Todd Nilson (He/Him)

Community Strategist, Clocktower Advisors

About Todd Nilson

As the founder of Clocktower Advisors, I help organizations reduce risk and restore executive confidence in their online communities and digital workplaces. I act as a strategic partner and fractional leader for organizations that cannot afford for their digital investments to fail—specializing in identifying the hidden misalignments that lead to "strategic blindness" and wasted capital.

I have built Clocktower Advisors into a premier consultancy by delivering high-stakes results and unique market intelligence:

  • A Proven Track Record of Success: I have guided transformational strategies and governance reviews for world-class brands, including Activision, Facebook, SAP, Steelcase, and Medtronic. My work ensures that these organizations move past "compliance theater" and surface-level metrics toward resilient, high-trust systems.

  • The Governance Lens (Market Intelligence): My consulting is powered by a bird’s-eye view of the global community landscape. As President of the Community Consultants Collective (CCC) for the past three years, I track the platform shifts and methodology gaps that others miss. I don't just see one community; I see the systemic trends of the entire profession.

  • The Talent Journey (Human-Centered Vision): I believe communities are only as strong as the people—and incentives—behind them. My extensive background in executive and tech recruitment and my work as Co-founder of TalentLed allow me to fix the "broken process" of the talent journey. I understand the internal human incentives that dictate whether a community becomes a resilient asset or a strategic liability.

Because of this "risk-first" perspective, I am a sought-after voice on the intersection of community, governance, and business stability. I have appeared as a featured guest or host on more than 50 podcasts and livestreams, including On the Brink with Andi Simon and my own series, Talk About Your Community. I speak frequently on topics such as Community ROI, Governance as a Risk-Reduction Tool, the Impact of AI on Digital Spaces, and the Psychology of Safe Spaces at Scale.

Whether I am serving as a fractional strategist or conducting a high-stakes governance audit, my mission is the same: to prevent failure first, knowing that sustainable growth follows stability.

Areas of Expertise

Community Management Content / Editorial / Journalism Digital Marketing Startups Strategy

What are your goals for joining the Zapnito community?

Network with community leaders Share my knowledge with others Stay up-to-date about Zapnito

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