Candice Graham

Cecilia Sepp (Host):
Welcome to this edition of AWTC Presents HerStory, a profile series where we feature our AWTC members. I’m your host, Cecilia Sepp. I’m also an AWTC member, and I’m glad you’re joining us for this episode featuring Candice Graham.

Candice, welcome to HerStory. Would you like to say hello and tell us a little about yourself?

Candice Graham (Guest):
Hi, everybody. It’s so nice to be here. My name is Candice Graham, and I’m the Assistant Director of Membership at the American Physical Society, a member association for physicists.

I have a varied professional background and found my way into the association space through an interesting journey. I’ve always been drawn to mission-driven work, and I’m excited to share more about how that path led me here.

Cecilia Sepp (Host):
How did you get started working with associations?

Candice Graham (Guest):
I’ve always loved working for mission-driven organizations. Earlier in my career, I worked in education and served as a Director of IT. As I considered my next steps, I wanted to continue doing work that felt meaningful and impactful.

After COVID, remote work opportunities expanded significantly, opening doors to new possibilities. That allowed me to align my professional work more closely with my personal sense of purpose. Moving into the association space felt like a natural extension of that mission-driven focus.

Cecilia Sepp (Host):
Can you tell us about a time you felt really good about your work?

Candice Graham (Guest):
Over the past three and a half to four years at the American Physical Society, I’ve had the opportunity to bring together my experience in IT, user experience design, learning and development, coaching, engagement, and recognition.

My team supports 50 executive committees and hundreds of selection committees. That scope of work gave us the opportunity to dive into data, journey mapping, and process improvement to enhance the overall volunteer and member experience.

In 2025, our team received two significant awards:

• The Gold Circle Award from ASAE for member and volunteer engagement, recognizing an onboarding and offboarding program we built and customized using the PropFuel platform.

• The Great Things Award from ASI for our use of OpenWater to support governance processes, professional conduct disclosures, and equitable, integrity-driven systems.

These projects focused on building customized platforms that support fair processes while maintaining strong shared experiences. It truly was a team effort, and I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together.

Cecilia Sepp (Host):
What advice helped you on your journey as a woman working in technology?

Candice Graham (Guest):
Two experiences stand out.

As a Director of IT—where women are still underrepresented—I worked closely with a male colleague during the rapid transition to online operations during COVID. When people would assume he had the answer, he would physically turn and say, “I think you’re better getting the answer here.” That visible act of redirecting authority helped challenge assumptions and reinforced the importance of asking questions rather than making them.

The second pivotal piece of advice came from a former boss and mentor. She encouraged me to hold space to be who I am and not worry so much about perfection. She advised me to take a breath, think, and then respond with intention. That guidance has stayed with me and has shaped how I lead and how I extend grace and coaching to others.

Cecilia Sepp (Host):
Where do you see technology leading associations in the future?

Candice Graham (Guest):
Technology is always evolving—by the time it’s released, it’s already advancing. But no matter how sophisticated tools become, I believe we must always center technology around people.

Human-centered design combined with data-driven decision-making is essential. Associations exist because of people and for people. Whether we’re implementing AI tools, automation, or new platforms, we need to ask: How does this serve people in meaningful ways?

Automation is valuable, but it should connect back to a human touch. We can leverage resources efficiently while still creating personal, impactful experiences. As we move deeper into this “AI season” of technology, keeping the heart in the work will remain critical.

Cecilia Sepp (Host):
What do you like best about AWTC?

Candice Graham (Guest):
The community.

AWTC’s active Slack conversations, ongoing support, shared opportunities, and encouragement are incredibly valuable. It’s a space where members champion one another, especially for those who may not always feel supported in their workplace environments.

It offers connection, advice, networking, and visibility into possibilities beyond your current role. It’s been a truly enjoyable and enriching experience.

Cecilia Sepp (Host):
Why should someone join AWTC and get involved?

Candice Graham (Guest):
If you’re looking for community, connection, and growth, AWTC offers that. But I’d also encourage people to join not only to receive support—but to give it.

You can join to be the champion. To help expand opportunities for others.

A Nobel laureate once said, “Don’t just put your hand out to those behind you as you move into senior leadership spaces—pass on the power too.” That idea deeply resonates with me.

Sharing wisdom is important, but sharing authority and creating pathways for others to grow is even more powerful. AWTC provides space for that kind of leadership and impact.

Cecilia Sepp (Host):
Thank you, Candice, for sharing your journey and insights.

If you’d like to learn more about AWTC and join our community, visit awtc.tech. You can explore our virtual and in-person events, learn about our annual awards program, and connect with a network of passionate professionals dedicated to advancing women in association technology.

Thank you for joining us for this edition of AWTC Presents HerStory. We’ll see you in the next episode.