In this episode, Rama Iyer, Senior Director of Corporate Leadership Development at Spectrum, discusses leadership development, the evolving role of HR and the power of mentorship.

In this episode, Stephanie Fritz, EdD, Senior Director of Leadership Development at S&P Global, discusses the evolving role of L&D, drawing from her background in organizational psychology. Stephanie discusses the growing importance of adaptability and mental health support and highlights the skillsets leaders will need to develop. She emphasizes the necessity for workers and leaders to learn how to work effectively with AI to remain relevant in the future.

On this episode, Theda Riggins-Crawford, Director of Global Learning and Development of Manhattan Associates, discusses her career journey, insights on evolving trends in L&D and the importance of being people-centered in the industry. Theda also shares valuable resources for those wishing to develop in the field.

In this episode, Crystal Richards, Senior Director of Executive Development at TIAA, discusses her unique journey in learning and development. She covers changes in executive programs, the shift to virtual learning and the importance of building cohesive leadership cohorts.

Jessica Sieminski, Director of Learning and Performance at Nationwide, joins us in this episode to discuss how L&D professionals and the industry can evolve and leverage AI and technology. She highlights the critical skills humans will need to succeed in a future where using AI for work becomes as common as using a calculator or computer. She emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, adaptability, and professional agility.

In this episode, Theresa Zeller, Global Head of Learning Creation at Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada), joins us to share her journey in the L&D space. She highlights the pivotal changes and emerging trends that are shaping corporate learning, including the growing influence of technology, business alignment and personalized learning.

Steve Bullington, Director of Solution Engineering Talent Development at Salesforce, joins us in this episode to discuss ongoing shifts in L&D. The combination of the younger generations’ characteristics and technological advancements requires a new approach to training. L&D professionals must leverage everything from AI integration to personalized on-demand training to meet newer generations’ expectations, pace and learning styles while helping them develop essential social and communication skills.

In this episode, Rico Maranto, Senior Manager, Leadership Development of WM (formerly Waste Management), discusses the transition from command-and-control leadership to a human-centered mindset, and the role of AI in transforming employee development. 

Rico shares his journey into leadership development, highlights workforce challenges and provides insights into how organizations can move toward a skills-based approach to employee training and project assignments.

In this episode, Nicole Sandoval, Senior Director of Learning and Development at European Wax Center, explores new developments in L&D, from continuous microlearning to AI-powered personalized learning pathways. She explains how the European Wax Center is tapping into the younger generation's desire to share knowledge and collaborate. They have developed a platform where expert employees share their tips and expertise through short videos, similar to TikTok, creating a space for grounded, easy-to-digest, and useful knowledge sharing and collaboration.

In this episode, Tomislav Vujec, Director of Learning at Red Hat, explains the role of L&D in today’s corporate strategy and its future. He emphasizes that L&D should help companies achieve their goals, assist board members in making informed decisions about strategies and workforces and train leadership to make decisions equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and tools for success in today’s evolving world. Tomislav highlights the importance of data analysis in supporting L&D practices and the growing necessity of skill development and continuous learning.

On this episode, Tim Kinsey, Director of Curriculum Development and Creative Learning Media at Cox Communications, explains that in the age of AI, the future of L&D lies in skill development and mentorship. He highlights the need for leaders and professionals to develop and combine business knowledge, intellectual curiosity, analytical thinking and radical candor to achieve business, professional and personal growth.

On this episode, we’re joined by Nicolle Billmyre, Senior Director of Talent and Organizational Development at Crossmark.* She discusses the significant changes in learning and development over the past few years, including the rise of AI, the growing need for personalized, transformative learning and the learning techniques suited to each generation. Nicolle also touches on her approach to talent management, emphasizing the importance of fostering emotional intelligence and addressing the evolving needs of a multigenerational workforce. 

*Since recording this episode, Nicolle has become Vice President of Learning and Leadership Development at Ventra Health.

In this episode, Dr. Jaimie Krause, Director of Learning and Development at Indeed, joins us to discuss the role of L&D in driving business outcomes, the importance of aligning training solutions with business strategy and the present and future of AI in learning. Jaimie explains her approach to maximizing the impact of L&D to achieve business ROI through data fluency, business acumen, strategic AI use and hiring discerning employees prepared to make tough decisions.

In this episode, Lisa Christensen, Director of Learning Design Center of Excellence at McKinsey & Company, explains how hyper-personalized learning is within reach thanks to GenAI. However, she highlights that L&D professionals must focus on delivering the right content at the right time to avoid “flooding” learners with unnecessary material. She also emphasizes that success is no longer measured by training completion rates but by real changes in behavior and business outcomes.

The future of leadership and development is rapidly evolving, with a growing emphasis on experiential learning, mindfulness and mentorship. Renny Bloch, Director of Global Learning and Leadership Development COE at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., joins us to discuss these trends, share his journey and offer insights from over twenty years in the field. 

Renny explores the importance of psychological safety in creating effective learning environments and the increasing role of emotional intelligence in leadership. He also predicts a shift towards more personalized, on-demand learning experiences, offering valuable lessons for those navigating the future of leadership and L&D.

On this episode, we’re joined by Roger Petho, Director of Talent Management at Kyndryl. Roger discusses his journey into talent management, the significant influence of technology on HR practices and the importance of business acumen in driving successful talent strategies.

In this episode, we welcome Danielle Willinger, Senior Manager of Instructional Design at GALLO. Danielle talks about her journey in learning and development, the evolution of instructional design and the future of the industry, particularly the impact of AI and agile methodologies.

In this episode, Kevin Farrell, Director of Learning Experience Design of US Retail Markets at Liberty Mutual Insurance, joins us to talk about his journey into learning and development, the evolving role of data and AI in the field and the future of L&D.

In this episode, Christopher McCormick, Senior Director of Talent, Development and Inclusion at Gilead Sciences. Christopher discusses his journey from theater to talent management, the impact of the pandemic on learning and development and the future of personalized employee experiences with AI.

In this episode, Suneeta Mishra, Senior Director of Learning and OD at Equifax, joins us to talk about her extensive career in L&D, discussing significant changes, the future of L&D and the role of AI.