Succession planning is evolving beyond the C-suite and becoming a critical, organization-wide strategy. In this episode, Angela Stopper, Chief Learning Officer and Director of People & Organization Development at UC Berkeley, redefines succession planning as a forward-thinking, people-centric approach tailored for today’s dynamic workforce. Angela shares her future-ready, 4-stage process that L&D professionals can implement across their organizations. She also offers practical advice on tackling the biggest challenges facing L&D teams, securing buy-in from managers at every level, and designing a comprehensive strategy that prepares the entire organization for future success. Angela has shared several resources for free! If you used these and have a success story, share it with us here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KBG73KD  Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-stopper ATD24 Session Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14CWx6A0aIpZGxfAuAjw1FDrbq8SSjt3G/edit#slide=id.p30 ATD24 Summary with Resources: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UtimZCJ_V-8tQbxr3gU9WmbZ9M-KHl5W/edit#slide=id.p1 Succession Planning Toolkit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ss3i9V43Q7ZMHb4bDi0VPGM7hwwImvx/edit 

AI Agents are having their “electricity moment” in this era of technological invention. In this episode, we define AI agents and their evolving role in L&D with Mike Hruska, President and CEO of Problem Solutions. Mike explains the difference between chatbots and agents and offers practical tips for experimenting with these tools—whether you're a beginner or an expert.  Mike also shares insights on how to strategically integrate AI into your organization using an effort-impact evaluation. He outlines a clear path for moving AI agents from “toy to tool to trusted teammate” and offers a peek into the future landscape of generative AI. Tune in to hear examples of AI in action and steps to overcome skepticism while maximizing the benefits of AI in talent development.  Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehruska AI Blog Series: https://www.td.org/p/michael-hruska-?categories.lvl0%5B0%5D=Blog   AI Tool: https://getmaya.coach/   Age of Invisible Machines: https://www.invisiblemachines.ai/ 

Storytelling is fundamental for connection, but most people would not be considered naturally skilled at the art. On this episode, G. Riley Mills, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Pinnacle Performance Company, dives into why storytelling can be a challenge for L&D professionals and shares actionable strategies for honing communication skills.   G. Riley Mills outlines his 6-step framework for crafting compelling stories, offering insights on how to tailor your message to different audiences and embrace the art of brevity. Through examples of his personal experiences, G. Riley Mills shares how to evoke authentic emotion, influence listeners, and create stories that inspire action within your organization.  Resources:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gamills Website: https://new.pinper.com/resources/ Forbes Article: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2024/08/08/collaborative-communication-building-stronger-teams/  The Bullseye Principle: https://www.amazon.com/Bullseye-Principle-Intention-Based-Communication-Collaborate/dp/1119484715  Tedx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou4xYfsJVsk  

Julie Winkle Giulioni, a leadership and career development expert, is the author of Promotions Are So Yesterday and co-author of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go. In this episode, Julie places her upcoming third edition of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go in the context of today's rapidly changing workforce.  Julie discusses the social invisibility impacting remote worker professional development and how managers can integrate meaningful career conversations into regular interactions with employees. She also explains why organizations should embrace skill growth within talent, ways individuals can “manage up” and take control of their career trajectory, and L&D’s role in mitigating talent hoarding.   Resources:   Website: https://www.juliewinklegiulioni.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewinklegiulioni/ Promotions Are So Yesterday: https://www.td.org/product/p/112202   Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go, Re-released September 24: https://www.amazon.com/Help-Them-Grow-Watch-Third-dp-B0CQW78KMX/dp/B0CQW78KMX/ref=dp_ob_title_bk   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JulieWinkleGiulioni.Author/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYPG2YOq_4GTPUUrM1n4Q1w 

Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist, educator, and published author, joins the podcast to discuss overcoming the three biggest hurdles blocking learning transfer: knowledge, contextualization, and adaptation.    The conversation also explores the distinctions between subject comprehension and ability, the dynamics of digital versus in-person learning, and the disparity between AI teachers and live instructors. Enjoy this episode to discover more about Jared’s research and his “hack” for expediting learning transfer.   Resources:   • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-cooney-horvath  • LME Global: https://www.lmeglobal.net/?r_done=1  • Jared’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCypIIZtJ1JOJ8VdED2L360Q   • Harvard Business Review article: The Limits of GenAI Educators: https://hbr.org/2024/07/the-limits-of-genai-educators  • The Dilemma Regarding Transfer: https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/the-dilemma-regarding-transfer

Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer for Canvas by Instructure and a professor at UC Irvine, joins the podcast to discuss lifelong learning. Melissa offers practical advice for companies looking to move beyond the rhetoric and foster a true culture of continuous development.   Melissa addresses common barriers to learning, such as time scarcity and the need for clear guidelines and engaging practice opportunities. She also provides best practice methods for catering programs for diverse audiences, designing courses from scratch, and getting to the “why” of learning. Avoid ineffective strategies and burnout—tune in for Melissa’s expert guidance on making learning an integral part of everyday life.  Resources:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaloble/ Canvas by Instructure: https://www.instructure.com/   Educast 3000 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QTGC57NLu4id9FhV8GWZu?si=dc412648ccdf4c65

Learn how to break up emotional disconnection and repair workplace relationships with organizational psychologist Lola Gershfeld, founder of EMC Leaders. Discover the evergreen importance of emotional intelligence, how to disrupt negative relationship patterns, and practical steps to build stronger connections within your team. We delve into building emotional connection training and explore metrics to measure its effectiveness. Resources: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lolagershfeld EmC Leaders: https://emcleaders.com/ TD Magazine article : https://www.td.org/magazines/td-magazine/together-everyone-achieves-more Emotional Connection Book: https://emcleaders.com/emotional-connection-book 

Hadiya Nuriddin is the CEO and founder of Duets Learning and author of the new release, Quality Management in Learning and Development. In this episode, Hadiya breaks down what quality management really is and the misconceptions around it. Go beyond the limited “review process” mentality of checking for typos and broken links and learn how to think bigger by developing a quality management system that works toward the success of an organization.    The conversation also covers the challenges L&D professionals face when it comes to collaborating on a quality management system across departments. Hadiya shares her expertise on incorporating evidence-based procedures, designing for accessibility, and user-generated content in quality management guidelines. Resources Hadiya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadiyanuriddin   Book: https://www.td.org/book/quality-management-in-learning-and-development   Duets Learning Website: https://www.duetslearning.com/   Interlude Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/interlude-7036192515565240321/     

Matt Beane, an assistant professor at UC Santa Barbara and author of The Skill Code, shares insights on skill preservation in an AI-driven landscape. He emphasizes the 'three Cs'—Challenge, Complexity, and Connection—as essential for effective learning. Matt discusses the concept of 'shadow learners' and how AI impacts skill development, urging professionals to innovate their approaches. He also introduces Skillbench, a new initiative aimed at bridging the skills gap while advocating for a growth mindset amidst technological change.

Karin Hurt and David Dye, CEO and President of Let’s Grow Leaders, join the podcast to discuss their newly released book, Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict: What to Say Next to De-stress the Workday, Build Collaboration, and Calm Difficult Customers. The duo shares practical communication techniques from their book to help start difficult workplace conversations. They empower listeners with a framework for handling any conflict conversation: the “Four Dimensions of Constructive Conflict.” Enjoy the episode now to learn more about the 4-Cs and how to inject powerful phrases into your organization when navigating common workplace challenges, such as overwhelming workloads, matrixed teams, and difficult bosses. Resources:  Let’s Grow Leaders: https://letsgrowleaders.com/ Powerful Phrases Book: https://letsgrowleaders.com/conflict-phrases-book/   Asking for a Friend Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/asking-for-a-friend-6850036657530507264/   Collaborative Conversations Guide: https://letsgrowleaders.com/conflict-and-collaboration-resource-center/   Synergy Stack: https://letsgrowleaders.com/team-collaboration-synergystack/   Karin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-hurt-7ab25910/ David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmdye/