first conversation is a good place to start. I work globally and adapt to your time zone.
Discovery call
A conversation about your needs and desired outcomes. Talking it through often sharpens what these are. I ask questions, share some thoughts and help you describe success. Together we can assess whether we’re a good fit.
Proposal
If you wish to move forward, I prepare a proposal covering my approach, the methodology and my understanding of your goals, then refine it through further discussion until it is final.
Agreement
Once the scope of work and fees are final, you receive a formal contract with milestones and deliverables. After signing, the collaborative journey begins.
Tell me what your association needs.
Get in touch to talk through your goals and to see how a guided, co-created approach can bring the answers within reach.
Book a discovery callOr write to nikki.walker@nwcoachingandconsulting.com