Our Senior Executive L&D editorial team is always on the lookout for learning and development champions in the news. Discover chief learning officers taking on new roles at major corporations and organizations, L&D leaders earning mainstream news coverage, and executives publishing their insights about L&D initiatives on their own blogs.
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- L&D Leaders on the Move
- L&D Leaders Making News
- L&D Leaders Sharing News and Insights
- L&D Leaders Being Recognized
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L&D Leaders on the Move
Laura Carlin-Gonzalez Appointed Executive Director of Teaching and Learning at Round Rock Independent School District
January 8, 2024 — Round Rock Independent School District, located in Round Rock, Texas, has named Laura Carlin-Gonzalez its executive director of teaching and learning. The school district is home to more than 3,000 teachers and 47,000 students, and one of Carlin-Gonzalez’s key focuses will be overseeing the district’s professional development programs.
Source: Round Rock ISD News
Kristy Peterson is the Museum of Art + Light’s VP of Learning Engagement
January 9, 2024 — Kansas’ Museum of Art + Light appoints Kristy Peterson as its VP of learning engagement and visitor experiences. Peterson has led several museums’ education programs, including the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City and the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art.
Source: WIBW
Vanderbilt University’s Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment Appoints Keith Obstein as Director
December 27, 2023 — Keith Obstein has been named the director of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment. Obstein is also the assistant dean for simulation in medicine education and will focus on introducing simulation training for healthcare providers.
Source: VUMC Reporter
Jasmine Stepp Promoted to Global Learning Position at CKE Restaurants, Inc.
December 18, 2023 — CKE Restaurant Inc. has named Jasmine Stepp its manager of global learning and organizational development. Stepp was previously a senior instructional designer for CKE, the holding company that operates Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants.
Source: LinkedIn
Tiffany Alexander is Schnucks Markets’ New Senior Director of Learning and Leadership Effectiveness
December 18, 2023 — Schnucks Markets, Inc. appoints Tiffany Alexander as its senior director of learning and leadership effectiveness. Prior to this position, Alexander was Nestlé Purina North America’s organizational effectiveness manager and worked for the company for 17 years.
Source: The St. Louis American
Kathryn Potts Appointed Chief Learning and Engagement Officer at Norman Rockwell Museum
December 11, 2023 — Kathryn Potts is Norman Rockwell Museum’s new chief learning and engagement officer. Potts previously worked at the Whitney Museum of American Art for 23 years, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Source: The Berkshire Edge
Justin Taylor Promoted to VP of Learning at ROC Title
December 5, 2023 — Justin Taylor is ROC Title’s new VP of learning and Nevada sales. Taylor has been with the title and escrow company since 2021 where he started as a sales executive.
Source: Yahoo! Finance
Tamar Benzikry is the Frye Art Museum’s New Director of Learning and Engagement
December 5, 2023 — The Frye Art Museum has named Tamar Benzikry its new director of learning and engagement. Benzikry was previously the curator and producer for Meta Open Arts and will start her new position on January 9, 2024.
Source: Frye Art Museum newsroom
Anne Leftwich Named Indiana University AVP of Learning Technologies
November 10, 2023 – Anne Leftwich is Indiana University’s new associate VP of learning technologies. Leftwich has been with the institution for 17 years and will aid her staff in leveraging technology to train university students and staff.
Source: Indiana University newsroom
Lisa Sherhart Named CHRO at Accenture Federal Services
November 8, 2023 — Lisa Sherhart will start her new position as Accenture Federal Services’ (AFS) chief human resources officer on December 1, following the retirement of current CHRO, Susann Bresnahan. Sherhart serves as the company’s deputy HR officer, and has been with AFS for almost 14 years.
Source: Washington Exec
Joana Jebsen Named LearningMate’s SVP of Learning Solutions and Strategy for Higher Education
November 6, 2023 — LearningMate, a learning services provider, appoints Joana Jebsen as its new senior vice president of learning solutions and strategy for higher education. In this role, Jebsen will be responsible for leading the development and design of client learning solutions and strategic planning.
Source: PRWeb
Chris Babits Named Utah State University’s Director of Education and Professional Learning
October 30, 2023 — Utah State University has appointed Chris Babits as its new director of education and professional learning. In addition to teaching, Babits is a diversity, equity, and inclusion advocate who infuses DEI into his curriculum.
Source: Utah State University newsroom
Bryon Ellington Named CLO of eXp Realty
October 3, 2023 – eXp Realty, a global real estate brokerage, welcomes Bryon Ellington as the new CLO. Ellington’s first CLO role was at Keller Williams, followed by L&D leadership roles at Realogy Holdings Corp. and Century 21.
Source: Real Estate News
Lawrence Ferrara Appointed CLO of Alvarez & Marsal’s Global Transaction Advisory Group
October 3, 2023 – Lawrence Ferrara is the new CLO and senior director of Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) subsidiary, Global Transaction Advisory Group (TAG). A&M, a professional services firm, has 8,000 employees and created the position especially for Ferrara who has expertise in educational technologies and instructional systems design.
