Adapt or Fade: Embracing the Adaptability Quotient with John Spence | 88

Send us Fan MailIn this energizing interview, Mallory Mejias is joined by leadership legend John Spence to unpack the three essential quotients of leadership—IQ, EQ, and AQ (Adaptability Quotient)—and why AQ might be the most critical of all in today’s AI-driven world. With decades of global experience, John shares how leaders can foster resilience, embrace change, and build cultures that thrive in uncertainty. From AI pilot projects to emotional pulse checks, this episode is packed with practical wisdom (and a few gut-check moments) for association leaders ready to adapt and grow.🔗 More about John Spence:At 26, John was the CEO of an international Rockefeller foundation, overseeing projects in 20 countries. Two years later, Inc. Magazine named him one of America’s Up and Coming Young Business Leaders. John has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Business Thought Leaders in America, one of the Top 100 Small Business Influencers in America, one of the Top 50 Small Business Experts in America, and one of the top 500 Leadership Development Experts in the World.https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbspence/https://johnspence.com/🤖 Join the AI Mastermind: https://sidecar.ai/association-ai-mastermind📕 Download ‘Ascend 2nd Edition: Unlocking the Power of AI for Associations’ for FREEhttps://sidecar.ai/ai🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:ChatGPT ➡ https://chat.openai.com CRM Systems with AI Capabilities ➡ https://www.salesforce.com Gallup Employee Engagement Research ➡ https://www.gallup.com Amazon Predictive Logistics ➡ https://www.aboutamazon.com📅 Register for digitalNow2026 in Washington, D.C. from October 25–28:  https://digitalnow.sidecar.ai🎀 Use code AIPOD50 for $50 off your Association AI Professional (AAiP) certification at https://sidecar.ai/aaip🚀 Help Us Grow Our Reach - Share With a Friend or Colleague!👍 Like & Subscribe!https://x.com/sidecarglobal https://www.youtube.com/@SidecarSynchttps://sidecar.ai/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidecar-global/Amith Nagarajan is the Chairman of Blue Cypress, a family of purpose-driven companies and proud practitioners of Conscious Capitalism. The Blue Cypress companies focus on helping associations, non-profits, and other purpose-driven organizations achieve long-term success. Amith is also an active early-stage investor in B2B SaaS companies. He’s had the good fortune of nearly three decades of success as an entrepreneur and enjoys helping others in their journey.https://linkedin.com/amithnagarajan Mallory Mejias is passionate about creating opportunities for association professionals to learn, grow, and better serve their members using artificial intelligence. She enjoys blending creativity and innovation to produce fresh, meaningful content for the association space. Mallory co-hosts and produces the Sidecar Sync podcast, where she delves into the latest trends in AI and technology, translating them into actionable insights.https://linkedin.com/mallorymejias