Beyond the Buzz: AI & Strategic Planning

On January 23, 2025, Halmyre and Event Garde addressed questions about how artificial intelligence (AI) can strengthen associations' strategic planning efforts - such as helping streamline data analysis, forecast trends, and spot growth opportunities - while amplifying your members’ voices and keeping their needs and perspectives at the heart of every decision.

If you missed the live session or want to revisit the key takeaways, you can watch the full webinar recording below.

Watch the Full Webinar

Click on the image below to go to thinking.halmyre.com and view the webinar recording.

Key Insights from the Webinar

During the session, Christine Saunders and Aaron Wolowiec shared best practices on the emerging opportunities for associations to leverage the efficiencies of AI, without jeopardizing audience engagement, confidentiality, and decision-making authority. Here are some of the key takeaways:

1. Ask your Consultants how they will leverage AI: They should be leveraging it for efficiency (e.g., data analysis) AND to disrupt traditional strategic planning thinking and processes.
2. Use Caution with Sensitive Info: Think twice before entering confidential or personal information into open platforms such as ChatGPT. Ask your consultants what platforms they will be using.
3. Focus on Strategic Alignment: Apply AI to refine strategic goals—for example, using trend analysis tools to align initiatives with emerging industry challenges and member needs.
4. Maintain Human Leadership: Use AI to generate ideas or draft communications but rely on human leaders for final decision-making and ensuring alignment with your association's vision.
5. Start Small, Scale Strategically: Pilot AI in one part of the planning process, such as creating competitive scans, before expanding to other areas like forecasting or operational planning.
6. Transform Strategy Into Action: After defining strategic goals, use AI tools to help break them into operational tasks—for example, creating detailed project plans based on a strategic roadmap.

Want to Talk More?

Ready to take the next step in leveraging the power of AI in your strategic and operational planning? The teams of experts at Halmyre and Event Garde are leading the way in strategy consulting that incorporates AI. We can help your association do more, faster and better.

Are you seeking facilitation, stakeholder consultations, and strategic planning? Talk to Aaron Wolowiec.

Does your association need value proposition strategy, member research, or pricing strategies? Talk to Christine Saunders.