Source: A&M newsroom
MasterClass Hires Nathan Smith to Manage L&D Offering
September 28, 2023 – Online education subscription platform, Masterclass, welcomes Nathan Smith to oversee its new L&D offering, MasterClass at Work. The expansion will connect subscribers to L&D content by renowned leaders in their specific industries.
Source: EIN Presswire
Mandy Gill Appointed as Executive Director of Global Learning at CISI
September 25, 2023 – Mandy Gill has taken on a new role at the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), a conglomerate for securities, investment, wealth and financial planning professionals, as the executive director of global learning which she will start in late November. She will be taking over for Susan Clements, who is retiring.
Source: IFA Magazine
Multiverse Welcomes New Chief Learning Officer
August 29, 2023 ‒ Multiverse, an apprenticeships provider, expands its leadership team with the appointment of Gary Eimerman, chief learning officer. The company is growing its executive roster two years after opening its first U.S. location in New York.
Source: PR Newswire
The FDIC Welcomes Felita Boldin as CLO
August 17, 2023 ‒ Felita Boldin will start her position as the FDIC’s new chief learning officer and director of Corporate University on September 11. Previously, she served as the deputy director of training and development, mission support division, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration (TSA). She will oversee training in the FDIC’s key program areas of compliance, supervision, insurance, and resolutions.
Source: FDIC Newsroom
Lee Rubenstein Named Chief Training and Education Officer at Krach Institute
August 20, 2023 – Lee Rubenstein will bring his decades of experience along as he settles into his new role at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. Rubenstein will be instrumental in the nonprofit’s tech diplomacy training initiatives for U.S. and allied diplomats and leading business executives and decision-makers.
Source: Krach Institute pressroom
Abby Stover Leads L&D at Honigman LLP
August 7, 2023 – Abby Stover has been named chief talent officer at general business law firm Honigman LLP. Based in Detroit, she is leading the firm’s attorney talent management, learning and development, and legal recruiting functions.
Source: Honigman LLP newsroom
CLO Spencer Holt Joins Merlin Entertainments
August 4, 2023 – Spencer Holt, co-founder and current chief learning officer at leadership consultancy Global Leader Group, has been named the first chief experience and people officer at Merlin Entertainments. The firm owns 140 global attractions, theme parks, hotels, and resorts and has a workforce of 30,000 people across 24 countries.
Source: Personnel Today
Kathryn Marquez Named Global Director of L&D at International Law Firm
August 3, 2023 – Kathryn Marquez has been promoted to the role of global director of learning and development at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, an international law firm based in Washington, D.C.
Source: ICLG.com
Nikole Hill Named Chief Learning Officer at Discovery Place Museums
July 11, 2023 – Discovery Place, a STEM education nonprofit with four museums in the Carolinas, selected Nikole Hill to be its CLO, starting July 24. Hill is an award-winning leader with more than 20 years of experience in children’s museums.
Source: Discovery Place newsroom
Deloitte Names New CLO
June 23, 2023 – Anthony Stephan has been named CLO at Deloitte US. In a LinkedIn post, he shared his excitement about the promotion, as well as about his work leading Project 120, a $1.4 billion initiative, investing in the future of L&D.
Source: Accounting Today
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Names New CLO
May 12, 2023 – Michelle Sermon-Davis has been named managing director and chief learning officer at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Her previous roles include serving as global vice president of organizational development; diversity, equity and inclusion; and corporate communications for CKE Restaurants Holdings, as well as L&D roles at Bath & Body Works and Estée Lauder.
Source: Chattanoogan.com
Robin Peloquin is Carenet Health’s New VP of Training and Development
March 22, 2023 – Carenet Health, a provider of patient engagement solutions, has hired Robin Peloquin as its new VP of training and development. In her new role, Peloquin will focus on improving the company’s new hire program by implementing methods such as on-the-job training, simulations, and virtual learning.
Source: Businesswire
L&D Leaders Making News
Leaders Priya Kaul of The American Management Association and Tammy M. Cunningham of EBSCOlearning Partner Up on New Learning Platform
November 29, 2023 — The American Management Association (AMA) teams up with information resources provider EBSCOlearning to create AMA MicroCourses, a learning platform for companies to upskill employees. The collaboration is led by Priya Kaul, director of learning solutions at AMA, and Tammy M. Cunningham, SVP of development at EBSCO Learning. The platform will feature courses on leadership, management, and soft skills.
Source: Yahoo! Finance
Learning Focused Companies Recognized in New Book “Frontline Workers Training Market”
November 24, 2023 — From 2023 to 2028, the frontline employees training market is expected to increase by 16.4%, or $24.8 billion, to reach $46.7 billion by 2028. Companies driving the uptick in investments in learning management systems, on-the-job learning, and other training resources include Adobe, led by Brandon Clark, global head of talent development, VMWare, headed by Gene Salois, director of learning enablement, and Microsoft, led by chief learning officer Joe Whittinghill.
Source: Yahoo! Finance
Amazon’s AI Ready Program to Upskill Two Million People
November 20, 2023 – Amazon introduces AI Ready, a training initiative to supply more than 2 million people with AI skills by 2025. The program will give learners access to free courses on generative AI, prompt engineering, machine learning, and more. Victoria Feldman is currently Amazon’s head of learning and development.
