The Talent Development Hot Seat podcast - The #1 podcast for Learning and Development (L&D), HR, Career Development, Organizational Development, and Leadership Development professionals

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy welcomes Al Dea to the show. Al Dea is the founder of Betterwork Labs, a talent advisory firm focused on helping companies create cultures where their people can thrive. He is a speaker, advisor, and researcher on talent development, corporate learning, and career and workplace trends. Al is passionate about helping individuals and organizations create diverse, inclusive,  and growth-oriented cultures that unlock individual purpose and potential to achieve high performance.Al Dea is the host of the MBA Insider podcast. He researches, writes, and speaks on corporate learning, workplace trends, and talent strategy. His thinking and insights have been published in outlets like Business Insider, Training Magazine, The World Economic Forum, Inc., and Time Magazine. Al previously worked at Salesforce.com as a product marketer, helping launch products that touch thousands of customers. He was also a management consultant at Deloitte Consulting, advising Fortune 500 companies on developing and executing digital transformation, employee engagement, and leadership development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Boston College and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.In this bonus episode, you’ll hear:7. Al Dea’s proudest career accomplishment and why it stands out in his mind.8. His biggest career failure and how his oversight led to a bad performance review that became a wake-up call.9. One of the biggest challenges he sees in talent development today.10. A trend in talent development that Al Dea is paying attention to.11. Why you should read Love Is the Killer App by Tim Sanders.12. How you can begin to accelerate your career with contemplative action.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Al Dea:LinkedInBetterwork Labs6 Professional Development Trends for Learning in the New World of WorkMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy welcomes Al Dea to the show. Al Dea is the founder of Betterwork Labs, a talent advisory firm focused on helping companies create cultures where their people can thrive. He is a speaker, advisor, and researcher on talent development, corporate learning, and career and workplace trends. Al is passionate about helping individuals and organizations create diverse, inclusive,  and growth-oriented cultures that unlock individual purpose and potential to achieve high performance.Al Dea is the host of the MBA Insider podcast. He researches, writes, and speaks on corporate learning, workplace trends, and talent strategy. His thinking and insights have been published in outlets like Business Insider, Training Magazine, The World Economic Forum, Inc., and Time Magazine. Al previously worked at Salesforce.com as a product marketer, helping launch products that touch thousands of customers. He was also a management consultant at Deloitte Consulting, advising Fortune 500 companies on developing and executing digital transformation, employee engagement, and leadership development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Boston College and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.In this episode, you’ll hear:What Al Dea is observing in the corporate world, how learning in the workplace is transitioning, and what these changes are leading to.The definition of a fractional MBA and how you can still capture the value of an MBA.Why leadership development should go beyond hypo and the two things that have helped the shift away from hypo.How coaching is becoming more corporate-friendly and why it can help propel your career.What you can do to begin furthering your own career through the creator economy in addition to building a personal brand.The six trends Al Dea outlined in this podcast and his informational LinkedIn post.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Al Dea:LinkedInBetterwork Labs6 Professional Development Trends for Learning in the New World of WorkMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy is joined by Karina Napuri, a strategic talent development leader with over 15 years of experience across diverse industries within Fortune 100 and 500 organizations. She has direct experience with revamping performance management in multiple organizations. Combining deep functional HR expertise with specializations in talent development, learning, and organizational effectiveness, Karina Napuri has spearheaded large initiatives that advance the talent strategy for organizations seeking growth and change.Karina Napuri authored and architected high-impact programs that accelerated development. She’s passionate about translating learning and OD solutions into practical, relevant, and compelling programs that stick.In this bonus episode, you’ll hear:7. Karina Napuri’s biggest career success and why she’s so proud of that accomplishment.8. The mistake she’s learned the most from and how it’s changed her approach.9. One of the biggest challenges she sees in talent development right now and how she thinks it can be addressed.10. Why she’s closely following the trend of hybrid and remote work.11. How the “Growth Mindset” talk by Carol Dweck has influenced her along with a TED Talk by Dan Pink called “Drive.”12. Why the tool Neural has become so invaluable to her.13. What you can do to begin accelerating your career by utilizing your network.