Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with corporate L&D leaders

Leigh Anne Lankford

Welcome to Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with corporate L&D leaders — the podcast where we learn from leading minds in the L&D space. Each week, we’ll dive into the details of what it takes to thrive in learning and development, as guests from different corporate contexts and sectors share their expertise and experience. If you’re dedicated to staying on top of optimized growth, transformative industry technologies and all things training, then this is the show for you!

  1. Positioning L&D as a Business Driver, Not a Cost Center with Mary Cooper of P.F. Chang's

    16h ago

    Positioning L&D as a Business Driver, Not a Cost Center with Mary Cooper of P.F. Chang's

    Mary Cooper, Director of Learning and Development at P.F. Chang's, joins us to make the case that L&D leaders who can't speak the language of the business will keep losing the budget fight.  Mary draws on her path from operations to the L&D function to show why business acumen is now a core skill for talent development and learning strategy leaders. For training professionals navigating tighter budgets and higher scrutiny, her advice is direct: tie your learning solutions to sales impact, cost reduction and measurable business outcomes. KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 Introduction. 03:05 Why Mary says speaking the language of the business is the most critical skill for L&D leaders right now.  04:20 How Mary's background in operations and ballet shaped her approach to helping others learn.  07:17 How AI is forcing L&D teams to rethink course length, delivery format and the pace of content creation.  09:04 Why Mary believes L&D is at a pivotal moment. 11:07 How to make the case for L&D investment when budgets are under pressure.  13:15 Why resilience and adaptability are the most important skills in the workplace. 16:20 Why Mary finds smaller format conferences more valuable than large ones for peer learning and connection. 18:30 The one book Mary recommends to anyone wanting to be a learning leader. If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference. RESOURCES MENTIONED TD Magazine: https://www.td.org Consero: https://www.linkedin.com/company/consero-group/ The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501147765/ #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

    21 min
  2. AI Slop, Skills Gaps and the L&D Wake-Up Call with Laura Campion of Pfizer

    May 26

    AI Slop, Skills Gaps and the L&D Wake-Up Call with Laura Campion of Pfizer

    Laura Campion, Director, Revolution Learning Specialist at Pfizer, joins us to discuss how L&D is evolving in the age of AI — from microlearning and embedded performance support to the diagnostic skills that no algorithm can replace.  KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 Introduction. 02:04 L&D is one of the few fields where your expertise travels across every industry.  03:30 The three biggest shifts Laura is seeing in L&D right now — and why one of them may surprise you. 05:03 The AI tool Laura is currently using at Pfizer to walk learners through complex decision-making in real time.  07:08 AI will create a clear divide in the L&D field — and what separates the two sides.  08:20 The counterintuitive prediction about the future of instructor-led training.  10:04 The mentor who changed the trajectory of Laura's career and how he helped her make the leap from classroom to corporate.  13:10 The diagnostic question every L&D professional needs to ask before recommending a single solution.  15:12 Why Laura says completions are not a metric worth measuring.  18:05 Two book recommendations, one for every L&D professional and one specifically for teachers considering a transition to corporate.  19:30 What more companies should understand about hiring teachers. If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference. RESOURCES MENTIONED 24/7 Education Group: https://247education.org/ devlin.ai: https://devlin.ai CLO Chief Learning Officer Conferences: https://www.clomedia.com/events “Map It” by Cathy Moore: https://blog.cathy-moore.com/book-map-it/ “Teachers to Trainers” by Lisa Spinelli: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1952157145 Pfizer: https://www.pfizer.com/ #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

    23 min
  3. Why a Learner Mindset Beats Any Skill in Leadership Development with Anita Zanchettin of DoorDash

    May 19

    Why a Learner Mindset Beats Any Skill in Leadership Development with Anita Zanchettin of DoorDash

    We’re joined by Anita Zanchettin, Director, Talent Development of DoorDash, to discuss why leaders are the number-one customer of L&D, how to bring development into the flow of work, and what it really means to adopt a learner mindset in a world of constant change.  Anita shares how she builds leadership training and development strategy at a global scale across DoorDash, Wolt and Deliveroo — moving corporate L&D from isolated events into everyday workflow. She also dives into using AI as a delivery mechanism for personalized learning solutions and why fungibility matters more than any single competency for talent development today. KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 Introduction. 01:00 Leaders as force multipliers — Anita's core talent development philosophy. 02:30 The origin story that led her from engineering to intercultural leadership. 05:05 Why a puzzle-solver mindset still drives Anita’s L&D strategy. 06:10 The three pillars reshaping employee training and development. 07:03 What in-the-flow-of-work learning looks like at DoorDash. 09:20 The AI inflection point for L&D teams. 10:09 The future: hyper-personalized and enterprise-wide — at the same time. 12:15 The mentor who shaped how Anita develops her own team. 13:02 The lesson that stays with Anita. 15:07 Why fungibility beats any single competency. 17:30 Why conversations outside L&D spark the best thinking. 19:12 The book every learning strategist should read. If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference. RESOURCES MENTIONED DoorDash: https://www.doordash.com   Deliveroo: https://www.deliveroo.co.uk  “The Medici Effect” by Frans Johansson: https://www.amazon.com/Medici-Effect-Breakthrough-Insights-Intersection/dp/1422102823   #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