Source: Amazon newsroom
US Department of Labor CLO Receives $98 Million in Funding to Support Skills Training
November 15, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will allocate $98 million to its training initiative, the YouthBuild Program, to equip underprivileged people between ages 16-24 with pre-apprenticeships in high-demand sectors, including healthcare, information technology, construction, and hospitality. DOL chief learning officer Bonnie Barnish will lead the program, composed of 75 projects, to eliminate the education barrier.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor newsroom
Deloitte CLO Anthony Stephan Talks Project 120, the Company’s Billion Dollar L&D Investment
November 1, 2023 — Deloitte’s Project 120 is the company’s $1.4 billion L&D investment that prepares employees for leadership roles through skills training and customized career roadmaps. The program delivers training in technology such as AI, cyber, data analytics, and quantum computing. CLO Anthony Stephan has worked at Deloitte for more than 18 years.
Source: Business Chief
Deloitte’s Deborah Johnson and Anthony Stephan Say Empathy, Resilience, and Compassion Are Just as Important as Tech Skills
October 31, 2023 — Deloitte CLOs Deborah Johnson and Anthony Stephan say that certain human capabilities and learning experiences are just as critical to have as tech-based skills such as proficiency in generative AI, cloud, and cyber. Stephan is the principal chief learning officer for Deloitte Consulting LLP, and Johnson is the chief learning officer for Deloitte Technology Academy.
Source: CIO Journal
Khalid N. Mumin Talks of Pennsylvania Department Of Education’s New Learning Opportunities for Residents
October 30, 2023 — The Pennsylvania Department of Education will expand its collaboration with Remake Learning Days, an annual learning festival, with an additional commitment of $762,062. Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, the organization’s secretary of education, says the initiative will prepare learners of all ages for academic and career success. The festival will be held May 2-22, 2024.
Source: Pennsylvania newsroom
Slack CEO Closes Company For a Week to Upskill Employees
October 25, 2023 — 3,000 Slack employees are going on a one-week hiatus from their regular duties to complete mandatory trainings through parent company’s, Salesforce, online learning platform, Trailhead. Slack CEO, Lidiane Jones, says that “Ranger Week” is how the company plans to reach Ranger status this year, a ranking attained by the workforce completing 40 hours of online learning. Halimah Jones is Slack’s learning manager.
Source: HR Grapevine
Udemy’s Melissa Daimler and Rebecca Stern Talk Measuring Skills at the Chief Learning Officer Symposium
October 21, 2023 — Udemy learning leaders, Melissa Daimler, CLO, and Rebecca Stern, director of leadership and organizational development, spoke about becoming a skills-based organization at the annual Chief Learning Officer conference held in San Diego, October 16-18. Daimler has served as CLO for more than two years, and Stern joined Udemy in 2022 after supporting L&D efforts at Crown Castle and Deloitte.
Source: LinkedIn
Bonnie Barnish, US Department of Labor CLO, to Lead Training in Support of Bidden-Harris Agenda
October 11, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Labor, headed by CLO Bonnie Barnish, will award 34 public-private partnerships with $94 million in grants to support workforce needs created by the Biden-Harris administration’s “Investing in America”. The initiative will provide strategic training programs across 25 states and the District of Columbia, giving job seekers the opportunity at high-quality, in-demand employment in the manufacturing, scientific, information technology and professional, and technical service occupations industries.
Source: The Highland County Press
Wendy Walsh, CLO of the Air Force, Hosts AETC Symposium
September 8, 2023 – The Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Learning Symposium’s theme this year was “The Learning Story—Past, Present, Future—Writing, Telling, Understanding,” bringing together Air Force educators and professionals to exchange stories of their development journeys. Wendy Walsh, the Air Force’s CLO, said the event brings together personnel who are invested in learning and ultimately strengthens pathways to career growth.
Source: Montgomery Advertiser
Corey Smith, Five Guys’ Instructional Designer, Introduces New Training Methods
September 6, 2023 – Instructional designer at Five Guys, Corey Smith, welcomes updated training materials that encourage more interactive and functional learning. The new advancements, such as extended reality training, virtually places employees in stores, supports quick and sharp learning, and helps boost company retention rates. Five Guys’ L&D efforts are led by Laura Weathers, director of global learning and development.
Source: XR Today
Louisa Yin, Senior Manager of L&D at Future Electronics, Oversees Launch of New ‘Power Hour’ Development Series
September 8, 2023 – Future Electronics, a Canadian electronics company, introduces a new learning series for employees to gain insight into how executives achieved success in their personal and professional lives. Led by senior manager of L&D, Louisa Yin, the monthly, hour-long workshops will support continual development and will touch on topics like cybersecurity, supplier management, and more.
Source: PR.com
Chrissie Leibman, SVP of L&D at The Aspen Group, Introduces TAG University
August 31, 2023 – The Aspen Group’s new Tag University initiative is one that Chrissie Leibman, the company’s senior VP of L&D, says encourages learning after obtaining a college degree. Employees and clinicians will learn through four schools of excellence – clinical, leadership, business and operations, and service and support – to expand on their current skills.
