Latest from Lindsay Brestovansky
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Beyond the FAQ: How Customer Education Creates Lasting Value
Mark Oehlert, Director of Customer Education at Qualtrics, has worked across internal L&D, government training, and customer-facing education. In this interview, he discusses what changes, and what remains the same, when your learners are customers, why customer education metrics can provide a sharper view of impact, and how organizations can move beyond quick answers to create learning experiences that drive deeper engagement and value. He also previews his DevLearn 2026 session on what internal L&D teams can learn from customer education, and vice versa. Q: How did you get your start in learning and development? A: Yeah, you know, pretty…
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Beyond Bullet Points: How Tristia Hennessey Uses Storytelling and Scenarios to Make Learning Stick
Tristia Hennessey’s path into learning and development began with risk management training for banks, continued through onboarding and administrative work, and eventually led her to enterprise L&D strategy and program delivery. Today, as Senior Instructional Technology Strategist at Evolve Solutions Group, she helps organizations address challenges that extend far beyond a single course or training objective. From software implementation and AI readiness to the everyday friction that can prevent people from doing their jobs effectively. Tristia understands the power of storytelling, gamification, and realistic scenarios to create learning experiences that are more engaging, memorable, and meaningful and will be sharing…
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Keep Your Finger on the Pulse: Brandy Ford on Learning Analytics, Technology, and Change
Learning leaders are navigating rapid changes in business needs, technology, and workforce skills. And keeping pace requires staying closely connected to the organization. With more than 20 years of experience in learning and development, Brandy Ford has seen that evolution firsthand. As Head of Learning Analytics and Technology at FM, she oversees learning strategy, analytics, and the technology that supports the organization’s global learning culture. In this interview, Ford discusses the importance of measuring learning’s impact, maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders, and building a future-ready learning ecosystem. She also offers a preview of the practical conversations and solutions she hopes…
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Speaking the Same Language: Iuliia Algasova on Building a Skills-Based Organization
Iuliia Algasova is a learning leader focused on skills development, capability building, and the thoughtful use of AI in learning. As Vice President, Skills Development at BlackRock, she works at the intersection of business needs, workforce capabilities, and modern learning design, helping develop job-ready skills at scale. Her background in teaching, online learning, and content strategy brings both innovation and empathy to her work, while her recognition as one of the Learning Guild’s Thirty Under 30 reflects her commitment to practical, human-centered learning. In this Q&A interview, she discusses how skills can create a shared language across learning, talent, and…
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Building Leadership in the Moments That Matter: A Conversation with Ryan Decoste
Ryan Decoste’s path into learning and development began unexpectedly, but it sparked a career spanning more than 20 years in leadership, performance, coaching, and organizational development. Today, as Senior Vice President of People and Organizational Development at Klick, Ryan helps shape everything from onboarding and skill development to coaching and performance across a global organization. In this Learning Expert Spotlight, Decoste discusses the importance of staying close to the business, recognizing the signals hidden in organizational data, and designing development around the real challenges leaders face. At Learning Leadership, he’ll bring these ideas to his discussion, What if leadership capability is built in moments—not programs?, where attendees will explore…
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From Content to Capability: Danielle Eisenach-Reichel on the Future of Learning Leadership
As part of our Learning Expert Spotlight series, we spoke with Danielle Eisenach-Reichel, Global Director of Facilitation at Fresenius Medical Care, ahead of her discussion at Learning Leadership 2026. In a rapidly evolving workplace, the role of learning leaders has expanded far beyond delivering training programs—they’re now responsible for building leadership capability, navigating complexity and driving meaningful behavior change. Danielle is at the forefront of that transformation. In this interview, she shares why values-driven leadership is more important than ever, how organizations can move beyond content to create lasting impact, and what attendees can expect from her Learning Leadership breakout discussion on turning values…
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Creating Learning That Works: A Conversation with Melissa Milloway
Melissa Milloway, Senior Learning Experience Designer at Microsoft, has become one of the learning industry’s most recognizable voices by sharing practical ideas that help instructional designers create better learning experiences. But long before building an online following or becoming known for her expertise with tools like Articulate Storyline and Rise, she found herself drawn to a field that combined technology, creativity, and a passion for helping people learn. Ahead of DevLearn 2026, we caught up with Melissa to talk about her path into learning and development, why she believes sharing your work makes the entire community stronger, what attendees can expect from the new Storyline & Rise…
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Meet the Learning Guild’s 2026 Thirty Under 30 (Part Two)
We’re back to announce the second half of the Learning Guild’s 2026 Thirty Under 30! Together, these innovators, strategists, designers, and leaders represent the depth and diversity of the next generation shaping the learning field. This November the Learning Guild community will recognize all 30 of these emerging professionals and celebrate their contributions to the future of learning at DevLearn 2026. Meet the second half of this year’s Thirty Under 30 cohort. Patrick McMorrow Constructive Disruptor in Learning and Leadership Patrick challenges assumptions to create stronger learning experiences. Through leadership development, facilitation, and learner advocacy, he pushes organizations beyond the status quo in pursuit of meaningful results. Kelyn Melendez-Ruiz Guiding People Through Transformation Kelyn…
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Meet the Learning Guild’s 2026 Thirty Under 30 (Part One)
The future of learning isn’t waiting its turn. It’s already making an impact. Each year, the Learning Guild’s Thirty Under 30 recognizes rising professionals who are redefining what workplace learning can be. This year’s cohort represents an impressive range of industries, perspectives, and expertise, but they share a common thread: a commitment to helping people learn, grow, and succeed. Plus, this year these emerging leaders will be recognized at DevLearn 2026, happening November 4 – 6 in Las Vegas. In the first of our two-part introduction, we’re proud to spotlight the first 15 members of the 2026 cohort. Jayda Abney, Learning & Development Specialist, Rack Room Shoes Inclusive Learning Design Champion Jayda is championing inclusive…
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Learning Leadership 2026 Preview: Leading With Curiosity When L&D Arrives Late
Over the past 25 years, Allyson Roote has witnessed the evolution of learning and development from a focus on content creation to a strategic business function. As VP of Learning and Organizational Development at The Bonadio Group, she leads learning initiatives that support leadership development, organizational growth, and business performance. At Learning Leadership 2026, Roote will share how learning leaders can turn one of their most challenging moments—being left out of a key conversation—into an opportunity to build influence. Ahead of the event, we spoke with her about the shifting role of learning leaders, navigating change, and why curiosity often matters and can help you get a seat at the…