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Yesterday, I opened an email that made my stomach drop. It came from one of our key software vendor's legal department. The message stated, in firm and formal language, that they were cancelling our contract and that we needed to return all assets immediately. No warm introduction. No context. Just a clipped, official notice that read like the end of a partnership. My mind raced. How would we pull our content out of the platform? How quickly could we find a new software solut

"Why is AI recommending our competitor over us?" If that question has landed on your desk, you are not alone. Marketing leaders everywhere are being asked whether AI tools mention their brand more or less often than the competition. The honest answer is harder to pin down than most people expect. Here's the catch: the AI visibility tools promising to rank you against rivals often deliver conflicting, inconsistent results. I recently attended a webinar hosted by Trust Insights

Most organizations treat strategic planning and succession planning as two separate projects. One looks at where the business is going. The other scrambles to answer the question, "what happens if our leader leaves?" But, when you keep them apart, you end up with a strategy that ignores who will carry it out, and a succession plan that ignores where the organization is headed. Whether you are an association executive, firm leader or anyone responsible for the growth of your o

In the construction industry, "mental toughness" has long been synonymous with enduring stress and suppressing emotions. But this traditional mindset is being redefined. True toughness lies in acknowledging challenges and seeking support—a shift that fosters resilience and well-being. The Construction Mental Health Alliance (CMHA) is leading this charge, breaking down the harmful "tough guy" culture and promoting psychological safety as a cornerstone of workplace health. The

In the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, trust is the most valuable asset. Projects are complex, stakes are high and clients select partners based on proven expertise and established credibility. For 2026, building an authentic brand is not just a marketing objective; it is a business imperative. As digital tools and AI become more integrated into our work, the ability to communicate with genuine transparency and authority will set leading organizatio

Marketers are under intense scrutiny to validate their technology budgets. When an organization adopts a new digital tool, the C-suite expects a clear demonstration of financial returns. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no exception to this rule. While saving time and generating more content are excellent starting points, these operational metrics do not satisfy board-level demands for revenue attribution. In the first post of this series, Maximizing ROI with AI in marketing:

Recently, I sat on a panel alongside legal counsel and corporate leaders to discuss a pressing challenge: how to avoid greenwashing. In essence, we explored the current state of sustainability communications, something AOE talked a lot about a few years ago. While today’s political climate has somewhat shifted how often we talk about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, this panel today reminded me of the need to discuss the demand for honest reporting. Interest