Source: PR Newswire:
Landdai Introduces New Generative AI Apps to Make Training More Efficient
August 22, 2023 – Landdai has released three new apps — a slide deck presentation generator, training program creator, and Landdai GPT — for companies to customize their talent development resources. Landdai’s founder, organizational development consultant Josh Irmler, says the advancements were created with help from L&D and HR leaders, as well as instructional designers that trained the company to create and deliver high-quality content.
Source: Accesswire newsroom
LMS365 to Reinvent the Learning Experience with New AI-Powered Technology
August 23, 2023 – A component of Microsoft 365, LMS365 will offer embedded AI capabilities to enable L&D, HR, and IT teams to deliver personalized workforce training. Robin Daniels, chief business and product officer for LMS365, says the AI-powered solution will revolutionize the learning experience, making it more engaging and aligned with business outcomes. Microsoft’s L&D efforts are led by chief learning officer Joe Whittinghill.
Source: PR Newswire
ShiftMed and Dignity Health Global Education Team Up to Provide Training for Healthcare Professionals
August 22, 2023 – A new partnership between ShiftMed and Dignity Health Global Education aims to upskill more than 350,000 healthcare workers to support career advancement. The initiative will provide RN’s, certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, and medical assistants with access to proven educational content from industry-leading healthcare providers, healthcare experts, acclaimed academic institutions, and more. Dignity Health Global Education’s L&D efforts are led by Kurt Hayes, chief product officer, and Chris Jones serves as the chief people officer at ShiftMed.
Source: Dignity Health newsroom
Air Education and Training Command CLO Tours Goodfellow Air Force Base
August 11, 2023 – Wendy Walsh, Air Education and Training Command chief learning officer, recently visited Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, for a two-day, inside look at how the intelligence training squadrons operate.
Source: Air Education and Training Command newsroom
University of Phoenix Introduces New Professional Development Course
August 11, 2023 – Mukund Sudarsan, vice president, general manager of professional development at University of Phoenix, announced the launch of the for-profit college’s new course, “Strategies for DEI&B Leadership.” Developed by the University’s Professional Development group, it’s designed to help learners develop important skills for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging leadership.
Source: University of Phoenix newsroom
Joe Mills Explains Discover’s Success with Upskilling
August 11, 2023 – Joe Mills, director of transformation strategy and automation at financial services firm Discover, told CIO Dive about its apprenticeship program, offered at its Customer Care Center and technology hub in Chicago. The program has four tracks — robotic process automation, ServiceNow, Salesforce, and cybersecurity — and, upon completion, apprentices transition into related full-time positions.
Source: CIO Dive
Berkshire Innovation Center Partners with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
August 3, 2023 – The Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is partnering with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in North Adams on an innovation-based MBA program. The BIC, with L&D programs led by chief learning officer Dennis Rebelo, provides regional manufacturers and STEM businesses with advanced research and development equipment, state-of-the-art lab and training facilities, and collaboration opportunities.
Source: The Business Journal of Western Massachusetts
Denny’s Offers New Career Development Program
August 2, 2023 – For its employees and any prospective restaurant industry professionals, Denny’s has launched a career development program that VP of human resources and CLO Fasika Melaku says aims to help prepare future leaders. The GAIN program includes four focus areas: GED accreditation; college credit for learning; life skills, such as personal finance and conflict management; and career pathways for high school students.
Source: Denny’s newsroom
Lexicon Offers New Workforce Development and Training Tool
June 25, 2023 – Little Rock construction company Lexicon has established a personalized program to help employees learn skills and advance their careers. Through Lex U, all employees across levels and teams can take advantage of on-the-job, classroom, and online training for professional, management, or trade skills tracks.
Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Stephanie Gosteli, Director of L&D at Yale, Sponsors Learning Program Advancements
May 17, 2023 – Yale University made updates to its Operations Learning Strategic Initiative (LSI), which merges employee development with workplace culture and ensures organizational compliance. Some of the program’s advancements include switching its training management system to Workday Learning, a move endorsed by Stephanie Gosteli, director of L&D.
Source: Yale newsroom
Inova’s Leadership Moments Program, Run by L&D Execs Sharon Blackborow and Julie McKee, Teaches Four Key Moments
April 13, 2023 – Sharon Blackborow, VP of talent, learning, and organization effectiveness and Julie McKee, director of L&D at Inova Health System, a non-profit healthcare provider, developed a learning program around the four key moments in a front-line leader’s day. These moments included starting the day well, being present and listening, caring for self and others, and ending the day well.
Source: Forbes
Walmart Offers Mental Health Education and Support With Lyra Health
April 10, 2023 – Walmart’s Chief People Officer, Donna Morris, announced that the retail giant has launched a new “Workplace Mental Health course,” facilitated by clinicians from mental health benefits provider Lyra Health, to teach leaders and managers how to support employees.
