The Business of Learning is produced by the team at TrainingIndustry.com, and focuses on the intersection of business performance and human capital development. Our guests are experts and innovators in organizational learning and development, and we highlight original research on trends and best practices in corporate training.
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Moving into higher-level or executive positions in learning and development (L&D) requires strategic thinking, business alignment and a clear understanding of what senior L&D roles truly entail. From building the right competencies to navigating common career roadblocks, L&D professionals need a roadmap for stepping into roles like chief learning officer (CLO) or vice president of learning. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Amy DuVernet, Ph.D., CPTM, vice pre...
Developing effective leaders is more important than ever, but understanding which skills matter most and how to build them can be challenging. From navigating new team dynamics to giving impactful feedback, today’s leaders need both foundational and modern leadership capabilities to thrive. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Gena Cox, Ph.D., organizational psychologist and speaker, and Jevon Gondwe, founder of Influential Skills, to discuss how learning and development (L...
In celebration of Training Industry’s 20-year anniversary, we asked our listeners to share their perspectives on the past, present and future of learning and development (L&D). In this bonus episode of The Business of Learning, we dig into your submissions and explore the L&D trends that shaped the last two decades — and those that will define the future of the field. Tune in now to hear insights on: How AI-powered role-play is reshaping skills development The ways the COVID-19 pandemic ...
In this episode, Brandy Ford, AVP at FM, discusses developing foundational learning analytics skills for L&D professionals. She emphasizes starting with business questions, identifying key metrics beyond completion rates, and strategically connecting training outcomes to organizational KPIs. Ford provides insights on engaging stakeholders early to define success and offers practical advice for moving beyond simple surveys to demonstrate tangible behavioral and business impact through pilot programs and data-driven storytelling.
With tighter budgets and ongoing economic uncertainty, many learning leaders are being asked to do more with less. Managing training functions with limited resources requires creativity, strategic prioritization and strong stakeholder alignment. In this episode of The Business of Learning, brought to you by Synthesia, we sat down with experienced L&D leaders Lauren Olson and Harry Colangelo, CPTM to explore how L&D professionals can maximize impact even when resources are scarce. Tune in...
Artificial intelligence (AI) is bringing both challenges and opportunities to the corporate learning space. In this episode of The Business of Learning — recorded live, in person at the 2025 Training Industry Conference & Expo (TICE) — we sat down with Nichol Bradford, executive-in-residence, AI+HI at SHRM, futurist, and founder and chairman of Transformative Tech Lab, to explore how learning leaders can use AI to drive human potential while navigating its challenges. Tune in now for insight...
Change is inevitable, but the good news is that leading it successfully is a skill that can be learned. In this episode of The Business of Learning — recorded live, in person at the 2025 Training Industry Conference & Expo (TICE) in celebration of Training Industry’s 20-year anniversary — we sat down with Dr. Michelle Rozen, a keynote speaker, author and expert on change management, to explore how learning leaders can support their organizations through disruption and help teams stay focused...
As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, organizations are under increasing pressure to equip their technical teams with the right skills to drive the business forward. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we sat down with Aleksandar Orovcanec, technical training specialist at CSA Group, to explore how learning leaders can develop and support future-ready tech teams Tune in now to hear insights on: Overcoming common technical training challenges Strategies for integrating soft ...
What does the future of skills development look like — and how can learning leaders prepare their people and organizations for what’s next? In this bonus episode of The Business of Learning, recorded live at the 2025 Training Industry Conference & Expo (TICE) in celebration of Training Industry’s 20-year anniversary, we gathered a panel of L&D leaders to discuss what it really takes to build a future-ready workforce. Tune in now to hear insights on: How skills-based strategies are reshap...
In 2025, effective onboarding is about connection, belonging and well-being — not just orientation sessions or process checklists. Today’s programs must be designed to help new hires feel supported, seen and prepared to thrive in their roles. In this episode of The Business of Learning, sponsored by Wisetail , we spoke with Geoffrey Roche, director of workforce development at Siemens Healthineers, to explore how L&D can drive more human-centered, inclusive onboarding experiences that make a ...
As generative artificial intelligence (AI) continues transforming the way we work and learn, it’s also changing how we coach and train high-performing sales teams. From personalized feedback to real-time performance insights, AI-powered coaching tools are helping organizations scale their sales training efforts — without sacrificing quality or impact. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we sat down with Julie Thomas, president and CEO of ValueSelling Associates, to explore how learning ...
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the way we work, the need for employees to understand and use data has never been more important. According to recent research from DataCamp, 86% of leaders say data literacy is essential for their teams’ daily tasks — and 62% say the same about AI literacy. But without these foundational skills, organizations risk falling behind. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Dr. Bill Brantley, CPTM, president and chief learning officer at BA...
Despite a lack of scientific evidence, the concept of learning styles — the idea that individuals learn best through a particular format like visual, auditory or kinesthetic — continues to be one of the most persistent myths in corporate training. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we sat down with Tom Whelan, Ph.D., director of corporate research at Training Industry, to learn more about the learning styles myth — and what the research actually says about how we learn. Tune in now to ...
Despite strides toward gender equity, women in the workplace continue to encounter systemic challenges that hinder their career progression. While representation in executive roles has improved over the past decade — rising from 17% to 29% of C-suite positions, according to McKinsey — women, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, remain significantly outnumbered. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Neha Trivedi, CPTM, HR director, learning and development an...
Organizations outsource training projects or processes for various reasons, including gaining access to specialized expertise, scaling programs efficiently and freeing up internal resources. Selecting the right training provider is the first step to ensuring a successful partnership, but success doesn’t stop there. Building a strong relationship between providers and buyers is essential for delivering learning solutions that align with business needs. In this episode of The Business of Learning,...
Ongoing Training Industry research has found that strategic alignment is the most important process capability of great training organizations. However, many learning and development (L&D) leaders struggle to align training with business goals. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we sat down with Anita Ann Mihelic, CPTM, director of learning and development at Construct Connect, and Peter Plumlee, CPTM, head of learning and development at Presence, for insights on building a strateg...
Today’s workplace is facing increasing complexities, making leadership both more important and more challenging than ever before. To stay competitive in a volatile market, companies need to develop effective leaders across organizational levels. They also need leaders who can not only navigate uncertainty but also use it as fuel for growth and innovation. In this episode of The Business of Learning, brought to you by Canvas, we spoke with Dr. Susan Gray, chief creative officer at Canvas, and Bru...
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to impact how we work and learn, learning leaders need robust AI skills to leverage this innovative technology for more impactful — and efficient — training. However, with AI quickly advancing, and new AI-powered learning technologies frequently hitting the market, building your AI skill set can seem daunting to busy training professionals. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Marc Ramos, an industry vet with 20 years of experience ...
In today’s workplace, it seems like the only constant is change. Organizations need agile leaders who can adapt to evolving business needs and guide their teams through uncertainty. Of course, this is easier said than done: Leaders need training and development to build key skills like resilience and agility. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Jennifer Garvey Berger, an author and the CEO of Cultivating Leadership, and Mindy Vail, an author and the founder and CEO of The ...
Human-centered leadership skills, like emotional intelligence (EQ), self-awareness, communication and more, are essential for leaders looking to support and empower their teams to perform at their best. However, many leaders struggle to develop human-centered skills. In fact, according to Gartner, 71% of employees believe that their leaders don’t exhibit human skills. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Karolien Koolhof, an author and founder of the training and coaching b...
In this special episode of The Business of Learning, brought to you by Wisetail , we spoke with Evan Melick, director of product at Wisetail, to learn more about how confidence impacts learning and performance. Tune in now for expert insights on: Why psychological safety is critical for effective learning. How leaders can assess employees’ confidence in a given skill. Why confident employees are more likely to take risks and drive innovation....
In this first video episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Tom Whelan, Ph.D., director of corporate research at Training Industry, about training measurement and evaluation. Specifically, we discussed the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO’s, latest guidance for L&D metrics, which are further detailed in the Training Industry Research e-book “Learning Measurement for Modern Business: Making Sense of ISO 30437.” Tune in now for insights on: • The 5-4-3 Framewor...
Multiple studies have shown that employee well-being is declining, with one recent report revealing that over 80% of employees are at risk of burnout in 2024. Although employee well-being is primarily a human priority, it’s equally important for businesses. In addition to burnout, low employee well-being can lead to decreased productivity, engagement and even turnover. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Kyile Stair, chief people officer at Litmos, to learn more about how ...
Businesses across industries consistently struggle to engage their workforce. Can learning and development (L&D) help businesses engage their people? And if so, how can learning leaders begin tackling what has become a pressing business challenge? We answer these questions more in the latest episode of The Business of Learning, where we spoke with Josiah Pledl, CPTM, founder of 45 Degrees Leadership Consulting and Dr. Britt Andreatta, author and CEO of Brain Aware Training. Tune in for insig...
With job roles ranging from instructional designer to training manager to chief learning officer and more, a career in learning and development (L&D) offers purpose-driven opportunities for growth and advancement. However, most L&D careers are far from linear, and it's inevitable that you'll face both highs and lows along the way. In this episode of The Business of Learning, sponsored by Edstutia , we spoke with two “accidental trainers” — Jen Recla, leadership coach and trainer at Recla...
Business acumen can help position learning leaders as strategic business partners. The challenge? Most of us aren’t born with business savvy. The good news, however, is that business acumen is a skill that can be learned. In the 75th episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Dr. Keith Keating, author of “The Trusted Learning Advisor” and chief learning and development officer at BDO Canada, to learn more about how to build business acumen as a learning leader. Listen now for insights on...
Today’s workforce consists of a diverse blend of generations whose distinct values, experiences and skills bring both challenges and opportunities to organizations. After all, research consistently shows that diverse teams outperform their counterparts. In this episode of The Business of Learning, brought to you by Wisetail , we spoke with Ryan Jenkins, a Wall Street Journal best-selling author and thought leader on working and leading across generations, about navigating the multigenerational w...
In 2024, it’s widely established that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is essential for business success. However, many companies still struggle to deliver DEI training and awareness initiatives that make a lasting impact. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Deanna Singh, author and co-founder of Uplifting Impact, a training and education workplace inclusion firm, to learn more about the state of DEI training in 2024 as well as tips for developing and delivering effec...
From recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) to immersive learning technologies and much more, the learning tech space is an exciting and fast-paced segment of the corporate training market. In the first episode of The Business of Learning's seventh season, we spoke with industry experts about learning technology trends and innovations. Listen now for insights on: How advancements in AI are impacting the learning tech space. How to select the right technology to support your programs...
Without reinforcement, even the best training programs will fail to drive sustained behavior change. Delivering “sticky” learning programs that encourage learning retention over time is key to realizing the business benefits of training and development. To learn more about learning reinforcement strategies and best practices, we spoke with Elena Agaragimova, a talent development specialist, author and podcaster, and Rachel Walerstein, CPTM, senior manager of learning and talent development for t...
