How the NBA is Developing Leaders - Mike Kennedy

The pendulum of learning & development programs is constantly swinging back and forth. On one side is the more data-driven, measured, and formal approach. On the other is the more human and empathetic approach to developing leaders. Michael Kennedy is the Learning and Development Leader for the NBA, and he’s trying to balance these 2 approaches. Michael and his team have recently rethought their philosophy on leadership. They wanted to take an approach that was balanced and business-minded. So in 2017, they revamped their L&D program to be much more holistic. These were personalized programs. Ones that took advantage of the latest tech, but focused on the human and community aspects of learning. Most importantly, these leadership programs were no longer only available to new employees or existing team members starting new roles. They were available to everyone, and Michael specifically tailored programs to reach senior NBA leaders. These leaders had been in their roles for decades in some cases, but this new philosophy stated that learning is a continual process. It doesn’t stop when you reach a certain level of management.