Source: Forbes
UPS Doubles Down on Driver Training Investment
March 29, 2023 – UPS is investing millions more in safe driving education and training for its more than 100,000 drivers, nearly doubling the number of driving and delivery simulators at its facilities since 2020. The UPS Driving Simulator is showcased at Integrad, the global shipping company’s driver training schools, and lets drivers navigate realistic road hazards such as pedestrians, parked cars, and traffic. On top of the virtual reality experience, drivers also get hands-on driving and instructor-led classroom training.
Source: UPS newsroom
Ramona Arora, Simon Lambert, and Jani Byrne Saliga’s Companies Noted as Prominent Players in the Mobile Learning Market
January 2023 — The mobile learning market is projected to increase by $15.39 billion dollars this year to reach $69.33 billion. With North America being the fastest growing region, U.S.-based companies, Dell Technologies, led by CLO Ramona Arora; Microsoft led by Simon Lambert, CLO; and IBM, led by CLO Jani Byrne Saliga, are all noted as top contenders.
Source: The Business Research Company
L&D Leaders Sharing News and Insights
Procter & Gamble CLO Shares 3 Ways to Successfully Develop Your Workforce
January 12, 2024 — Ann Schulte, CLO at Procter & Gamble, says in a company blog post that the biggest contributing factor to a successful leadership development program is a company’s commitment. Schulte advises leaders to approach development with intention, career mobility, and continuous learning in mind.
Source: P&G Blog
Coursera CLO Trena Minudri Introduces New GenAI Academy
January 11, 2024 — Coursera launched a series of courses in its GenAI Academy to equip employees with AI skills and help leaders make the most informed decisions around generative AI. CLO Trena Minudri says the academy comes at the request of clients looking to understand how AI works and how they can utilize it.
Source: HR Brew
Oklahoma Learning Leader Talks State’s New Workforce Development Program
January 5, 2024 — Brent Haken, state director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, says the state’s Oklahoma CareerTech program will help to bridge the raging skills gap in industries including healthcare, aerospace, and automotive. Each year, the program sees 500,000 enrollments.
Source: The Journal Record
Deloitte CLO Neda Schlictman Says Company is Using Data and Simulation to Upskill
January 5, 2024 — Neda Schlictman, Deloitte’s chief learning officer and managing director of leadership and human potential, says the company is using 120,000 data sets to determine the exact learning needs of impending clients. Deloitte is also introducing new learning methods such as simulation training to cater to Millenial and Gen Z employees on their learning journeys.
Source: Big Think
PwC CLO Leah Houde Says Gamification Can Boost Engagement
December 28, 2023 — Leah Houde, CLO at PwC, says that implementing gamification is a strong way for organization’s to heighten engagement. Houde, who has been with PwC for four years, also says that gamification can help with learning retention, and provide incentive to learn.
Source: Information Week
Joy Birmingham Details Duke University’s New L&D Courses
December 18, 2023 — Duke University’s associate director of leadership and professional development, Joy Birmingham, says that university staff and faculty should invest in themselves with learning opportunities that encourage career growth. The university supports professional progression with more than 100 courses for employees to take on topics such as providing feedback, managing different priorities, leading through generational differences, and more.
Source: Duke University newsroom
360Learning CLO David James Shares How L&D Leaders Can Create Meaningful Employee Experiences
December 8, 2023 — 360Learning CLO David James says that learning and development can help create meaningful experiences for employees. James shares several suggestions, including allowing employees to share their experiences, holding panel discussions featuring employees of varying levels, and pairing junior-level workers with senior-level mentors. James has worked at 360Learning for nearly 2 years, and hosts “The Learning & Development Podcast,” which was featured in our roundup of L&D podcasts.
Source: Forbes
John Jordan, Bank of America L&D Leader, Says Empathy is Critical in Training
December 8, 2023 — John Jordan, head of Bank of America’s training and development division, The Academy, says that empathy should be prevalent in training initiatives. According to Jordan, leaders can build empathy in the workplace by considering employees’ milestones, practicing listening, and building an inclusive culture.
Source: Forbes
McDonald’s Director of Learning Design and Technology Talks Building a People-First Strategy to Learning on Podcast
December 5, 2023 — Lan Tran, director of learning design and technology at McDonald’s was a guest on the They Learn You Win podcast by learning technology company Schoox. Tran, who has led L&D efforts at McDonalds for nearly 2 years, spoke about the fast food chain’s approach to learning, AI, and learning engagement.
Source: LinkedIn
Matt Donovan of GP Strategies Says AI is Forging the Future of Learning
November 21, 2023 — Matt Donovan, SVP and chief learning and innovation officer at GP Strategies, a learning technology provider, says that AI is driving L&D’s future. Some of the most influential AI tools, he says, include AI-driven translations, AI-generated videos, and personal productivity bots. Donovan has been with GP Strategies since 2009.
Source: ATD
Annee Bayeux of Degreed Says Technology is Changing How L&D Works
November 17, 2023 – Annee Bayeux, chief learning strategist at Degreed, says that tech advancements such as generative AI are providing new learning opportunities for expedited content creation, personalized learning, and live feedback and instruction. Bayeux has led learning at Degreed for more than two years, and was previously chief learning strategist at software development company EdCast.