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Karina Napuri:LinkedInMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy is joined by Karina Napuri, a strategic talent development leader with over 15 years of experience across diverse industries within Fortune 100 and 500 organizations. She has direct experience with revamping performance management in multiple organizations. Combining deep functional HR expertise with specializations in talent development, learning, and organizational effectiveness, Karina Napuri has spearheaded large initiatives that advance the talent strategy for organizations seeking growth and change.Karina Napuri authored and architected high-impact programs that accelerated development. She’s passionate about translating learning and OD solutions into practical, relevant, and compelling programs that stick.In this episode, you’ll hear:Karina Napuri’s career background and how she shifted her career into the realm of talent development.Some reasons you may want to consider revamping performance reviews in your organization and how that can affect how the job gets done.The risks of changing performance reviews and how you can address those risks in your organization.What you should look at as you make plans to revamp performance management processes at your company.What people want from their workplaces post-COVID and the type of culture they’re looking for.The question you should ask yourself out loud to open the door for your employees to give feedback.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Karina Napuri:LinkedInMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy welcomes Dean Geoffrey Garrett from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. Dean Garrett joined the Marshall School of Business in the summer of 2020 after six years as dean of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the board of directors of Park Hotels and Resorts. He’s also a distinguished international political economist and has held academic appointments at Oxford, Stanford, and Yale Universities.Dean Garrett is a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Social Sciences, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a winner of the Foreign Policy Association Medal, and the Advanced Global Australian award. Dean Garrett is a LinkedIn influencer whose blog is widely followed by academic, business, and thought leaders, and his expertise on world politics, business, and the global economy as well as on the U.S.-China relations is sought after by major media organizations around the world.Dean Garrett holds a B.A. with honors from the Australian National University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Duke University, where he was a Fulbright scholar.In this episode, you’ll hear:What Dean Geoffrey Garrett sees as some of the key challenges facing businesses today and how the pace of change is affecting workplaces.The three key skillsets you need to succeed in business as taught by the Marshall School of Business.Why executive education is important, who should be furthering their education, and how you can apply that education to your career while participating in continuous learning opportunities.How you can add value to learning opportunities in your organization with a high-performance learning journey.Why creativity is a crucial part of modern-day leadership and the three core pillars he focuses on.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Dean Geoffrey Garrett here:LinkedInMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy’s guest is Shana Sharan. She is a multi-faceted talent development professional with experience across multiple SaaS companies. She is currently the Head of Talent Management at New Relic, a software company based in San Francisco. Before she took over her position at New Relic, Shana had multiple roles at SalesForce and is experienced in directing large, complex global programs across HR, including leadership development, employee engagement, and performance management.Shana Sharan holds an M.A. from Columbia University, is a DISC facilitator, and recently earned a certification in corporate mindfulness facilitation.In this bonus episode, you’ll hear:7. Shana Sharan’s biggest career success and how that has helped her continue to grow her career.8. What she’s learned in her field that she thinks people need to know.9. The tool that’s always in her toolbox no matter what project she’s working on.10. The biggest challenge she believes talent development is facing today.11. Why she’s excited about the current trend of mindfulness in the workforce.12. Her favorite books to recommend to others.13. The one piece of career advice she gives to people who want to advance their careers.