audrey schroder

First Timer for the Last Hurrah

4/27/2026

Toastmasters Conference swag including a First Timers ribbon, gavel-shaped pencil, Pathways pin, hand clapper noisemaker, pen, name badge

conference swag & gifts

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit focused on helping individuals improve their public speaking and leadership skills. I’m a HUGE fan of this organization and have been a member of five different clubs beginning in 2022. Currently I’m in the clubs Global Pride and NYC Tech.

Toastmasters District 119 hosted its Spring Conference this past Saturday. It is THE event put on by the District annually. District 119 is merging into District 46 this summer, making this conference its last. This change is part of a larger restructuring effort to better serve members and strengthen clubs across the organization.

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AI Won't Fix Your Knowledge Management Program

4/10/2026

Photograph of several trees in Central Park, they are various shades of green, orange and yellow. The sky is blue and there are no clouds

Central Park, New York, NY

Most organizations invest in tools, systems, and documentation, and still watch knowledge walk out the door. The missing ingredient isn't a better platform or AI. It's conversation.

Knowledge workers often grapple with a widespread misconception: that knowledge management (KM) and information management are the same thing. Even some Fortune 500 enterprises believe KM means capture-and-store, when the real transfer happens between people, in dialogue.

The Tiniest Thing You Can Do That Means Everything

3/31/2026

the transgender awareness ribbon and a button for she/her/hers pronouns

If you've ever stumbled over someone's pronouns and felt unsure what to do, this one's for you.

Let’s start with what a pronoun is. They’re the words we use to talk about people without saying their name. Examples are “he,” “she,” or “they.” Instead of saying, "Henry went to the store," we could use Henry’s pronoun and say, "He went to the store."

Now, pronouns aren’t just grammar tools. Pronouns tell the world who we are. Using the right pronouns isn’t just important for some people; it’s important for everyone.

Less Hustle, More OM

3/15/2026

I made this mixed media collage with a paint swatch called "meditation"

Reflection
Relaxation
Deep breathing

Hmm, these words don't really scream "productivity," do they?

On the contrary, participating in these activities can actually lead to some major benefits, including increased creativity and being in the right mindset to make sound decisions.

How can we be creative if we are stressed out and constantly switching from one task to another, frantically trying to check everything off our lists?

We need to talk about suicide

3/8/2026

Me with Candace, AFSP NYC Executive Director and Sarah, Co-Chair of the Advocacy & Public Policy Committee

In 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) was established to give those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.

I am proud to serve as a member of the NYC Advocacy & Public Policy Committee for AFSP. We help advocate for legislation and funding related to mental health and suicide prevention.

Stop Sending Word Docs. Use a Form.

3/1/2026

a photo of a graffiti with a yellow background, clouds, the sun and several cartoon people with the words

take it easy... make it easy

You just heard about a fabulous event. You’re thrilled when the host emails you to gather some information. And then you see they’ve attached… a Word doc. With questions, and underlined areas to fill in the answers. You start typing and the formatting immediately falls apart. If you’re on your phone, forget it, you won’t be completing anything until you can sit down at a computer. In a parking lot? Good luck.

It’s pretty obvious that whoever designed that form did not have the recipient’s experience in mind. They did what was easiest for them. Turns out, the technology caught up with the frustration.

It’s no secret that Dan Brown’s latest novel is an instant hit

2/15/2026

A novel titled The Secret of Secrets is on a carpet with a calico cat next to it. On top of the book is a bookmark with the same graphic design as the book cover.

my mom made the matching bookmark!

Iceland has a national tradition called Jólabókaflóð, or the "Christmas Book Flood." Families give each other books on Christmas Eve and spend the holiday reading together. Iceland publishes an astonishing five titles per every 1,000 residents, and most books in the country are sold from late September to early November. This tradition began during World War II, when strict currency restrictions limited the amount of imported giftware. Imported paper was less restricted than other products, so Icelanders often gave books as Christmas gifts.