Source: HR Director
Phillips 66’s L&D Manager Says Day of Learning Event Helps Employees Grow
November 14, 2023 – Phillips 66 introduced its first Day of Learning event in November to continue building a culture of learning. Patti Celestine, Phillip 66’s general manager of L&D, says that the event featured virtual and in-person sessions that allowed employees of varying roles to learn how to engage in confident communication, have a positive mindset, utilize their personal strengths and more. Celestine has worked at Phillips 66 for more than 11 years.
Source: Phillips 66 newsroom
Marc Majors Says Minnesota’s New Program Upskills Overlooked Workers
November 4, 2023 — The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will provide skills training, mentorships, and support services to underprivileged populations through The Targeted Population Workforce Program, the company’s $50 million initiative. Marc Majors, DEED’s deputy commissioner of workforce development, says the program gives residents a greater opportunity at economic and financial security.
Source: Brainerd Dispatch
Archwell CLO Keith Keating Says Learning Leaders are Key Business Partners
October 31, 2023 — Keith Keating, CLO of Archwell, an IT services and consulting firm, details how HR, L&D, and talent development professionals can become proactive business leaders in his new book, “The Trusted Learning Advisor.” Keating was the head of global learning network at General Motors from 2017-2021.
Source: Digital Journal
Joellen Jarrett, CLO of the SBA, Says AI is a Key Focus to Close Skills Gap
October 31, 2023 — Similar to many organizations today, the government has been faced with a skills gap. That’s why Joellen Jarrett, chief learning officer at the Small Business Administration (SBA), says considering current and future skills is critical, and a primary reason why her team is focusing on developing their generative AI skills.
Source: Federal News Network
Disney’s SVP of Learning and Talent Solutions Says Tuition-Paid Program Helps Employees Achieve Dreams
October 23, 2023 — The Walt Disney Company’s Aspire program, a collaboration with Guild, a benefits provider, offers employees and cast members free college tuition and coaches. With more than 14,000 employees currently enrolled in the program, Tonya Cornileus, the company’s SVP of learning and talent solutions, says the program is one way that Disney invests in its employees and their careers.
Source: Employee Benefit News
Linda Aldred, CHRO at Texas Children’s Hospital, Says New Partnership Will Allow for 24-Hour Leadership Development
October 4, 2023 — Texas Children’s Hospital has joined forces with virtual platform BetterUp to provide leadership coaching for the hospital’s 1,200 leaders. Chief HR officer and executive VP Linda Aldred says the partnership will allow employees to engage in leadership development on and off the clock.
Source: HR Brew
Microsoft’s Joe Whittinghill Talks Developing Stakeholder Trust to Drive Better Business Outcomes
October 2023 — Joe Whittinghill, chief learning officer at Microsoft, spoke with PwC’s Jenny Koehler, strategic growth and business development leader, at PwC’s Trust Leadership Institute’s Trust Academy event. There, Whittinghill discussed reinventing business models to stay competitive and how to ensure stakeholders are onboard when implementing new business tools. He has worked at Microsoft for more than 24 years, and was promoted to CLO in August.
Source: LinkedIn
Accenture CLO Says Company is Supporting Lasting Learning in Six Ways
September 21, 2023 — Rajiv Chandran, CLO at Accenture, says the company has incorporated six elements that increase employee learning retention —implementing reflection activities, on-the-job guidelines, coaching and mentoring, social learning, performance support, and micro-learning. Chandran started as Accenture’s managing director of global leadership development in 2015 before becoming CLO in 2021.
Source: Chief Learning Officer
L’Oreal’s Chief Learning Officer Says Cohort-Based Learning Drives Engagement
October 10, 2023 – Nicolas Pauthier, global VP of HR, learning and people development, says L’Oréal transitioned from 5% of its training being virtual in 2019, to 30-35% now being online. The cosmetics company has more than 90,000 employees globally, invests more than $100 million into training each year, and averages around 3.2 million hours of training yearly. “With most online learning in a generic form, you may see completion rates in the area of 20 to 30, maybe 40%, if you’re lucky. With cohort-based learning we saw 80% completion rates,” said Pauthier.
Source: Unleash
Duke University’s Don Shortslef Says New Learning and Development Course Will Be for All Employees
October 4, 2023 — Duke University’s Learning & Organization Development (L&OD) department has added a two-day, virtual course, “Situational Leadership II: Self-Leadership – Growing Your Career & Self-Awareness,” for all employees. The university’s senior learning and organization development consultant, Don Shortslef, says the course will be offered on November 6 and 7 and will show individuals and managers how to approach career-changing conversations together.
Source: Duke Today
KPMG’s Chris Shuster Discusses Gamifying Training Platforms to Increase Engagement
September 29, 2023 – Chris Shuster, former director of KPMG L&D Advisory, says that the company’s new single-player, gamified learning app, KPMG Globerunner, helps employees expand their awareness of the company’s service offerings. Brett Locascio currently serves as the managing director of the L&D Advisory.
