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  • How Measurement Transforms L&D From a Cost Center to a Strategic Partner with Christina Castelli of Accenture
    2026/07/14

    Christina Castelli, Head of Learning Operations and Measurement of Accenture, makes the case that L&D’s credibility with the business depends on one thing: connecting learning to outcomes before the training ever runs — not after.


    Christina shares how she built Accenture’s SKY model, a learning-measurement framework designed to answer real business questions rather than justify program spend. She also explores what it means to use AI as an augmentation tool rather than a replacement, why discernment is the differentiating skill of the AI era, and how L&D professionals can start seeing generative AI as the opportunity to finally deliver the personalized, outcome-connected learning they’ve always wanted to build.



    KEY TAKEAWAYS


    00:00 Introduction.

    01:30 How Christina’s path from consulting to social learning, design, operations and measurement led her to build and lead Accenture’s learning measurement function.

    02:45 The tension that pushed Christina into measurement: L&D teams convinced of their own value, but unable to translate it into the language the business actually speaks.

    05:04 Accenture’s SKY Model — and why identifying the business outcome has to happen before choosing a single metric, model level or measurement approach.

    06:30 Why every section of the model connects back to the business outcome, and why not every program needs to measure every level.

    08:13 What operationalizing measurement at scale actually looks like: a beginner guide, default approaches by audience size and an analytics dashboard built with the data team.

    10:35 What Christina recommends for L&D professionals who don’t control the measurement standard — and why early stakeholder alignment changes the entire dynamic at the end.

    11:15 Why you can’t be held accountable for data that was never available — and how to have that conversation with business partners before a program launches.

    12:15 The mindset shift from vanity metrics to actionable insights — and the comment from a business stakeholder that crystallized everything for Christina.

    16:36 Final measurement advice: think in a structured way, focus on what would actually answer the question and share what you can — rather than grasping for whatever looks positive.

    17:45 “If you ask AI to replace you, it will. If you ask it to augment you, it will.” — what that means for learning developers navigating today’s AI inflection point.

    19:25 The learning developer role at the AI crossroads: why handing off your thinking to AI is different from using AI to expand your thinking.

    22:08 Why personal human understanding of content is still irreplaceable — and the risk of skipping the ingestion step that gives L&D professionals their real value add.

    24:30 Discernment as the differentiating skill of the AI era: why polished output no longer signals quality, and what it takes to tell the difference.

    26:45 A practical way into GenAI for L&D professionals: use it as a thought partner first, ask it what to prioritize and block 30 minutes a week as dedicated GenAI play time.

    32:28 The mindset shift every learning leader needs right now: seeing AI as the opportunity to finally deliver the personalized, outcome-connected learning we’ve always wanted to build.




    If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference.



    RESOURCES MENTIONED


    Accenture website:

    https://www.accenture.com


    Kirkpatrick Model:

    https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com




    #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

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    37 分
  • Why Courage, Curiosity and Compassion Beat Any Title with Scott Switalski of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
    2026/07/07

    Scott Switalski, Director of Enterprise Learning and Development of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, joins us to explore why leadership is the most critical skill in any organization, how L&D professionals can function as cultural tugboats, and what it really means to develop people with courage, curiosity and compassion.


    Scott brings three decades of L&D experience across healthcare, human services, contact centers and Native American tribal government. He shares how his team at CHOP thinks about AI as an augmentation tool rather than a replacement, why participant-centricity is reshaping how learning experiences are designed, and how L&D teams can earn their seat at the table by speaking the language of the business.



    KEY TAKEAWAYS


    00:00 Introduction.

    01:30 How Scott’s path from practicing law to teaching Windows 95 in an HR office accidentally launched a three-decade career in L&D.

    06:05 The two biggest shifts reshaping L&D right now and why one of them has nothing to do with technology.

    08:09 What participant-centricity looks like in practice and why it’s one of the most powerful engagement tools available.

    10:45 Why L&D teams that can’t speak the language of the business won’t survive as a function.

    11:10 The metaphor Scott’s team lives by and how it defines every piece of learning work they do at CHOP.

    15:16 The mentor who hired Scott on a hunch and gave him a front-row seat to building a training function from nothing.

    18:15 The three skills Scott believes every person in an organization needs right now — titled leader or not.

    21:30 Why Scott uses a Brené Brown definition of leadership as the foundation for all leadership development at CHOP.

    23:21 The resource Scott turns to when he wants to think like the business leaders he serves.

    23:50 The book Scott keeps returning to, and how he uses it as a live leadership development tool with executives.




    If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference.



    RESOURCES MENTIONED


    Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia website:

    https://www.chop.edu


    Harvard Business Review:

    https://www.hbr.org


    “Strong Ground” by Brené Brown:

    https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Ground-Lessons-Leadership-Tenacity/dp/1984855743


    “Nine Lies About Work” by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall:

    https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Lies-about-Work-Freethinking/dp/1633696308




    #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

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    28 分
  • Human Connection: The Skill Defining L&D's Future with Peter Plumlee of Ball Horticultural Company
    2026/06/30

    Peter Plumlee, Talent Development Manager of Ball Horticultural Company, explores why human connection remains L&D's most essential competency in an age of automation, what it really takes to lead a volunteer organization and how vulnerability is reshaping what great leadership development looks like.


    KEY TAKEAWAYS


    00:00 Introduction.

    05:17 The unexpected early experience that set the foundation for Peter's entire L&D philosophy.

    07:13 The first question Peter asks before he ever builds a learning solution.

    08:23 Why Peter thinks L&D's biggest challenge right now has nothing to do with tools.

    11:15 The role every L&D professional must step into as AI accelerates.

    13:27 What leading volunteers reveal about what real leadership actually requires.

    19:43 The mentor relationship that shaped how Peter thinks about connection and giving back.

    25:53 What 100 leaders in a room taught Peter about vulnerability.

    27:11 Why Peter is convinced AI will never replace L&D's most important skill.

    28:19 The unconventional book that reframes community for every learning leader.



    If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference.



    RESOURCES MENTIONED


    Ball Horticultural Company:

    https://www.ballhort.com


    ATD Chicagoland:

    https://atdchi.org/


    "The Secret Life of Trees" by Peter Wohlleben:

    https://www.peterwohllebenbooks.com/the-hidden-life-of-trees




    #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

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    32 分
  • Skills-Based Learning and the Future of Org Design with Dr. Katie Campbell of Equifax
    2026/06/23

    Dr. Katie Campbell, Senior Director, Learning and Talent Management of Equifax, shares how she approaches L&D strategy within one of the company's largest business units — bridging corporate vision and workforce execution across performance, succession planning and learning.


    Katie shares how she thinks about AI's role in reshaping workforce capabilities, why the shift to skills-based models is making learning ROI less squishy, and what Microsoft's sweeping HR overhaul signals about where org design is heading.



    KEY TAKEAWAYS


    00:00 Introduction.

    03:30 How Katie stumbled into corporate learning without ever knowing it existed.

    05:04 Why Katie says it would be remiss not to talk about AI's impact on L&D right now.

    06:09 The shift that’s making learning ROI less squishy and easier to tie to business outcomes.

    07:30 Why Katie hesitates to use the words "human capital."

    08:10 What Microsoft's sweeping HR overhaul signals about where org design is heading.

    10:18 The skill Katie says L&D teams overlook most.

    11:30 The mentor whose authenticity changed Katie’s thinking about leadership forever.

    14:12 The AI tool available inside Equifax, which Katie says has real applications for learning.

    16:20 The neuroscience book Katie is reading right now and why she thinks every L&D professional should read it too.



    If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference.


    RESOURCES MENTIONED


    “Engaging the Rewired Brain” by David A Sousa:

    https://www.amazon.com/Engaging-Rewired-Brain-David-Sousa/dp/1071923242


    “Make It Stick” by Peter C Brown, Henry L Roediger III and Mark A McDaniel:

    https://www.amazon.es/Make-Stick-Science-Successful-Learning/dp/0674729013


    “Design for How People Learn” by Julie Dirksen:

    https://www.amazon.com/Design-People-Learn-Voices-Matter/dp/0134211286


    SHRM:

    https://www.shrm.org


    Gartner:

    https://www.gartner.com


    Google Gemini:

    https://gemini.google.com


    NotebookLM:

    https://notebooklm.google.com




    #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

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    18 分
  • Why Continuous Learning Is the Most Critical Skill in L&D Today with Demetrice Bryant of Priceline
    2026/06/16

    Demetrice Bryant, Senior Director, Support Services, Workforce Enablement (Customer Care) of Priceline, joins us to discuss the shift from training delivery to enablement partnerships — covering human-centered design, continuous learning, growth mindset, and what it means to connect L&D directly to business outcomes.


    From a career that started in a state government training room to leading workforce enablement at one of the world's largest travel platforms, Demetrice brings a perspective grounded in both the theory and the business reality of L&D.


    KEY TAKEAWAYS


    00:00 Introduction.

    02:07 How an unplanned moment in a state government training session launched Demetrice's career in L&D.

    04:15 What teaching children with autism taught Demetrice about breaking down complex concepts for any learner.

    05:45 Why Demetrice believes the L&D profession has fundamentally changed — not just evolved.

    06:30 Why human-centered design has always been at the core of L&D and why it matters more than ever now.

    08:03 How instructional designers are becoming learning technologists and what that shift looks like in practice.

    11:30 Why enablement is about change creation, not just content delivery.

    18:16 The mentor who shifted Demetrice's thinking from training completion rates to business impact storytelling.

    20:15 Why staying relevant in L&D means reading and attending events well outside the L&D space.


    If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference.


    RESOURCES MENTIONED


    ATD:

    https://www.td.org/


    Bloomberg:

    https://www.bloomberg.com


    Harvard Business Review:

    https://www.hbr.org


    Unmasking AI by Joy Buolamwini: https://www.amazon.com/Unmasking-AI-Mission-Protect-Machines/dp/0593241835


    Reimagining Design by Kevin Bethune: https://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-Design-Innovation-Simplicity-Technology/dp/0262046504


    TrainingPros:

    https://www.trainingpros.com



    #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

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    30 分
  • Mindset Before Tool Set: A CLO's Framework for Real Learning Impact with Phil Rhodes of Phillips 66
    2026/06/09

    Phil Rhodes, Chief Learning Officer of Phillips 66, joins us to discuss what it means to shift L&D from a deliverable function to an enablement function — covering leadership capability, business acumen, data-driven credibility and the test-and-learn mindset he has applied across his 30-year career.

