In this episode, Cherie Aplin, Senior Director of Leadership Development at Edwards Lifesciences, highlights the importance of creative problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration skills, data-driven learning, psychological safety and deep reflection in leadership development. She also shares insights on how organizations can foster effective learning experiences while ensuring meaningful human connections.

Kristi Owens, Vice President of Talent and Leadership Development at Southwest Airlines, joins us in this episode. Kristi shares how Southwest is developing an internal talent marketplace by identifying skills the company will need in the future and offering upskilling programs to its employees. Kristi emphasizes the evolving role of leadership and the skills leaders must develop to support and guide their teams through challenges and change.

In this episode, Brian Harkins, Director of Training at Topgolf, shares his unique journey into Learning and Development, his vision for the future of training and the innovative ways Topgolf incorporates fun and engagement into its learning programs.

On this episode, John C. Torres, Senior Vice President, Academy Executive at Bank of America, shares his perspective on the critical skills and knowledge learning and development professionals need to succeed. He emphasizes the importance of acquiring business and functional acumen to understand how L&D impacts the company’s business model, the necessity of leadership and communication skills to influence an organization and the pivotal role of facilitation. Additionally, he discusses the growing prominence of virtual and self-paced learning and the strategic importance of integrating L&D into business planning.

In this episode, Paul Holba, Senior Director of Organizational Development and Training at AAF International, discusses his extensive experience in learning and development and how his team addresses challenges in the evolving workplace. 
Paul explores the roles of technology, adaptability and managing generational differences to create a forward-thinking L&D strategy.

Chris Johnson, Learning and Development Manager of Toyota North America, joins us to discuss how companies can leverage educational technology and social media style microlearning without causing learning anxiety. He emphasizes the skills the workforce needs to confront a changing working landscape and the value of networking and learning from L&D peers.

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.