How do you build an engaging community experience that keeps members coming back?Join Todd Nilson, Founder of Clocktower Advisors, for a high-impact conversation with game design pioneer Amy Jo Kim. Game designer, community architect, and innovation coach, Amy Jo is the CEO of Game Thinking, helping entrepreneurs and innovators to get market/product fit faster. Together, they will explore the journey design framework from the lens of building a high retention community, from progression to design to data. Whether you're launching something new or leveling up an existing space, you don't want to miss this stream!ABOUT AMY JO KIMNamed by Fortune as one of the top 10 influential women in games, Amy Jo Kim is a game designer, community architect, and innovation coach. Her design credits include Rock Band, The Sims, eBay, Netflix, nytimes.com, Ultima Online, Covet Fashion, & Happify.Amy Jo helps entrepreneurs & innovators bring their ideas to life through at gamethinking.io. She pioneered the practice of applying game design to digital services and is well-known for her books Community Building on the Web (2000) and Game Thinking (2018). In addition to her coaching practice, Amy Jo has taught Game Thinking at Stanford University and the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she co-founded the game design program. She holds a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Washington and a BA in Experimental Psychology from UCSD.https://amyjokim.com/speaking/ABOUT THE SHOW Talk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy. Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online. Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxU Connect with Todd Nilson on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NN Follow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_s Schedule a call: https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4745023683035136

Technology was meant to bring us together—but too often, it gets in the way. When systems are fragmented or overly complex, they create friction that pulls people out of the moment and away from each other.Join us live on Talk About Your Community with host Todd Nilson and special guest Nasya Kamrat, entrepreneur and founder of Nia, a platform rethinking how we design human-centered experiences at scale. Together, they’ll explore how storytelling and intentional system design can create communities people want to return to—online and off:How reducing friction helps people feel more connected, present, and engagedHow AI—when designed for connection—can actually bring people closer togetherWhat it means to use technology not to replace interaction, but to make room for itWhether you're building, growing, or reimagining your community, this session will offer a fresh lens on what it means to truly design for belonging. Tune in Friday, May 30th at 10am Central to join the conversation live.ABOUT NASYA KAMRATNasya Kamrat is an entrepreneur and innovator transforming hospitality through AI-driven, human-centered experiences. As CEO of Nia, she is pioneering Concierge AI to create seamless, intelligent service experiences at scale. With over two decades at the intersection of technology, experience design, and storytelling, Nasya has built and exited companies that redefine how people connect, engage, and experience the world.https://www.niaxp.com/ABOUT THE SHOW Talk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy. Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online. Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxU Connect with Todd Nilson on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NN Follow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_s Schedule a call: https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf

Community IS going to continue to change as technology continues to evolve.Clocktower Advisors is thrilled to announce Todd Nilson will be joined by Marius Ciortea, Chief Community Officer at IBM responsible for the digital experience at IBM TechXchange. Together, they will dive into his role and responsibilities, artificial intelligence, and more!Join the conversation on May 16th at 10am US Central Time for a chance to have your questions answered live!ABOUT MARIUS CIORTEACurrent Chief Community Officer at IBM responsible for the digital experience at IBM TechXchange. Also a beekeeper and love to cook and eat well. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariusciorteaABOUT THE SHOW Talk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy. Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online. Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxU Connect with Todd Nilson on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NN Follow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_s Schedule a call: https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf

What if rebuilding community wasn’t just about connection—but about care?In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, community strategist and author Lais de Oliveira joins host Todd Nilson for a powerful discussion on designing communities that care. From urban villages and parenting isolation to grassroots civic action, Lais explores what it means to reimagine the "infrastructure of care"—and why we need it now more than ever.Over a year after her first appearance discussing Hacking Communities, Lais returns with fresh insights shaped by motherhood, local activism, and the urgent need for physical and digital spaces where people truly belong.🔍 In this episode:Why cities fail caregivers—and how to fix itThe loneliness epidemic and its civic impactWhat “cozy” communities teach us about belongingThe power of local grassroots action (and how Discord helped save a school)Rebuilding identity and friendship in a new life phaseRobert Putnam, civic fabric, and why it’s not too late to join or die🎯 If you care about community design, loneliness, civic engagement, or the future of belonging—this conversation is for you.Show Notes0:00 Intro & Updates4:26 Infrastructure of Care9:58 Platform Considerations17:17 Creating Community & Belonging31:30 Building LocallyABOUT LAIS DE OLIVEIRALaís de Oliveira is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive with over 15 years of global experience in community building, business management, and innovation.Most recently, Laís served as Head of North America at Timeleft, where she led cross-functional initiatives that fueled rapid growth in the company’s largest and fastest-growing region. Her leadership was instrumental in expanding operations to 70+ cities and nearly doubling monthly revenue. She built and managed a high-performing team, driving deeper user engagement and meaningful real-world connections—efforts that earned media coverage from top-tier outlets including NBC’s Today Show, CBS, Vox, NPR, and more. Her work spans industries including tech, education, real estate, and social innovation, always rooted in community as a catalyst for growth.Having lived and worked in Mauritius, Argentina, Chile, Malaysia, the United States, Portugal, and Brazil, Laís brings a rich international perspective and a deep understanding of cultural nuance. She builds communities with heart, strategy, and global insight—wherever she goes.https://hackingcommunities.com/ABOUT THE SHOWTalk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy.Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online.Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxUConnect with Todd Nilson on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NNFollow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_sSchedule a call:https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf

NOTE: Originally streamed April 18th, 2025.

Community has an impact - with customer support, solution engineering, product feedback, ideation, customer advocacy, and more!Jillian Bejtlich, Head of Community at Calendly, shares her journey through the community industry to her current role with Calendly. A self-proclaimed data nerd, Jillian dives into trends of community working with different departments and the impact customer stories can have on product development.Show Notes0:00 Intro2:01 Journey Through Community Careers11:01 Trends in Departments and Platforms26:36 Community at Calendly36:11 Exciting DevelopmentsABOUT JILLIAN BEJTLICHJillian is a quirky, ambitious, and enthusiastic techie and community leader who is enamored with online communities and the complex data and psychological puzzles they present. She currently leads community at Calendly.Jillian has spent her entire career working in and on communities of all sizes, in all industries, and of all types. She has extensive experience with all things community and innovation management including engagement, strategies, metrics, analysis, and interface (UI/UX). She prefers the hardest, ugliest, and most inglorious community challenges.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianbejtlich/ABOUT THE SHOWTalk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy.Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online.Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxUConnect with Todd Nilson on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NNFollow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedInhttps://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_sSchedule a call:https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf

NOTE: Originally streamed February 17th, 2025.

In this episode of Talk About Your Community, Todd Nilson chats with Nikki Thibodeau, Regional Vice President, Digital Engagement & Community at Calix and also the founder of The Community Community, a community for Senior Community Professionals.They discuss a joy for bringing people together via community and what it is like trailblazing the role of Chief Community Officer. Budgeting and reporting are also explored when it comes to working with upper leadership.Show Notes0:00 Intro3:15 Getting Into Community5:14 Creating Belonging and Inclusivity9:50 Trailblazing New Roles19:48 Awareness of Community to Leadership25:48 Budgeting and Reporting33:46 Readiness for a CCO38:52 A Community Department?ABOUT NIKKI THIBODEAUPassionate about people, business and what drives you - Nikki focuses on creating success through Community.Nikki has been a Community Manager, led a global team of Community Managers, moved into Community Operations and was Shopify's first Senior Community Strategist to help scale their efforts across a 10,000+ person organization and for their over 2million merchants.Now, she is the Regional Vice President, Digital Engagement & Community at Calix and also the founder of The Community Community, a community for Senior Community Professionals.https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki2987/ https://communitynikki.com/ABOUT THE CCO SERIESTodd Nilson, founder of Clocktower Advisors, has taken an interest in the Chief Community Officer role. This series interviews a number of different CCOs to explore the path to gaining this title, the skill set and knowledge needed, and the future outlook of this role.The Chief Community Officer series is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online. Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxU Connect with Todd Nilson on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NN Follow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_s Schedule a call: https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf

NOTE: Originally streamed April 4th, 2025.

Great products don’t just emerge—they’re crafted, shaped, and sold through compelling stories. Whether you're a business, an entrepreneur, or a product itself, your success depends on how well you articulate your value. Join Rachel Petzold—the "Product Whisperer"—and Todd Nilson as they explore the intersection of innovation, product development, and storytelling. As a seasoned Chief Product Officer, Rachel has transformed businesses by turning ideas into impactful, revenue-generating products through the power of narrative. Live on April 4th at 10 AM Central—don’t miss your chance to win a free storytelling session (a $1,500 value)! Walk away with a refined product story, fresh ways to articulate your brand, and a mini portfolio to set yourself apart. Innovation begins with ideas. Success happens when you can tell the right story.ABOUT RACHEL PETZOLDRachel is a product leader that spends more of her time these days focusing on product storytelling. She is Chief Product Officer for a number of start-ups and businesses that are looking to grow their revenue and impact. She lives with her family in Frisco, Texas and grew up in Portland, Oregon, where she learned to innovate alongside her father, who gave her the nickname of "Gossamer Girl". https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelpetzold/ABOUT THE SHOW Talk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy. Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online. Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxU Connect with Todd Nilson on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NN Follow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_s Schedule a call: https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf

NOTE: Originally streamed March 14th, 2025.

What is a DAO? How are they set up? How do you sustain them? Will they only work in Web3? Is a DAO right for my business or nonprofit?You've got questions and we've got answers!In this week's episode of Talk About Your Community, Todd Nilson is joined by Itamar Dvir, with 8+ years of experience in marketing and community, specializing in startups and Web3 gaming. As Head of Community at Game7, he's grown the DAO from 5K to now over 85K members, rebuilt the community team, and transitioned operations to a community-driven model using bounties. Together, Todd and Itamar will take a deep dive to explore the world of DAOs. Join us live and bring your questions for a chance to get them answered live on Friday, March 14th at 11am EST/10am CST!ABOUT ITAMAR DVIRI have 8+ years of experience in marketing and community, specializing in startups and Web3 gaming. I founded *Minus 4*, which became Israel’s largest fantasy sports community, growing it to 30K weekly messages with under 300 members, which I didn't really understood how ridiculous it was at the time. I later co-founded *Atomix8*, an on-chain DeFi game. I started off as a consultant for the project and got the offer to join as a co-founder and CEO, which I took. I was leading a team of 5 and bootstrapping the project for almost 2 years. Leading Atomix8 led me Game7 to seek for a grant, but eventually I joined the Game7 team full time as head of community (there is a long story here).As Head of Community at Game7, I’ve grown the DAO from 5K to now over 85K members, rebuilt the community team, and transitioned operations to a community-driven model using bounties. I also advise Web3 projects, focusing on community building and go-to-market strategies.https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamar-dvir-721431176/https://www.youtube.com/@ItamarDvirhttps://x.com/Itamar_Dvir_ABOUT THE SHOW Talk About Your Community is a biweekly live stream for leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and community builders. Todd Nilson interviews experts from a variety of fields who have input on how communities are both built and sustained online and off. Tune in to talk about community building and digital strategy. Talk About Your Community is produced by Clocktower Advisors, a global consultancy specialized at helping organizations like yours to build thriving, sustainable communities online. Clocktower Advisors Privacy Policy: https://lnkd.in/dS64AhxU Connect with Todd Nilson on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gi9gh6NN Follow Clocktower Advisors on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/gu9CXE_s Schedule a call: https://lnkd.in/gmYK3rwf