Management & Strategy
The strategic approaches used to shape the direction of the learning function and to support the design and development of learning solutions.
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The Alignment Advantage: How Learning Teams Can Drive Strategic Value
By Alaina Szlachta “Stakeholders don’t know whether HR and L&D are worth investing in.” This candid statement from a good friend, and fellow learning enthusiast, captures a central challenge L&D professionals have faced for decades. Many organizational leaders struggle to see the direct connection between learning initiatives and business outcomes. When budgets tighten, HR and L&D departments are often first on the chopping block—precisely because this connection remains unclear. In my research and work as an internal learning leader and consultant, I’ve consistently found that alignment is the single factor that differentiates high-performing, mature learning departments from everyone else. As…
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Unlock Learning Innovation Through Agile Experimentation
In 2022, several global companies invested heavily in metaverse-based learning programs. Months later, priorities shifted as generative AI entered the scene, reshaping digital learning priorities overnight, and many of those metaverse initiatives were shelved. The cost? Millions of dollars and countless hours. These kinds of missteps aren’t just about budget; they erode trust and slow progress—and they happen more often than we admit. No one could have predicted exactly how quickly AI would reshape the learning landscape, but the situation raised a familiar challenge: How do we make smart decisions in a world where priorities shift fast? That’s where agile…
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Data Literacy: One Question at a Time
For many of us, when the term “data” enters the conversation, it creates distance. We either find ourselves requesting it from others or consuming it passively when it arrives. That mindset—”I request” or “I consume”—can make us feel like bystanders. But here’s the truth: You’re already more than that. You’re a partner in your data. And becoming a true partner doesn’t require a new title or a technical background; it just requires a mind shift. Data literacy isn’t about becoming fluent in formulas or dashboards. It’s about recognizing that you belong in the conversation. That your questions, your insights, and…
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Meet 10 of the Most Promising L&D Professionals Under 30
Each year, the Learning Leadership Conference selects 30 up-and-coming learning leaders to participate in the Thirty Under 30 program. Even in their short career, these young professionals have started making waves. Take a look at the achievements of the first 10 of our Thirty Under 30 honorees: Maggie Bodner, Learning & Development Manager, BrandsMart USA Maggie developed her organization’s first-ever new hire program, despite the company being around for nearly 40 years. This initiative provided a structured onboarding experience, ensuring new team members felt supported and prepared from day one. As the only L&D team member at BrandsMart, this was…
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Build or Buy? Identifying When to Customize Your Learning
Small and solo L&D teams face a constant dilemma: Should we build custom learning, buy off-the-shelf solutions, or find a middle ground? Without a structured decision-making framework, teams often waste precious time, budget, and effort—leading to solutions that miss the mark. This session solves that problem by introducing a proven, adaptable model to make smart, strategic choices that balance impact, efficiency, and cost.
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Skilling Up for AI Transformation
By Megan Torrance and Lauren Milstid Back in the summer of 2023, the AI buzz was loud and growing louder by the day. In nearly every conversation, learning leaders were asking versions of the same question: How do we get our people ready for this? Not just ready to click through a webinar or try out a chatbot, but really ready—to use it, adapt with it, and lead with it. Spoiler: It’s not just about training. It’s about transformation. And not the kind that happens overnight. In fact, it’s ongoing. Lately, I’ve been in a lot of conversations—some casual, some…
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Agile within Agile for Learning Development: A Hybrid Approach using the SAFe Agile Framework & SAM
In this session, we will explore a hybrid approach in which organizations can accelerate the development of high-quality learning materials, improve learner engagement, and increase the overall effectiveness of their training programs.
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Why Your Change Management Strategy Needs a Behavioral Health Checkup
Change is rarely linear. This ebook introduces a proven, psychology-backed framework to help teams adopt new systems and behaviors by meeting them where they are—one stage at a time.
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Why Nurturing International Social Connections Is Good for You
Globalization was a big word some decades ago. But even before the trend emerged, on my travels, I had always been happy receiving a business card from a person who was living far away from me. In a completely different country, even on a different continent, often recognizable as “a different culture.” In modern times, with, as is said sarcastically, the problems remaining the only global thing, I still believe we should learn from one another—despite being physically far apart. Many years ago, it was my curiosity that drove me to my international connections—these subsequently resulted in some benefits for…
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Innovating in L&D: Practical Strategies for Real Impact
To innovate is to make changes to something established by introducing new methods, ideas, or products. Let’s explore actionable ways to spark innovation within L&D.