The Business of Learning

Business acumen can help position learning leaders as strategic business partners. The challenge? Most of us aren’t born with business savvy. The good news, however, is that business acumen is a skill that can be learned. In the 75th episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Dr. Keith Keating, author of “The Trusted Learning Advisor” and chief learning and development officer at BDO Canada, to learn more about how to build business acumen as a learning leader. Listen now for insights on:  Learning the lingo: Why speaking the language of your stakeholders is key in gaining their buy-in and support. Seeking feedback: Why feedback is ultimately a gift that can help you advance L&D in your organization. Listening to learn: Why taking the time to listen and learn is essential for delivering strategic training programs.  

Today’s workforce consists of a diverse blend of generations whose distinct values, experiences and skills bring both challenges and opportunities to organizations. After all, research consistently shows that diverse teams outperform their counterparts. In this episode of The Business of Learning, brought to you by Wisetail, we spoke with Ryan Jenkins, a Wall Street Journal best-selling author and thought leader on working and leading across generations, about navigating the multigenerational workplace. Listen now to hear Ryan’s thoughts on: Why generations are “clues” not “absolutes.” How to leverage each generation’s strengths. Leading multigenerational teams.

In 2024, it’s widely established that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is essential for business success. However, many companies still struggle to deliver DEI training and awareness initiatives that make a lasting impact. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Deanna Singh, author and co-founder of Uplifting Impact, a training and education workplace inclusion firm, to learn more about the state of DEI training in 2024 as well as tips for developing and delivering effective DEI programs.  

From recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) to immersive learning technologies and much more, the learning tech space is an exciting and fast-paced segment of the corporate training market. In the first episode of The Business of Learning's seventh season, we spoke with industry experts about learning technology trends and innovations. Listen now for insights on: How advancements in AI are impacting the learning tech space. How to select the right technology to support your programs. The skills learning leaders need to maximize their learning tech stacks.

Elena Agaragimova and Rachel Walerstein discuss the importance of learning reinforcement in driving behavior change. They explore the role of managers, leveraging technology for retention, creating a learning culture, and enhancing engagement in virtual training.

Dr. Amy Du and other experts discuss the complexities of competency modeling, clarifying its purpose, techniques for establishing job baselines, connecting models to training strategies, and aligning with training manager responsibilities. They explore the evolution and challenges of competency modeling, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and regularly updating models.

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies have made the need for digital skills training a top business imperative. Without digital skills, employees will be ill-equipped to do their jobs in today’s world of work — and in tomorrow’s. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Shauna Begley, founder of ModernWork and current program head of the business information technology management program at the Business Columbia Institute of Technology, and George Hanshaw, director of digital learning solutions at Los Angeles Pacific University, to learn more about building a digitally fluent workforce. Listen now for insights on: The difference between digital fluency and digital literacy. Why “technical know-how” is just the beginning of cultivating digital fluency. How to assess your organization’s current level of digital fluency.

The skills employees need to do their jobs today might look quite different from the skills they'll need to do their jobs even just a few years from now. In fact, The World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs report found that 44% of workers’ core skills are expected to change in the next five years. To stay competitive, it's imperative that organizations map the skills their employees need to be successful not only in today's business environment, but also in tomorrow's.  In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Rose Cartolari, founder and CEO of RC Consulting, and Lisa Paulson, L&D manager at Nesnah Ventures, to learn more about skills mapping, and how it can help improve workforce readiness.     

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are impacting nearly every industry, including learning and development (L&D). With all the hype around AI, it makes sense that L&D professionals have some questions: How will AI impact the learning leader's role? How can it be used to make their jobs easier? How will it shape the future of corporate training as a whole?  Training Industry’s CEO, Ken Taylor, and Dr. Tom Whelan, director of research, recently sat down to discuss how AI is bringing both challenges and opportunities to the L&D field. Their conversation offers greater clarity for learning leaders around the future of L&D in the age of AI. In this episode, we outline five things you need to know, as a learning leader, about AI and its potential to impact corporate training as we know it.

From virtual instructor-led training (VILT) to eLearning to virtual reality (VR), there's no shortage of training delivery modalities available to choose from. This means that determining which modalities are best for your programs can be a challenge — especially as advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) continue to bring innovative delivery options to the market.  In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Lauren LePage, a learning designer at Chick-Fil-A, Jeffrey Dyer, CPTM, a senior technical training manager, and Valerie Marsh, CPTM, director of learning and development at Jushi, to learn more about:  How to select the right delivery modality for your programs.  How to create a blended learning experience.  How technology is impacting training delivery.