Chief Learning Officer’s “Learning Insights” series is dedicated to showcasing the thoughts and career journeys of chief learning officers and learning executives — the tireless trailblazers who are transforming the landscape of corporate learning and workforce development. In this Q&A series, we garner strategic insights, innovative approaches and challenges overcome from visionary leaders worldwide.
What initially drew you to a career in L&D, and how have your experiences evolved over the years?
I finished university with a degree in history and no idea what I wanted to do professionally. I found a job at a company that ran prep courses for students preparing for standardized exams through my on-campus recruiting program. It was a great experience and gave me insight into running adult learning programs before I ever tried to build or deliver one!
From there, I moved into roles as an instructional designer, facilitator and learning technology lead. Throughout my career, the best part is helping people solve challenges by learning something new.
What key initiatives have you implemented as a learning leader to drive employee development and foster a learning culture?
Consolidating learning and moving fragmented programs to one place has always been my learning mantra. People are busy, they need their learning and development in the easiest and most impactful way possible. In my current role, that has taken shape as the first-ever consolidated learning platform available to a global audience spanning 40 countries and 100,000-plus employees.
What is the most impactful learning program you’ve introduced in your organization, and how has it contributed to employee growth and business success?
Our consolidated learning platform is the first time staff from multiple disparate global business units have access to common learning programs and outcomes. We’ve seen a huge increase in employee learning participation and have been able to highlight this as a key value add for clients during new business pitches. Better-educated employees mean better client outcomes.
What is a common misconception people might have about the L&D function, and how do you address it?
The corporate world sometimes equates L&D with mandatory (read: “boring”) compliance training and that’s just not true! We address this with both robust development opportunities across all aspects of our business and their associated skills, and also by offering compliance training that isn’t boring, old-fashioned or painful to complete. We make every learning opportunity a great opportunity.
What excites you the most about the future of workplace learning, and how are you preparing your organization to adapt to the changing landscape?
AI, AI, AI! Our ability to respond to learning needs faster than ever using AI content development tools is bringing the promise of learning in the flow of work and personalization of learning to life in ways that weren’t even dreamed of just a few years ago. We now launch and constantly revise AI Upskilling programs for all our business functions—including L&D staff!—regarding how AI can improve their workflows and delivery timelines.
What essential qualities or skills make a successful L&D leader, and how do you cultivate these traits in yourself and among your team?
Curiosity. Willingness to pivot mid-course if needed. Empathy for learners and the demands on their time. A desire to stay on top of new technologies and methods. I think the best way to cultivate these skills is through leading by example. Ask questions. Learn from your team. Allow them to watch as you learn from others.
What game-changing advice would you offer if you could go back in time and mentor your younger self?
Apologize less. Stay accurate and thorough with leadership, but unless you’ve truly failed, not every hiccup or delay is avoidable or necessarily your fault.
What do you feel is currently the single biggest challenge facing L&D professionals and the industry as a whole?
The pace of change. Everyone’s job is changing all the time. L&D professionals have to keep themselves up to speed on new methodologies and techniques, all while leveraging those new methodologies and techniques to develop programs that build skills that are changing just as fast for their audiences.
We’re always looking to showcase innovative tools and technologies. Can you share one work or learning tech product or platform that has significantly improved your work processes and why you find it valuable?
We have partnered with Adobe Learning Manager (previously called Adobe Captivate Prime) since before it officially launched in the LMS marketplace. Adobe has been instrumental in our success, while our partnership has driven their roadmap and offering forward.
Interested in being featured in our “Learning Insights” series? Please complete this FORM.
