Professional Development
The knowledge and skills sought by learning professionals to improve their current practice and support their career development.
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Producers of DevLearn & Learning Leadership Announce the Debut of: Learning & Performance Tech Week 2026 with Exciting Event Firsts
[New York, NY, September 15, 2026] On November 2 – 6, 2026 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the learning community will get a first and exciting glimpse into the future of Learning Guild events. This year’s co-location of DevLearn and Learning Leadership, along with spotlight events including the AI for Learning Summit, new conference tracks including Learning Team & Project Management, and new learning paths aimed at helping learning teams prove the business value of their initiatives – marks the start of: Learning & Performance Tech Week. “This year, we have begun an exciting new chapter: a week-long…
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From Course Hours to Skills Data: Redesigning L&D Programs for Proof of Capability
Most L&D teams are running serious learning programs, but have a hard time answering the questions leadership keep asking: How do we know employees are building skills? And what do those new skills mean for the business? Completion rates and course hours tell you what happened. They don’t tell you what employees can do, or whether that capability is visible enough to drive internal mobility, inform talent decisions, or survive a budget conversation with the C-suite. Credentials, built the right way, are how capability becomes visible. In her role as Accredible’s Professional Services Lead, Lauren Shapiro has seen firsthand what…
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How SMBs Can Offer AI-Personalized Learning Paths
SMBs can deliver—and benefit from—personalized training. By aligning each AI initiative with business goals, training leaders can boost employee skills, enhance performance, and ensure every learning investment counts.
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In an AI-Heavy Learning World, Are You Building Connection or Just Creating Activity?
AI, automation, and learning technologies are changing how we design, deliver, and scale learning. But as the tools become more powerful, one question becomes even more important: are we creating learning experiences that feel meaningfully human, or are we simply creating more activity? Most virtual learning includes interaction. Polls, chat prompts, breakout rooms, whiteboards, and discussion questions are everywhere. While these activities can increase participation, they do not automatically create connection, relevance, or lasting impact. In an AI-heavy learning world, human connection is not a soft extra. It is the design discipline that makes learning stick. In this session, we’ll…
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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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DevLearn Announces 2026 Keynote Speakers Exploring AI, Leadership, and Workplace Resilience
NEW YORK, NY, JULY 16, 2026 – The Learning Guild announced the keynote speakers for DevLearn Conference & Expo 2026, its annual conference for learning professionals, taking place November 4 – 6, 2026, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The keynote lineup brings together leading voices in business, learning, technology, and organizational psychology to explore the trends reshaping workplace learning. Through sessions focused on artificial intelligence, leadership, career adaptability, and resilience, attendees will gain practical strategies for leading through change and preparing for the future of work. The 2026 keynote speakers are: Dan Pontefract Award-winning author, adjunct professor, and former CLO and customer education leader Dan Pontefract will present The Courage to Think Differently: Purpose & Possibilities. Drawing on lessons from his career…
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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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Peer Mentoring: How People Grow Each Other at Work
Peer mentoring cannot carry the full weight of a culture by itself. But it can create real places inside the culture where people begin to experience work differently.
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6 Essential Questions Every Leader Should Be Asking About AI
Many business leaders are stuck in the AI gray zone. The tech is moving fast, but the playbook hasn’t caught up. It’s not uncommon to feel a sense of urgency to take action, even though you might not know the best path to take. This can be a costly combination, leading leaders to chase tools instead of outcomes. What’s missing is a starting point rooted in purpose that ties AI to real business impact. This eBook distills insights from longtime AI researcher, NYU professor, and business leader, Dr. Vasant Dhar. His advice? Don’t start your AI journey by focusing on…
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When AI Enters the Coaching Conversation
The technology itself is not the threat; the threat is using it as a shortcut past the hard work that development actually requires.