the Learn-It-All™ podcast 222: How One Lesson Turned a Dropout Into a CLO | Dr. Keith Keating
Winning isn’t just about what you know—it’s about the value you create and the lives you change.
In this thought-provoking episode, Damon Lembi sits down with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning Officer at BDO and bestselling author, to unpack how learning professionals can shift from being order takers to strategic value creators inside their organizations. Keith gets candid about his own journey from high school dropout to PhD and international L&D leader, sharing actionable ways anyone can maximize their personal growth—and show up as a business partner that leaders can’t live without. This episode is packed with strategies for navigating the transition from the knowledge economy to the value economy, practical tools for influencing even the toughest CFOs, and a framework for measuring the hidden value that L&D brings to business. If you want to boost your credibility, expand your influence, and future-proof your career (especially in the era of AI), this one’s for you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why “not my job” are the three most dangerous words in any organization—and how to break out of the L&D box
- How Keith’s own underdog background fuels his approach to helping others unlock potential through learning
- The crucial shift from knowledge economy to value economy—and how to prove your impact with business language
- Keith’s Value Creation Compass: a framework for aligning L&D with what the business (and CFOs) actually value
- Why stories matter more to senior leaders than spreadsheets—and how to build powerful narratives
- How to avoid burnout and find purpose as a learning professional, even when your value isn’t being recognized
Timestamps:
00:00 – The danger of “not my job” and why value creators stand out
01:32 – How learning changed Keith’s life
03:08 – The power of “teach backs” and learning by teaching
05:15 – Book clubs and underrated learning tools
07:08 – Embracing the underdog mentality for career resilience
08:35 – What inspired “Hidden Value” and why now is critical for L&D
11:17 – Why L&D is stuck as order takers and how to break the cycle
13:03 – Moving from defense to proactive value creation
16:42 – Key shift: stop speaking L&D, start speaking business
17:13 – Where to start: deep business and financial research
20:13 – Engaging the CFO: what they actually care about
21:44 – How (and why) to build relationships with Finance
24:35 – Using stories, not just data, to prove your impact
29:20 – Real-world story: How L&D drove business results at BDO
33:12 – The Value Creation Compass explained
37:44 – Organizational resilience and fostering a learning culture
39:39 – Overcoming fixed mindsets at every level
41:02 – How to build learning cultures even if senior leaders resist
43:17 – What Keith would change (or double down on) from his first book
44:29 – The future of L&D: evolving roles, relevance, and AI
48:01 – Never say “not my job”—become indispensable
About Dr. Keith Keating
Dr. Keith Keating is the Chief Learning Officer at BDO, keynote speaker, and author of The Trusted Learning Advisor and Hidden Value: Why Learning and Development Is the Key to Unlocking Human Potential. His journey from high school dropout to industry leader has fueled his mission to make learning an equalizer and a driver of transformation for individuals and organizations. Keith is passionate about helping L&D practitioners move from the sidelines to the boardroom, focusing on value creation, business partnership, and storytelling.
Resources & Mentions:
- Dr. Keith Keating Website: Website
- Dr. Keith Keating on LinkedIn.
- Hidden Value: Why Learning and Development Is the Key to Unlocking Human Potential by Dr. Keith Keating
- The Trusted Learning Advisor by Dr. Keith Keating
Podcast Contact Information:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
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