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Shana Sharan:LinkedInMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy’s guest is Shana Sharan. She is a multi-faceted talent development professional with experience across multiple SaaS companies. She is currently the Head of Talent Management at New Relic, a software company based in San Francisco. Before she took over her position at New Relic, Shana had multiple roles at SalesForce and is experienced in directing large, complex global programs across HR, including leadership development, employee engagement, and performance management.Shana Sharan holds an M.A. from Columbia University, is a DISC facilitator, and recently earned a certification in corporate mindfulness facilitation.In this episode, you’ll hear:How Shana Sharan’s career began in consulting and transitioned into her role in talent development today.What she’s doing to create an environment where people can do their best work and the main components required to do so.The pros and cons from a wellness perspective she witnessed as the workforce reemerged from the pandemic.What it means to create psychological safety, how it can be created in your organization, and misconceptions surrounding the concept.How the measurement of performance has changed and why the old model of a performance review once a year no longer works.The three things people want to know when they receive performance feedback.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Shana Sharan:LinkedInMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy welcomes Dr. Marsha Parker to the show. Dr. Parker is a learning and development leader at Ford Motor Company with responsibility for the transformation and integration of learning technology platforms and services. She’s an experienced human performance strategist, designer, and coach with over 10 years in the field of instructional design and talent analytics. Dr. Parker is a thought leader in creating data-driven organizations, analyzing learning trends, and building people capability.Dr. Marsha Parker received her Ph.D. from Wayne State University, and she is a recognized speaker within the performance improvement industry and serves as a data and analytics adjunct professor at La Salle University and consultant to Becker Educational Services. In this bonus episode, you’ll hear:7. Dr. Marsha Parker’s proudest career accomplishment and why it stands out for her.8. Her biggest career misstep and what she would change about that experience.9. Why the speed of the way L&D is changing right now is the biggest challenge she sees in talent development.10. Her favorite trend in talent development and how it’s shaping employee experiences.11. Why Dr. Parker highly recommends Brené Brown’s book, Atlas of the Heart.12. What you can do to accelerate your career success according to Dr. Parker.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Marsha Parker:LinkedInMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy welcomes Dr. Marsha Parker to the show. Dr. Parker is a learning and development leader at Ford Motor Company with responsibility for the transformation and integration of learning technology platforms and services. She’s an experienced human performance strategist, designer, and coach with over 10 years in the field of instructional design and talent analytics. Dr. Parker is a thought leader in creating data-driven organizations, analyzing learning trends, and building people capability.Dr. Marsha Parker received her Ph.D. from Wayne State University, and she is a recognized speaker within the performance improvement industry and serves as a data and analytics adjunct professor at La Salle University and consultant to Becker Educational Services. In this episode, you’ll hear:Her career background, how she pivoted into consulting and education work, and her philosophy on learning and technology today.How Dr. Parker defines the learner experience and some examples of learner-centric technology.Her core learning technology roadmap and how you can use that framework in your own organization.Why learning has become at the forefront of the workplace and how it can help you retain employees in your organization.The “buy, build, partner” model, what that looks like in practice, and how you can use the data that you collect to do a needs assessment.What Dr. Marsha Parker is doing to improve DEI and, in turn, employee retention.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Marsha Parker:LinkedInMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/

In this episode of The Talent Development Hot Seat, Andy welcomes guest Andrew Barry. Andrew Barry is the founder of Curious Lion, a training design firm reimagining the way companies like PagerDuty, Pinterest, and KPMG cultivate learning cultures. He is the creator of Course of Action, a self-paced program and community for aspiring course creators--and working towards making Andrew’s vision that everyone has an online course in them a reality.In this bonus episode, you’ll hear:6. Andrew Barry’s proudest career moment and why he learned so much from it.7. His biggest failure in business, the lessons he learned from that, and how he’s applied that knowledge to Curious Lion.8. The trends he’s following in the LXP space surrounding consolidations and decentralized strategic partnerships.9. Why he’s read The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge multiple times and highly recommends it.10. Andrew Barry’s advice for people looking to further their careers.Connect with Andy Storch here:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Connect with Andrew Barry:LinkedInCurious Lion LearningThe Learning ExperienceMentioned in this episode:Think Tank conferenceGet your tickets now for the Talent Development Think Tank Conference https://tdtt.us/conference/