    

    From his early days in the Peace Corps to leading enterprise L&D at an operating company, Phil brings a perspective rooted in behavioral science, experiential learning and the practical reality of driving change at scale.


    KEY TAKEAWAYS


    00:00 Introduction.

    02:30 How Phil's experience in the Peace Corps introduced him to experiential learning and shaped his entire L&D philosophy.

    05:30 Why every tool rollout requires mindset, skill set and tool set — in that order.

    06:45 Why leaders, not L&D, drive behavioral shift — and what that means for how we design enablement.

    09:30 Why Phil believes L&D is at a pivotal moment and the three areas he sees as most critical for the future.

    18:45 The four skills Phil says every L&D professional needs to build credibility with the business.

    20:45 How a single ATD exercise on influence led Phil to rethink influence as a team discipline rather than an individual one.

    23:20 Why starting with technology almost always sets an implementation up for failure.

    25:30 How Phil applied agile scrum principles to L&D while holding to core ADDIE methodology.




    If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference.



    RESOURCES MENTIONED


    Harvard Business Review:

    https://www.hbr.org


    “The Insight-Driven Leader” by Jenny Dearborn and Kelly Rider:

    https://jennydearborn.com/insight-driven-leader/


    ATD:

    https://www.td.org/about/atd-leadership


    "FYI For Your Improvement” by Korn Ferry: https://store.kornferry.com/en/product/5a377843-f45e-4b8c-9057-525aee9bacec


    National Training Laboratories:

    https://www.ntl.org


    Outward Bound:

    https://www.outwardbound.org




    #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

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    31 分
  • Positioning L&D as a Business Driver, Not a Cost Center with Mary Cooper of P.F. Chang's
    2026/06/02

    Mary Cooper, Director of Learning and Development at P.F. Chang's, joins us to make the case that L&D leaders who can't speak the language of the business will keep losing the budget fight.


    Mary draws on her path from operations to the L&D function to show why business acumen is now a core skill for talent development and learning strategy leaders. For training professionals navigating tighter budgets and higher scrutiny, her advice is direct: tie your learning solutions to sales impact, cost reduction and measurable business outcomes.


    KEY TAKEAWAYS


    00:00 Introduction.

    03:05 Why Mary says speaking the language of the business is the most critical skill for L&D leaders right now.

    04:20 How Mary's background in operations and ballet shaped her approach to helping others learn.

    07:17 How AI is forcing L&D teams to rethink course length, delivery format and the pace of content creation.

    09:04 Why Mary believes L&D is at a pivotal moment.

    11:07 How to make the case for L&D investment when budgets are under pressure.

    13:15 Why resilience and adaptability are the most important skills in the workplace.

    16:20 Why Mary finds smaller format conferences more valuable than large ones for peer learning and connection.

    18:30 The one book Mary recommends to anyone wanting to be a learning leader.



    If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference.



    RESOURCES MENTIONED


    TD Magazine:

    https://www.td.org


    Consero:

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/consero-group/


    The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501147765/




    #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

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    21 分
  • AI Slop, Skills Gaps and the L&D Wake-Up Call with Laura Campion of Pfizer
    2026/05/26

    Laura Campion, Director, Revolution Learning Specialist at Pfizer, joins us to discuss how L&D is evolving in the age of AI — from microlearning and embedded performance support to the diagnostic skills that no algorithm can replace.


    KEY TAKEAWAYS


    00:00 Introduction.

    02:04 L&D is one of the few fields where your expertise travels across every industry.

    03:30 The three biggest shifts Laura is seeing in L&D right now — and why one of them may surprise you.

    05:03 The AI tool Laura is currently using at Pfizer to walk learners through complex decision-making in real time.

    07:08 AI will create a clear divide in the L&D field — and what separates the two sides.

    08:20 The counterintuitive prediction about the future of instructor-led training.

    10:04 The mentor who changed the trajectory of Laura's career and how he helped her make the leap from classroom to corporate.

    13:10 The diagnostic question every L&D professional needs to ask before recommending a single solution.

    15:12 Why Laura says completions are not a metric worth measuring.

    18:05 Two book recommendations, one for every L&D professional and one specifically for teachers considering a transition to corporate.

    19:30 What more companies should understand about hiring teachers.


    If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference.


    RESOURCES MENTIONED


    24/7 Education Group:

    https://247education.org/


    devlin.ai:

    https://devlin.ai


    CLO Chief Learning Officer Conferences:

    https://www.clomedia.com/events


    “Map It” by Cathy Moore:

    https://blog.cathy-moore.com/book-map-it/


    “Teachers to Trainers” by Lisa Spinelli:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/1952157145


    Pfizer:

    https://www.pfizer.com/




    #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

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    23 分