Keynote
Ready for What’s Next: Turning Constraints Into Innovation and Growth
Tuesday, October 20 8:30 – 9:40 a.m.
Dr. Simone Ahuja
Founder of Blood Orange | Bestselling Author
Association leaders are being asked to build what’s next while navigating real constraints: pressure on traditional revenue models, evolving member expectations, rapid advances in AI and technology, and teams that are already stretched.
But constraints don’t have to limit innovation. They can actually help unlock it.
In this interactive keynote, innovation strategist and bestselling author Dr. Simone Ahuja shares a practical approach to resourceful leadership, grounded in her research and work in the trenches with organizations of all sizes, including associations.
You’ll learn how to quickly get clear on what matters most, make better use of resources you already have without asking already stretched teams to do more, and move beyond approaches that simply aren’t working anymore. You’ll challenge assumptions, shed work that’s no longer creating enough value, and turn promising ideas into small, smart experiments so that you can find new ways to grow and create meaningful value for members without burning out your team.
In a world of constant change, the advantage isn’t having unlimited resources. It’s becoming more resourceful with the ones you already have.
About Dr. Simone Ahuja
Dr. Simone Ahuja helps senior leaders build organizations that innovate, adapt, and grow in an era of AI and accelerating change. Founder of the innovation strategy firm Blood Orange, she has advised Fortune 500 companies on innovation strategy and organizational transformation. She is the best-selling author of Jugaad Innovation and Disrupt-It-Yourself, and her work has appeared in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, and Stanford Social Innovation Review. Dr. Ahuja teaches executive education at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and has served in advisory roles with Cambridge Judge Business School and MIT. She has also worked with the association community including CalCPA, American Institute of Architects, Association Forum, and others.
Moderator
Deanna Singh
Founder and Chief Change Agent, Flying Elephant | Award-Winning Author
About Deanna Singh
Deanna Singh is a powerhouse leadership strategist and acclaimed executive consultant whose electrifying keynotes transform organizational culture and accelerate business performance. Her signature approach breaks through conventional barriers, delivering innovative frameworks that drive exceptional results, boost employee engagement, and create workplaces where everyone thrives. As Founder and Chief Change Agent of Flying Elephant, she operates five successful social enterprises spanning education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship—exemplifying her ability to turn strategic vision into measurable impact. She also owns and operates the Uplifting Mansion, a historic Milwaukee landmark that serves as an entrepreneurship hub fostering innovation and professional development.
Deanna’s commanding stage presence captivates global audiences at Fortune 500 companies, international associations, and premier leadership conferences, leaving executives energized and equipped with actionable strategies for team transformation, change management, and sustainable growth. With a Georgetown Law degree and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, this award-winning author has written seven books, including her latest, The Bridging Leader: Transforming Teams Through Connection, as well as Actions Speak Louder and Purposeful Hustle. She has designed many leadership certification programs independently and on behalf of corporations, private institutions, associations, and the University of Wisconsin Business School Center for Professional Development.
Annually reaching over 50,000 leaders through keynotes, summits, and leadership development programs, her company’s mission of Building Bridges resonates across industries seeking to strengthen collaboration, foster innovation, and develop high-performing teams. A LinkedIn Top Voice, TEDx speaker, and named among Forbes’ “African American Women Everyone Should Know,” Deanna brings 25+ years of executive leadership experience to every engagement, empowering leaders to transform bold vision into lasting impact.