Farhad Khan, CEO

08/27/2026

I just got back from vacation and am already trying to sprint 😅

Last month I texted my mentor for his WhatsApp. I wanted to bounce ideas while "away."

He texted back: "Yes, but you're supposed to be on vacation, remember 😜"

Fair point.

We treat our minds like machines. Push hard, get results, repeat. Minds don't actually work that way. We can grind under pressure for a bit. But it doesn't last.

I've been reading about a Japanese philosophy called Ikigai lately. One idea from the book stuck with me: embrace impermanence. Respect the slow, fragile body you've been given. Work with it, not against it.

When it hurts, slow down. When you have energy, sprint.
Rest isn't a break from work. It's what makes the work possible.

And cherry on top, I got to celebrate my birthday with my family this year.

08/05/2026

Ever built a highly requested program for your association, only for nobody to show up?

Ever built a highly requested program for your association, only fo...

07/31/2026

Are you terrified of public speaking? You are not alone.

In this video, I share my personal journey from being a nervous professional who could barely speak in a small conference room to addressing thousands of people on stage and running over 100 webinars.

Are you terrified of public speaking? You are not alone. In this ...

07/23/2026

Are your webinars losing viewers before you even get to the core of your content? Then it's time for a change!

Are your webinars losing viewers before you even get to the core of...

07/21/2026

Learn how to send the right content to the right member at the right time.

Is your organization’s mentorship program struggling to gain tracti...

06/26/2026

Referral campaigns are one of the most underused growth tools in associations. Most membership teams skip them entirely.

I put together a video on this. Five tactics that work because they're organic.
Members share the story. You don't have to sell anything.

Here are two of them. Three more are waiting in the video.

☝ The invite-a-friend discount.
Mid-year, ask your members to invite a friend. When that friend joins, both of them get a discount on next year's renewal. Here's the thing: you're not asking anyone to sell. You're giving your member a reason to share something they already love. And having a friend in the association makes the whole experience better for both of them.

✌The conference buddy invite.
Add an invite option right on your conference registration page. People don't like travelling alone. Give them a discount for bringing a colleague, and most of them will jump at it. Just promote it five to six weeks out so they have time to plan.

The other three go somewhere I find really interesting: how associations spread their story through members' networks without it ever feeling like marketing. Those are in the video.

Have you tried referral campaigns in your association before? I'd love to hear what worked.

Watch it here:

Struggling to attract new members without feeling like a salesperso...

06/25/2026

Too many associations launch a portal and expect engagement to follow. It doesn’t.

Join us to learn how to design a digital community where members find value, connection, and resources they can't get anywhere else.

📅 Jun 25 | 3 PM ET

Register here 👉 https://community.memberlounge.app/events/the-community-blueprint-design-a-digital-home-for-your-members-h7w1?utm_source=LI1&utm_medium=cta_link&utm_campaign=A-Digital-Home-June2026

06/17/2026

I started a YouTube channel. Here's why.
15 years of conversations with association leaders, membership teams, and people navigating real change.

A lot of that stays in boardrooms and podcast recordings.
It shouldn't.

This channel is where I share what I'm actually seeing on the ground. Leadership, community, communication. What's working and what isn't.

Lead with Farhad is live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgVA4OEoJSQ&t=2s

And drop a comment when you get there:
What's the biggest leadership challenge you're dealing with right now?

What does real leadership look like in the age of AI?I'm Farhad K...

01/27/2026

🔴 Stop guessing and start leading.

I looked back at my chat with Nisha Tucker from the NOA Annual Conference, and three things stood out for leaders navigating chaotic times:

✔️ Use your mission as your anchor.
✔️ Listen to members from the frontlines.
✔️ Protection is cheaper than a crisis.

Great chatting with you, Nisha!