

Bring Out the Talent: A Learning and Development Podcast
Maria Melfa & Jocelyn Allen
Tune into The Training Associates (TTA) “Bring Out the Talent” podcast to hear from learning and development talent and partners on their innovative approaches and industry insights. In each episode, TTA’s CEO, Maria Melfa, and Talent Manager, Jocelyn Allen will chat with subject matter experts and bring you casual, yet insightful conversations. Maria and Jocelyn use their unique blend of industry experience and humor to interview the L&D industry’s most influential people, latest topics, and powerful stories. Each episode has important takeaways that will help to create a culture of continuous learning within your organization. Tune in as we Bring Out The Talent!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 8, 2023 • 45min
Navigating Sales Challenges: Insights and Solutions
In today's competitive market, sales professionals encounter numerous obstacles that can significantly impact their success. However, with the right strategies and techniques, salespeople can effectively overcome these common challenges and build strong relationships with potential customers. In this episode of "Bring Out the Talent," we are joined by Tom Hurley, the managing partner at OwenCollier Partners, a leading sales consulting company. Tom shares key insights to help salespeople flourish in the face of changing market conditions and customer preferences.Tune in to this week's episode of "Bring Out the Talent" and learn practical tips and expert insights that will empower sales professionals to be more successful and thrive in today's competitive market.

Jul 25, 2023 • 58min
Harnessing Individual Strengths for Collective Success: Insights from CliftonStrengths Coaching
Celebrate our momentous 50th episode of Bring Out the Talent with an inspiring exploration of individual strengths and their profound impact on collective success. Join us as we dive into the world of CliftonStrengths coaching, where we uncover the transformative power that lies within each of us.In this episode, we chat with Kisha Dixon, a certified CliftonStrengths coach who has empowered countless individuals and teams to reach their full potential. Discover the significance of self-awareness, and how embracing our unique strengths can be the key to unlocking unparalleled synergy within groups and organizations. Whether you're an entrepreneur, team leader, or simply someone seeking personal growth, this episode promises invaluable insights to elevate your understanding of self and others. Embrace the power of individuality and learn how harnessing diverse strengths can propel us towards collective achievement.Join us as we mark our 50th episode in true podcast style, with a thought-provoking conversation that illuminates the path to harnessing individual strengths for a future filled with limitless possibilities.

Jul 11, 2023 • 39min
Confidence in Speaking for Any Situation
Public speaking is the number one phobia in the world. The good news is there are specific, actionable steps you can take to decrease your anxiety about public speaking. In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, our guest, Terry Bean, will help us navigate through the most common challenges people face when presenting and will provide strategies to overcome them. Terry's expertise as a three-time TEDx speaker, Business Development Coach, Author, Trainer, and Consultant has empowered individuals and organizations to enhance their presentation skills and build meaningful connections with their audiences. Tune in to discover how you can cultivate unwavering confidence, speak with poise, and make a lasting impact in any situation. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock your true speaking potential!

Jun 20, 2023 • 46min
Building a Customer-Centric Culture: Empowering Employees to Drive Service Excellence
68% of customers leave a company because they feel the business doesn't care about them. So, as leaders, it's crucial to prioritize customer service and create a culture that values and fosters excellent customer experiences. In this episode of Bring Out The Talent, we are joined by Holly O'Donnell, founder of Slone Solutions, a leading customer service consultancy firm, to discuss ways that leaders can prioritize customer service, empower their employees, and drive long-term success. Tune in as we explore how service leadership can drive customer loyalty, increase revenue, and ultimately transform your business, highlighting the indispensable role customer service plays in today's competitive landscape.

Jun 7, 2023 • 49min
Unlocking the Power of Generative AI: Exploring its Potential in HR and L&D
In this episode of "Bring Out The Talent," we to discuss the power of generative AI and its potential for HR and Learning and Development departments with our guest Gary DePaul, PhD. Gary unravels the potential and the power of generative AI, shedding light on its positive and negative implications for those in L&D and HR roles. From personalized learning experiences to ethical considerations, we delve into how this technology is reshaping the landscape. Discover how generative AI is revolutionizing training programs and the challenges it poses in terms of data privacy. Tune in for a captivating exploration of the dynamic effects of generative AI on learning and development!

