Heather Hughes, PMP

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
Hello and welcome to this episode of AWTC Presents Her Story, a regular series featuring AWTC members. I'm your host, Cecilia Supp. I'm a member of AWTC, and I also volunteer currently on the marketing committee.

Thank you for joining us for this episode. This episode of Her Story features Heather Hughes, and she's going to tell us a little bit about herself and her background. Welcome to the show, Heather.

Thank you for having me.

Heather Hughes [Guest]
A little bit about my background. I'm currently the Senior Events Marketing Manager at TogetherWork, which also includes ProTech and Fonteva. I help with all of the trade shows, user conferences.

Anytime you see us at a booth or a table, I'm helping with that. How did you get started working with associations? I actually got started working with associations when I was working at a PR firm.

ProTech was one of our customers, so we helped them with blogs and getting ready for events and other items. And then eventually, I was able to make a move to ProTech as someone on their marketing team internally.

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
Now, that's really very interesting because, as we know, there's all kinds of ways to experience working in the association community. So you have a lot of experience working with associations, especially in technology. Can you share an example of a time where you felt really good about your work?

Sure.

Heather Hughes [Guest]
One time I felt really, really good about my work was the first ever Association Platform Power Conference. It's the Fonteva and ProTech user conference. The first one was in 2002.

It was the first time we were bringing customers of both products together for a learning experience, both on the technology that they owned and were working on at their associations, but also we brought in thought leaders that could talk to them across the association plane.

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
And what was really good and satisfying about that experience?

Heather Hughes [Guest]
I think, one, that it was a success. But also, the feedback was that our customers got the knowledge that they needed and they wanted more. So we had another conference this year, early in the spring, and we're going to have our Association Platform Power, our app, 25 in April of next year.

So they're a little closer together, but the speed of technology is going so fast, too. Wow.

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
Well, that sounds great. That's wonderful that it's going so well. So in your career, you've been working a lot in technology, of course.

That's what AWTC is all about. So what advice helped you in your journey as a woman who does work in tech?

Heather Hughes [Guest]
I think one thing that has helped me is remembering to put my own oxygen mask on. I don't remember it all the time, but it comes up, and I think we work hard. And especially with a work-at-home environment, it's very easy to not leave your desk.

It's very easy to go after hours with your work. And we need to make sure that we're taking time for us and our family and our mental health so that we don't burn out and we can keep up the quality of work and even improve the quality of work that we're putting out there.

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
That is great advice for people who work at home, even if it's only a few days a week. You're absolutely right. You will stay at your desk longer than you intend.

I love that advice. And also the put your own oxygen mask on, always a great tip. So where do you see technology leading associations in the future?

So where do you think technology might help associations create that fantastic future they're all looking for?

Heather Hughes [Guest]
Well, I think definitely having a platform that you can, that one source of truth so that you don't have the marketing team on one product, your fundraising team on another product that doesn't talk to each other. I also think that we'll be finding new ways to use technology, especially as Gen Z and then Alpha come. They're using technology a lot differently than Millennials, Gen X and baby boomers.

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
So you see technology as a way for associations to reach those future generations that could potentially be members or leaders. Yes, absolutely.

Heather Hughes [Guest]
And it's that the trick is making sure you're in those right channels. For example, my children use TikTok. They don't go to Facebook and they're Gen Zers.

So how do you take advantage of that platform and then track it from the first touch to someone becoming a member?

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
That's an interesting personal example you just used of the generational differences in your own home between how you're accessing the online community versus how they're doing it. That's a great example. So what do you like best about being part of AWTC?

Heather Hughes [Guest]
I think what I like best about it is meeting new people and learning new things. I think between the luncheon chats and in-person happy hours, I've met a lot of new people that I probably would not have learned before. And especially advanced.

The first advance was phenomenal. I got to talk to a lot of people throughout the association industry. And I was not only able to learn, take a deeper dive in some of the technology that's available or on the rise in associations, but I was also able to take home things that would help me in my career.

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
That was a great conference. I was there too. I loved it.

Advance is great. So my last question for you is this, Heather, why should someone join AWTC and get involved?

Heather Hughes [Guest]
I think someone should join AWTC, one, because it's an uplifting place. When you walk in, it might be overwhelming if you don't know people, but someone will come up to you and introduce themselves and make you feel welcome. You'll also be able to hear firsthand from women in the industry about their career and how they're using technology at their associations.

So you can take it back to your association. Or if you're not in technology, but you're using technology, you can learn about how associations are using that technology and you can take it back and help your association grow. Also, it's empowering to be around women who are so successful in their careers and loving it.

And so that's something else that you'll take away from joining AWTC.

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
Well, that's a wonderful reason to join AWTC. Thank you for sharing that. Well, before we wrap up this episode, Heather, is there anything else you'd like to share?

Heather Hughes [Guest]
I think that you can find experience anywhere to help you grow in your career and at your association. Hobbies outside of work help. I was a theater girl and that theater background has helped with events, designing them, and booths.

So if you're doing something outside of work that you can bring into your work, bring your whole self into the work that you're doing, that would be fantastic.

Cecilia Sepp [Host]
Well, that is a really inspirational thought to end this episode on. Thank you for joining me, Heather. Once again, I want to thank Heather Hughes of TogetherWork, AWTC member, for joining us for this edition of Her Story.

If you'd like to learn more about AWTC, Association Women Technology Champions, check out our website, awtc.tech, and you can find more information about all the wonderful events that Heather has mentioned. AWTC Advance is held every December, so check the website for information on that and our monthly events that are both in-person and virtual. We have something for everyone, and everyone is welcome.

So that's it for this edition of Her Story. Thanks for joining us. I'm your host, Cecilia Supp.

We'll see you next time.