Source: HRD
Walmart’s Lorraine Stomski, SVP of Associate Learning and Leadership, Discusses How the Company Invests in Employee Growth Opportunities
September 28, 2023 – By 2026, Walmart plans to invest $1 billion dollars in training and development. SVP of associate learning and leadership, Lorraine Stomski, says they’ll do this by considering candidate skills equally to a related college degree, offering degree credits onsite and at Walmart Academy, leveraging technology to connect employees to opportunities, and more.
Source: Walmart newsroom
Degreed’s Chief Transformation Officer Janice Burns Says Learning Improves Employee Morale
August 31, 2023 — More than a quarter of global employees in a Degreed survey said they felt that their manager didn’t fully support their professional growth over the past year. Janice Burns, the company’s chief transformation officer, says that upskilling workers is a key to sustaining retention.
Source: HRD
Coursera’s Chief Enterprise Officer Shares How One Bold Move Changed Company’s Trajectory
August 22, 2023 – Leah Belsky, chief enterprise officer at Coursera, appeared on Quartz’s Make Business Better livestream to discuss the online education platform’s risky decision to make their products free during the pandemic. The result was a transformative global learning experience for schools, businesses, and governments.
Source: Quartz
EY’s Jon Turner Says Company is Building Careers by Approaching Learning as an Experience
August 21, 2023 – EY is undergoing an HR transformation, and upgrading employee training has been a key focus. The company invested $300 million into formal employee training last year and launched LEAD, a global career model. Jon Turner, the company’s global learning innovation leader, says LEAD pairs 400,000 employees with career counselors to identify learning opportunities and engage in career mapping.
Source: Unleash
Equifax Beats Upskilling Goals With Coursera
August 8, 2023 – Lauren Thomas, senior director of global adoption, change and education, and planning and execution at Equifax, explains how the credit bureau achieved its goal to upskill 1,000 of its technologists to become cloud-certified by 2023 and, in fact, reached the milestone a couple of months early. Digital learning platform Coursera played a key role in delivering the necessary education ahead of schedule. Trena Minudri, Coursera’s VP and CLO, says that encouraged Equifax employees to continue learning and pursue additional training opportunities, such as Coursera’s Leadership Academy.
Source: Employee Benefit News
360Learning CLO Discusses L&D Team Problems
August 2, 2023 – David James, CLO at corporate learning platform provider 360Learning and host of The Learning & Development Podcast, shares his insights into the challenges L&D teams have created for themselves and how to overcome them.
Source: Forbes
AdventHealth’s CLO Explains the Value of L&D
July 24, 2023 – AdventHealth’s first-ever chief learning officer, Lamata Mitchell, shares insights she’s gained from her first year in the position. She explains how her background in academia has helped her work in L&D, as well as how that work helps the organization.
Source: HR Brew
CLO Shares Beige Flags for Employee Disengagement
July 21, 2023 – Maxwell Wessel, chief learning officer at the software company SAP, explains what behaviors might be considered workplace beige flags — a trending term for things that are not as concerning as red flags but still worth noting. Beige flags indicate that a worker is disengaged and at risk of exiting.
Source: Fast Company
RIT Certified’s Leader Shares Plans for Workforce Development
July 11, 2023 – Dennis Di Lorenzo, executive director of RIT Certified, Rochester Institute of Technology’s professional training and workforce development division, reflected on the organization’s first year in this Q&A with the RIT website. He also discussed future plans, including how they will continue investing their nearly $1.6 million in grants from New York state and area foundations for workforce development programs.
Source: Rochester Institute of Technology newsroom
Sarah Toms Explains the Power of Gaming in Business Learning
June 28, 2023 – Sarah Toms, chief learning innovation officer at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), wrote an article for I by IMD magazine about “why gaming is the future of business learning.” However, she warns leaders to avoid naming winners and losers, which could create an overly competitive environment.
Source: I by IMD magazine
CLOs Wessel and Hull Explain Their Roles in the Future of Work
May 17, 2023 – In a World Economic Forum Q&A, Max Wessel, chief learning officer at SAP, and Patrick Hull, VP of global learning at Unilever, shared insights about the work of CLOs and how it’s been evolving over the years.
Source: World Economic Forum
Home Depot’s Senior Manager of Learning Strategy, Michael Cabe, Shares How He Scaled the Company’s Leadership Development Program with One Tactic
May 10, 2023 – Michael Cabe, senior manager of learning strategy at The Home Depot, knew that in order to replicate the success of their high-potential leadership development program, they had to get participants more involved. To do this, they “nudged them,” by sending automated emails via Microsoft Power Automate to hand deliver follow-up learning exercises.
Source: Forbes
L&D Leaders Being Recognized
Moder CLO and Author Keith Keating Wins Goody Business Book Award
November 27, 2023 — Keith Keating, CLO at Moder, takes home Goody’s Business Book Award for “The Trusted Learning Advisor.” Winning the award in the HR and employee development category, Keating says that the accolade confirms how important learning is to career growth and organizational innovation.
Source: Digital Journal
Trianz’s Learning Leader Sujit Sahoo Receives LearningElite Award
November 9, 2023 – Trianz, a software and technology services firm, won Chief Learning Officer’s 2023 LearningElite Award for its excellence in L&D. Led by Sujit Sahoo, VP of human capital development, this is the company’s third consecutive win in the learning and development category, which Sahoo says was secured because of the company’s creation of “innovative learning programs and experiences.”