May 23, 2023 • 53min
The Power of Storytelling to Drive Positive Transformation
In this episode of "Bring Out The Talent," we are joined by Maggie Redling and Coleman Williams, owners of Wrestling With Talent, to discuss how each of us can drive effective change and develop an emotional connection that will engage our workplace by using the power of storytelling. Learn how storytelling can evolve into a companywide theme that unites teams and fosters high participation and positive change. Maggie and Coleman share their journey of transforming a mundane compliance learning program into a fun experience that everyone wanted to be a part of. Drawing from their expertise in leadership development, HR consulting, and learning innovation, Maggie and Coleman share their experiences and creativity to guide us in creating impactful learning experiences and cultivating a stronger, more engaged workplace culture. So, tune in as we uncover the power of storytelling to drive performance and engagement in the workplace.

May 9, 2023 • 37min
Building Psychological Safety as a Leader
In this episode of "Bring Out The Talent," we explore the importance of psychological safety in the workplace with our guest, Kristy Busija. Kristy breaks down the four stages of psychological safety and shares how leaders can cultivate each of these stages. We also discuss how leaders can create a personal action plan to establish a psychologically safe environment for themselves and their teams, misconceptions surrounding psychological safety and its impact on mental health and wellness, and the different aspects of psychological safety when working in a hybrid workplace.Tune in as we welcome Kristy Busija, CEO and Founder of Next Conversation Coaching, to help us prioritize psychological safety and create a workplace that empowers personal growth, innovation, and mental health.

Apr 25, 2023 • 39min
7 Leadership Characteristics for High-Potential Leaders
In this episode of “Bring Out The Talent,” we are joined by Karan Ferrell-Rhodes. Karan is an organizational psychologist, a leadership development strategist, an HR consultant, and the CEO of Shockingly Different Leadership. In today’s conversation, Karan shares her research of over 10,000 global high-potential leaders and their organizations and shares how they rose to the top of their game in their profession or industry. She also discusses the top 7 characteristics of successful leaders, whether or not those characteristics can be developed, the best way to spot these traits in emerging leaders, and so much more.Tune in and gain a better understanding of the most effective leadership styles and even identify our own strengths and weaknesses to ultimately become better leaders or spot emerging leaders in our workplaces.

Feb 20, 2023 • 37min
Collaboration Revolution in the Workplace
We are in the midst of a collaboration revolution. We are working with everyone, all the time, across silos and different platforms, but sometimes it feels as if we're stuck in a no-win cycle. We’re dealing with a sometimes-overwhelming influx of asks, with unclear lines of communication, and authority. This leaves many of us asking - how can we improve the way our teams work together?In this episode of “Bring Out The Talent,” we are joined by one of our favorite returning guests, Bruce Tulgan. Bruce is the founder and CEO of Rainmaker Thinking and internationally recognized as a leading expert on the best practices of effective management. He earned a B.A. magna cum laude from Amherst College and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law. In this conversation, Bruce helps us improve the way we work together, motivates us to rethink collaboration in the workplace, when to say "no" or "not yet," and how to better understand the peculiar mathematics of real influence.Tune in as Bruce shares invaluable insight and helps us improve the way our teams work together!

Feb 6, 2023 • 43min
Building Trust: Blueprint for Developing Trust in the Workplace
A surprising Gallup survey recently revealed that 77% of employees have some degree of mistrust of their leaders. This alarming number is important to address because trust touches every area of a business. Research tells us that there is a direct correlation between high trust and high engagement and productivity. So, what can leaders do if their employees lack trust, and more importantly, how can leaders build and maintain it?In this episode of “Bring Out The Talent,” we are joined by Dr. Darryl Stickel. Dr. Stickel helps us explore the important topic of trust in the workplace and what we can do to develop it. Dr. Stickel has devoted his career to understanding trust, what it is, how it functions, and how to increase it. He holds a PhD in Business from Duke University and wrote the book, “Building Trust: Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World.” After leaving Mckinsey & Company in 2001, Darryl founded Trust Unlimited and he is also a professor at the Luxembourg School of Business teaching in the MBA program and in their executive education program.Tune in as Dr. Stickel shares invaluable insight and helps us explore his revolutionary blueprint for developing trust within leaders.


