Retention, Chapter Growth and Leadership Transformation

By Friday, something had shifted.

The energy felt more focused, more intentional, more aligned. After the colour and celebration of Thursday, Friday brought us into the heart of leadership, chapter growth and member engagement — the deep work that builds strong regions.

Day Three was practical, powerful and transformative. It was a day dedicated to understanding not just how BNI works, but why people stay, why chapters grow, and what real leadership looks like in action.

Morning: Arriving with Purpose

Delegates arrived early, coffee in hand, ready for a morning of breakout sessions. Conversations were different — deeper, more strategic. You could feel that everyone wanted to take what they learned home and elevate their chapters.

Friday was all about unlocking the human, cultural and strategic side of BNI — and it delivered.

BREAKOUT SESSION 1

with Mr. Krishna Kumar Singh

BNI Founder and CEO

“From Members to Believers – The Human Side of Retention”

The first breakout session was led by Mr. Krishna Kumar Singh, whose calm presence and deep understanding of human behaviour drew everyone in immediately.

This session wasn’t about numbers, KPIs or renewal dashboards. It was about people.

What Krishna Shared

Krishna reframed retention in a way that resonated with every DC, LT member and visitor host in the room:

Retention is emotional.
Retention is relational.
Retention begins on Day One — not at renewal time.

Key Learnings:

• Members stay because they feel connected, valued, and seen.
• Disengagement rarely begins loudly; it begins in small, quiet ways.
• The longer a member feels unnoticed, the harder it becomes to re-engage them.
• Chapters must build belonging, not just structure.
• Leaders should address issues early, gently and personally.

Krishna’s message was simple and powerful:
Retention is a relationship. Treat it like one.

BREAKOUT SESSION 2 – PANEL (HOSTED BY PHILL BERG)

“Why & How to Launch and Grow Chapters to 100+ Members”

The second breakout session was led by the legendary Phill Berg, known for his humour, honesty and deep understanding of chapter culture.

He brought together three exceptional leaders who have successfully launched and grown 100+ member chapters — something many regions dream about but few achieve.

Panelists:

Each brought a different culture, strategy and style — but their results were remarkably aligned.

What the Panel Shared

The room was buzzing with insights as the panel broke down the real building blocks of mega-chapters.

Key Learnings:

• 100+ chapters require belief first. If leadership doesn’t believe it’s possible, it never is.
• Culture is everything. High-energy, professional, welcoming chapters grow naturally.
• Systems create stability. Without processes, growth stalls.
• Accountability is essential. Not punishment — supportive accountability.
• Inviting is not a task; it’s a culture.
• Leadership must be unified, trained and consistent. Mixed messages create mixed results.

Their stories showed that large chapters aren’t built with luck — they’re built with intention, teamwork and unwavering standards.

AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION – LEADERSHIP, BEHAVIOUR AND SELF-REFLECTION

with Mary Kennedy Thompson and Dave Collins

The afternoon brought us back into the main hall for two of the most impactful leadership messages of the entire convention.

KEYNOTE: Mary Kennedy Thompson

Chief Executive Officer, BNI Global

“Leadership, Behaviour & Culture Alignment”

In her second major session, Mary Kennedy Thompson went deeper into one of her core leadership beliefs:

How you show up creates the culture your members live in.

What Mary Shared

Mary spoke about:

• The behaviours leaders repeat
• The standards they uphold
• The tone they set
• The decisions they make
• The consistency they model

She reminded us:

• Members don’t follow what leaders say.
• Members follow what leaders do.

Key Learnings:

• Culture is shaped by daily leadership behaviours.
• Consistency builds trust; inconsistency erodes it.
• Leaders must be intentional about the shadow they cast.
• Aligning behaviour with values is leadership in its purest form.

Mary’s message hit home — because every person in that room leads someone, somewhere, in some capacity.

KEYNOTE: Dave Collins

Chief Operating Officer, BNI Global

“Leadership Through Self-Reflection”

Dave Collins brought a different kind of energy to the stage — grounded, humble, honest.

His session wasn’t about strategy. It was about self-awareness.

What Dave Shared

Dave walked us through his own leadership reflections — moments of realisation, mistakes, pivots and growth. His vulnerability created a powerful connection with the audience.

Key Learnings:

• Self-reflection is a form of courage.
• Leaders must regularly ask:
  • “How am I showing up?”
  • “What shadow am I casting?”
  • “What am I avoiding?”
• Alignment between values and actions is the foundation of trust.
• Growth begins the moment we choose honesty over comfort.

Dave grounded his leadership message in authenticity, leaving many in the audience visibly moved.

DAY THREE REFLECTION

Friday brought the heart of BNI to the surface — not the statistics, not the systems, but the purpose.

It was a day that elevated:

• How we lead
• How we retain
• How we grow
• How we communicate
• How we build culture
• How we support our members

Day Three reminded every leader in the room that BNI is built on people — their emotions, their values, their belief, their connection, and their willingness to stay.

And when leaders grow, chapters grow.
When chapters grow, regions grow.
When regions grow, the entire movement grows.

Friday was not just informative — it was transformational.

Author: Vlasta Eriksson – Director – Signature Staff 
Regional Area Director – BNI NQ