ATD Accidental Trainer

Sabina Nawaz is a global CEO coach, leadership keynote speaker, author, and advisor to C-level executives in Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions. She joins the podcast to discuss themes of leadership from her book, You’re the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need). As leaders navigate expanding power, increasing pressure to perform, and the impact of their decisions, Sabina offers tools to help mitigate the tension that builds. Whether you're a first-time manager or a seasoned leader, this episode will help you avoid the common pitfalls that can turn even your superpowers into setbacks. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinanawaz/ Website: https://sabinanawaz.com/ Book: https://sabinanawaz.com/book/ 

Connie Malamed, an author and learning design consultant, discusses how learning professionals can gain visibility without self-promotion. She highlights the importance of contributing meaningfully to foster credibility and combat feelings of invisibility. Connie offers practical strategies like 30-day visibility experiments and emphasizes viewing visibility as a service to others. With insights on building community support and overcoming imposter syndrome, she encourages listeners to embrace small actions to enhance their presence in the learning and development field.

In this engaging discussion, Jonathan Halls, an expert in talent development and learning science, critiques the well-known Bloom’s Taxonomy, highlighting its outdated application in modern learning environments. He argues that this framework can hinder effective learning rather than facilitate it. Halls proposes a fresh approach to writing learning objectives focused on clear actions, conditions, and standards. He also reflects on his unconventional journey into training, emphasizing the importance of adapting educational strategies to meet contemporary needs.

Chelsea C. Williams, Founder & CEO of Reimagine Talent, is an expert on intergenerational talent strategies and the Gen Z workforce. In this episode, Chelsea debunks myths about Gen Z and shares lessons we can learn from the youngest working demographic.  She breaks down what research reveals Gen Z truly values—from transparency and purpose to wellbeing and career development—and reveals the stereotypes that ofen misguide managers. Discover what resonates with young professionals and how leaders can evolve to better engage, retain, and empower early talent in today’s dynamic, diverse workplace. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseacwilliams/   Website: https://chelseacwilliams.com/ Reimagine Talent: https://www.reimaginetalentco.com/   Forbe’s Content: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/people/chelseacwilliams/ 

Bianca Baumann, VP of Learning Solutions at Ardent Learning, and Mike Taylor, Learning Consultant at Nationwide, share insights on integrating marketing strategies into learning programs. They emphasize the need for learner-centric content strategies that enhance engagement and improve outcomes. The conversation covers emotional engagement, leveraging technology, and utilizing data analytics to refine training approaches. They advocate for creating resonate learning experiences that drive measurable impact and securing stakeholder buy-in, all while embracing continuous learning and innovation.

Siri Chilazi, senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School and co-author of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results, joins the podcast to explore how organizations can meaningfully advance fairness at work.  Drawing on insights from her research and the book, Siri discusses how to drive change even in risk-averse or hesitant environments. She unpacks the difference between fairness and sameness, how to bias-proof training, and what it really takes to embed behavior change into day-to-day decision-making.  From debunking persistent workplace myths to practicing “norm entrepreneurship,” Siri offers practical strategies—grounded in data—that leaders and teams can apply right away.  Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirichilazi/  Website: https://sirichilazi.com/  Book: https://sirichilazi.com/books/make-work-fair/ 

Neil Thompson is the founder of Teach the Geek, a company dedicated to helping technical professionals effectively communicate the value of their work to non-technical stakeholders. He joins the podcast to share how anyone with a specialization can sharpen their presentation skills—moving beyond acronyms and jargon that only experts understand.  This conversation also explores what L&D professionals can do when they’re on the receiving end of technical lingo. How do you collaborate with a SME who seems to speak a different language? How can you encourage technical workers to embrace soft skill training? And where do we even start when it comes to AI?  Neil answers all of these questions and offers practical tips to solve a common workplace issue: getting too technical.  Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilithompson/   Website: https://teachthegeek.com/   TD Magazine article (Member-only):  https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/public-speaking-struggles-for-technical-professionals   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/teachthegeek 

Jenny Wood, former Google executive and author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It, challenges the idea that success means playing it safe. In this episode, she reveals how to reclaim nine so-called "negative" traits—like being selfish, nosy, or even manipulative—and use them to build confidence, influence without authority, and stand out in your career. We explore how these traits play out in risk-averse vs. risk-friendly workplaces, how to apply them in team settings (not just as individuals), and how to avoid Trait Traps that turn strengths into weaknesses. Plus, Jenny tackles skepticism around reframing words like "manipulative" and shares which trait challenged her the most. Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyilles/   Website: https://itsjennywood.com/ Book: https://itsjennywood.com/book Download Get Promoted Guide: https://itsjennywood.kit.com/7b1b560076   More Tools from Jenny: https://itsjennywood.com/resources  

Seth Godin, an acclaimed entrepreneur and bestselling author of 'This is Strategy', delves into the essence of strategy. He challenges conventional wisdom by suggesting that strategy should focus on systems, not strict plans. Godin emphasizes empathy and community action as crucial elements for enacting change. He explores the importance of soft skills in a rapidly evolving job landscape and draws intriguing parallels between the chocolate industry and leadership challenges. Plus, there's a delightful chocolate discussion to sweeten the conversation!

Sarah Mercier is the CEO of Build Capable and the editor of the newly released book, Design for All Learners: Create Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences. Sarah joins the podcast to share an inside look into Design for All Learners, revealing why everyone benefits from more inclusive design, and actionable steps you can take immediately to create more accessible content.    Sarah shares chapter sneak-peeks and explains how the story-driven format allows readers to understand accessibility in a new perspective. In addition, the conversation covers advocating for accessibility-focused roles and projects, how to make better design decisions, and going beyond a checklist mentality and basic standard compliance so that every learner can get the most out of your content.  Resources:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcmercier   Book: https://www.designforallbook.com/ Build Capable: https://www.buildcapable.com/   Episode Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/h3uEvlW6HvR