ATD Accidental Trainer

Marty Dubin, a clinical psychologist and author of Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader, joins us to explore six leadership blind spots that may be affecting your work: identity, intellect, emotion, motive, traits, and behavior.  These areas offer L&D professionals a framework for strengthening self-awareness and managing the many roles they take on. Marty explains the “why” behind analyzing blind spots, shares actionable steps for adopting new behaviors, and provides strategies to prevent strengths (“gifts”) from becoming weaknesses (“gaps”). Drawing on his experience as both entrepreneur and business coach, Marty also discusses the value of emotional agility, the four types of intelligence, and how to align your identity with your role—even amid rapid change.  Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-dubin/   Website: https://www.martindubin.com/   Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRZFK8J6?tag=bk00010a-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=true  

When it comes to tackling the bias around age, is the juice worth the squeeze? Our guest, Tonya Wilson, says absolutely.  Tonya, organizational strategist and founder of AFC Consulting Group, joins the podcast to discuss the hidden costs of age discrimination—an issue that drains more than $850 billion from the U.S. economy each year. Tonya debunks myths about older generations, reframes age bias as a change management challenge, and offers suggestions for creating systems that provide growth opportunities for all employers.   Building an ageless workplace begins with auditing processes that may favor younger employees—whether in job descriptions, promotion practices, or workplace culture. From fostering psychological safety to implementing reverse mentorships, Tonya shares research-backed insights on training older generations and reveals how to develop agility as a mindset first.  Reources: Website: https://www.afcconsultinggroup.com/   Blog: https://www.td.org/content/atd-blog/designing-ageless-workplaces-a-strategic-imperative-for-the-future TD article: https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/the-future-of-work-is-ageless Resource Package: https://resources.afcconsultinggroup.com/unmaskingageism ATD25 Education Session: https://www.td.org/content/conference-recording/unmasking-ageism-raising-awareness-and-shaping-inclusive-talent-development  

Ryan Lufkin, Vice President of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, joins the podcast to cut through the noise around AI-enabled skill building and explore how this technology can truly support a thriving learning culture. AI is an accelerator, a disruptor, and a powerful tool—but it’s not replacing educators any time soon. Ryan shares how AI can work hand-in-hand with human oversight, expand accessibility, and take tedious tasks off your plate. He also offers practical, budget-friendly tools that L&D teams can put to work today. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlufkin/ Website: https://www.instructure.com/ 

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