Source: Trianz newsroom
Moder’s CLO Keith Keating Accepts Icon Award
November 7, 2023 — Moder, a mortgage services provider, won OnConference’s 2023 Icon Award for L&D team of the year. The L&D team is led by CLO Keith Keating, who says that the award echoes Moder’s commitment to building a strong learning culture.
Source: Digital Learning
Skillsoft Snags Two Training Magazine Network Choice Awards
October 30, 2023 — Skillsoft, a digital learning platform, received two Training Magazine Network Choice Awards in the learning portal and leadership development categories. Chief people officer, Ciara Harrington, leads the company’s talent development efforts.
Source: Yahoo Finance
Jay Fortuna of GoHealth, Christopher Hall of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Francis Tan of MGM Named Finalists for the 2023 Learning in Practice Awards Finalists
September 10, 2023 – Chief Learning Officer announced finalists for its 10th annual Learning in Practices Awards, slated for October 16 in San Diego. Finalists include Jay Fortuna, VP of learning and organizational development at GoHealth; Christopher Hall, assistant commissioner for the office of training and development at U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Daniela Proust, SVP and head of global learning and growth at Siemens; and Francis Tan, vice president of learning and talent development at MGM.
Source: Chief Learning Officer
Piyush Bhartiya and Vandana Kaushik’s Companies Receive Joint Brandon Hall Group Awards
September 5, 2023 — Together, Integra Software and L&T Construction won two awards at the Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards™. The pair took home the gold award in the L&D category for best advance in custom content, and the silver award for best advance in competencies and skill development. Piyush Bhartiya is the SVP of key account management and global corporate learning at Integra, and Vandana Kaushik is head of learning and development at L&T Construction.
Source: Yahoo Finance
Addverb Wins Brandon Hall Global HCM Excellence Award for Standout Leadership and Development Strategies
August 28, 2023 – Addverb’s chief learning officer, Suumit Joshii, says winning big at the Brandon Hall Global HCM Excellence Awards reaffirms the organization’s decision to invest heavily in learning and development. The company won the gold award for their “First-Time Manager” initiative, part of the “Best Development Program for Frontline Leaders” category.
Source: APN News
Checkers and Rally’s Receives Six Awards for Outstanding Employee Training
August 24, 2023 – Checkers and Rally’s didn’t just receive two gold Stevie Awards in the “Training” and “Corporate Learning/Workforce Development Solution” categories at the 2023 International Business Awards — the restaurant chain also scored four Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards. The company’s L&D initiatives are currently led by Theresa Papaleo, senior director of learning and people development.
Source: PR Newswire
THRIVE Wins Gold Award at the Digital Technology Leaders Awards
July 10, 2023 – Online learning platform THRIVE wins top award after developing a groundbreaking project that determined the top workplace learning challenges which included a lack of access to relevant content. Led by Helen Marshall, chief learning officer, the company created an impactful solution that featured the skills to help solve common L&D problems.
Source: THRIVE newsroom
Learning Pool Named a Top Content Provider for Upskilling and Reskilling Employees
July 6, 2023 – Learning Pool, a global learning solutions provider led by Louise McElvaney, chief human resources officer, made the 2023 Learning Awards list of top content providers just after receiving the gold award for ‘External Learning Solution of the Year.’ The acknowledgement was based on criteria which considered the company’s economic growth potential, employee turnover, customer retention, social responsibility, and more.
Source: Learning News
SIIA Recognizes 50 Education Technology Products With 2023 CODiE Awards
June 22, 2023 – The Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) presented the 2023 CODiE Awards in Education Technology in a virtual celebration. Among the 50 winners are: Bookshelf + Bookshelf CoachMe from VitalSource for Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in Ed Tech and uCertify LEARN for both Best Learning Management System (LMS) and Best Virtual Learning Solution.
Source: SIIA newsroom
SIIA Recognizes 53 Business Technology Products With 2023 CODiE Awards
June 21, 2023 – The Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) presented the 2023 CODiE Awards in Business Technology in a virtual celebration. The 53 winners include: LaunchDarkly for Best DevOps Tool, Workday Adaptive Planning for Best Financial Management Solution, and Cultivate from Perceptyx for Best Upskilling of Workforce Development Solution.
Source: SIIA newsroom
Paycom Named Best Company for Career Growth By Comparably
June 16, 2023 – For the second year in a row, Paycom Software has been recognized by workplace review site Comparably with the Best Career Growth award. Jennifer Kraszewski is vice president of human resources at the HR management software provider, which earned high employee ratings for its professional development opportunities, such as career advancement, mentorship, challenging work, and frequency of valuable manager feedback.
Source: Paycom newsroom
Crafting compelling messages about your L&D successes takes time, and finding and engaging the right audiences for your messages can be even more challenging. The L&D leaders featured here are models to follow for earning media coverage or search traffic to communicate progress on their respective L&D initiatives — and for holding themselves accountable by stepping into the spotlight.
Have some learning and development (L&D) news we should add here? Please share with our Senior Executive L&D editorial team.
