The Business of Learning

As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, organizations are under increasing pressure to equip their technical teams with the right skills to drive the business forward.   In this episode of The Business of Learning, we sat down with Aleksandar Orovcanec, technical training specialist at CSA Group, to explore how learning leaders can develop and support future-ready tech teams  Tune in now to hear insights on:  Overcoming common technical training challenges  Strategies for integrating soft skills into technical learning programs  The impact of AI on technical skills development and training approaches 

What does the future of skills development look like — and how can learning leaders prepare their people and organizations for what’s next?  In this bonus episode of The Business of Learning, recorded live at the 2025 Training Industry Conference & Expo (TICE) in celebration of Training Industry’s 20-year anniversary, we gathered a panel of L&D leaders to discuss what it really takes to build a future-ready workforce.  Tune in now to hear insights on:  How skills-based strategies are reshaping talent development  The evolving role of learning leaders in workforce transformation  How to bridge the gap between learning, performance and business needs   …and more!  

In 2025, effective onboarding is about connection, belonging and well-being — not just orientation sessions or process checklists. Today’s programs must be designed to help new hires feel supported, seen and prepared to thrive in their roles. In this episode of The Business of Learning, sponsored by Wisetail, we spoke with Geoffrey Roche, director of workforce development at Siemens Healthineers, to explore how L&D can drive more human-centered, inclusive onboarding experiences that make a lasting impact. Tune in now to learn: The current state of employee onboarding — and what’s changing How to embed belonging, mattering and purpose into onboarding programs Strategies to help leaders create welcoming, inclusive environments for new hires How to measure the impact of onboarding on retention and engagement …and more!

As generative artificial intelligence (AI) continues transforming the way we work and learn, it’s also changing how we coach and train high-performing sales teams. From personalized feedback to real-time performance insights, AI-powered coaching tools are helping organizations scale their sales training efforts — without sacrificing quality or impact. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we sat down with Julie Thomas, president and CEO of ValueSelling Associates, to explore how learning leaders can use AI to drive sales effectiveness and improve coaching outcomes. Tune in now to learn: The top challenges organizations face when training sales teams and how AI can help. How AI-powered coaching tools deliver on-demand feedback and real-time performance data. Which sales skills AI can train most efficiently. …and more!

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the way we work, the need for employees to understand and use data has never been more important. According to recent research from DataCamp, 86% of leaders say data literacy is essential for their teams’ daily tasks — and 62% say the same about AI literacy. But without these foundational skills, organizations risk falling behind. In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Dr. Bill Brantley, CPTM, president and chief learning officer at BAS2A, and Lauren LePage, learning strategist at Chick-fil-A  Tune in now to explore how L&D can build AI and data literacy across the workforce and gain insights on:  How to assess AI readiness and measure data literacy using tools like skills mapping and competency models. The critical role of leadership in modeling data-informed decision-making and creating a culture of ethical AI use. Key steps to begin building an AI- and data-literate workforce. 

Despite a lack of scientific evidence, the concept of learning styles — the idea that individuals learn best through a particular format like visual, auditory or kinesthetic — continues to be one of the most persistent myths in corporate training.  In this episode of The Business of Learning, we sat down with Tom Whelan, Ph.D., director of corporate research at Training Industry, to learn more about the learning styles myth — and what the research actually says about how we learn.     Tune in now to hear the conversation, where we discuss:  Why the learning styles myth has persisted over time, despite a lack of research. Training Industry’s research on learner preferences — and why a multimodal approach is key.   How to adapt your programs if you’ve traditionally designed training around learning styles. 

Despite strides toward gender equity, women in the workplace continue to encounter systemic challenges that hinder their career progression. While representation in executive roles has improved over the past decade — rising from 17% to 29% of C-suite positions, according to McKinsey — women, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, remain significantly outnumbered.   In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Neha Trivedi, CPTM, HR director, learning and development and talent development at Alight Solutions, to learn more about how L&D can help support women’s career growth.  Tune in now to hear the conversation, where we discuss:   Real-world examples of programs that have had an impact on women’s career growth.   The importance of coaching, mentoring and sponsorship opportunities.   Partnering with HR and other business units to create comprehensive development strategies, ensure equitable access to leadership opportunities and embed inclusive practices across the organization. 

Organizations outsource training projects or processes for various reasons, including gaining access to specialized expertise, scaling programs efficiently and freeing up internal resources.   Selecting the right training provider is the first step to ensuring a successful partnership, but success doesn’t stop there. Building a strong relationship between providers and buyers is essential for delivering learning solutions that align with business needs.  In this episode of The Business of Learning, we sat down with Kelly Lake, chief strategy and innovation officer at Sweetrush, and Tiffany Vojnovski , CPTM, senior learning strategist at SweetRush.     Tune in now for their insights on:   Questions to ask when selecting a training vendor.  Communication and feedback strategies for effective partnerships.  Measuring the success of partnerships with training providers.  

Ongoing Training Industry research has found that strategic alignment is the most important process capability of great training organizations. However, many learning and development (L&D) leaders struggle to align training with business goals.   In this episode of The Business of Learning, we sat down with Anita Ann Mihelic, CPTM, director of learning and development at Construct Connect, and Peter Plumlee, CPTM, head of learning and development at Presence, for insights on building a strategic L&D plan.   Tune in now for tangible best practices on:   Developing a strategic —and adaptable — L&D plan.   Partnering with stakeholders to build your strategic L&D plan.   Determining key metrics to consider when crafting a strategic L&D plan.  

Today’s workplace is facing increasing complexities, making leadership both more important and more challenging than ever before. To stay competitive in a volatile market, companies need to develop effective leaders across organizational levels. They also need leaders who can not only navigate uncertainty but also use it as fuel for growth and innovation.  In this episode of The Business of Learning, brought to you by Canvas, we spoke with Dr. Susan Gray, chief creative officer at Canvas, and Bruce Landry, managing partner and chief experience officer at Canvas. Listen now to hear their insights on:  • The current challenges leaders are facing. • Why we need to challenge conventional notions of leadership as a role or rank.  • The “leadership as responsibility” approach.