    23 min
  4. Why L&D Teams Need Consultative Skills with Dr. Hope Eady of Habitat for Humanity International

    May 12

    Why L&D Teams Need Consultative Skills with Dr. Hope Eady of Habitat for Humanity International

    Dr. Hope Eady, Learning and Development Director, Housing Opportunities and Mission Engagement, of Habitat for Humanity International, believes the most important skill in L&D is the ability to think alongside the business as a true consultative partner. Hope shares how she approaches learning as a transformational experience designed to meet people where they are. Leading L&D across nearly 1,000 staff and a global network of affiliates in 60+ countries, her perspective on what it takes to do this work well is expansive and grounded. Hope speaks candidly about the forces reshaping corporate learning and development — from AI-assisted training and microlearning to social learning and the growing demand for learning analytics that can make the business case for training investment. For training consultants and instructional designers who want to be seen as strategic partners rather than solution vendors, this conversation is essential listening. If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with Corporate L&D Leaders,” brought to you by TrainingPros — because when you have more projects than people™, the right L&D consultant makes all the difference. KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 Introduction. 02:07 Hope’s role  at Habitat for Humanity International 05:00 Three forces reshaping L&D and why one of them is driving a brand-new training category 06:29 What L&D professionals will be held accountable for in the next 5-10 years 9:00  The most important skill for L&D teams right now  10:46 The mentor who changed how Hope thinks about learning 15:08 Why L&D professionals who ignore the world outside are already behind. 15:47 The book Hope recommends for anyone serious about learner engagement RESOURCES MENTIONED Dr. Hope Eady https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-hope-eady-ed-d-th-d-71631242/ Habitat for Humanity International | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/habitat-for-humanity-international/ Habitat for Humanity International | Website https://www.habitat.org ATD (Association for Talent Development) https://www.td.org Training Industry https://trainingindustry.com SHRM https://www.shrm.org "Telling Ain't Training" by Harold D Stolovitch and Erica J Keeps https://www.amazon.com/dp/1562867016 #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

    18 min
  5. Designing Learning Experiences for Speed and Agility with Jessica Fraser of Floor & Decor

    May 5

    Designing Learning Experiences for Speed and Agility with Jessica Fraser of Floor & Decor

    Jessica Fraser, Director of Learning of Floor & Decor, joins us to discuss how agile methodologies are reshaping instructional design, why a solid process foundation is the prerequisite for effective AI adoption and what it means to move an L&D team from order takers to strategic partners. KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 Introduction. 02:00 How an unexpected moment at The Home Depot changed the entire trajectory of Jessica's career. 04:00 What it actually looks like to lead L&D at Floor & Decor and why she's focused on aligning L&D strategy with business. 06:00 The two shifts Jessica believes have changed L&D more than anything else in recent years. 08:00 Why AI adoption fails without this foundation already in place. 09:00 The thing Jessica thinks L&D teams should be building instead of courses. 12:00 The one skill Jessica says every L&D professional needs most right now and why business partners are making it urgent. 14:00 The mentor who shaped how Jessica thinks about L&D leadership, and the balance he modeled. 17:00 Where Jessica goes to stay sharp, including one source she says is more underrated than people realize. 18:30 The book Jessica recommends for L&D pros who want a seat at the strategic table. RESOURCES MENTIONED Jessica Fraser https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicafrasersphr/ Floor & Decor | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/flooranddecor/ Floor & Decor | Website https://www.flooranddecor.com Offbeat L&D https://offbeat.works/ "The Trusted Learning Advisor" by Keith Keating https://www.amazon.com/dp/1398612456/ Thanks for listening to "Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with corporate L&D leaders." If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss any of the insightful conversations. #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

    21 min
  6. Why L&D is Now Your Company’s Competitive Advantage with Brandon Carson, Chief Learning Officer and Founder of L&D Cares

    Apr 28

    Why L&D is Now Your Company’s Competitive Advantage with Brandon Carson, Chief Learning Officer and Founder of L&D Cares

    To celebrate our 100th episode, Brandon Carson, Chief Learning Officer and Founder of L&D Cares, joins us to discuss the three shifts redefining L&D in the AI age, why the content factory model is ending and what it means for leaders to truly create value in the workforce. Brandon is the award-winning author of “L&D’s Playbook for the Digital Age” and a frequent keynote speaker and executive advisor, helping organizations redesign work, leadership and learning for the AI era.  He, also, co-authored an article series with Markus Bernhardt worth bookmarking, The AI-Powered Workforce: A CEO’s Roadmap to Competitive Advantage. If today's conversation sparked ideas about AI and workforce strategy, this is a great next read. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 03:03 We are in a period of asymmetric acceleration: learning moving into the workflow, the collapse of the course as the primary unit of value and L&D taking a seat in redesigning the work operating model.  06:10 L&D is exiting the content business and entering the workforce capability business. 08:12 Learning must be continuous, embedded and democratized but governed — every company needs to become a learning company to survive AI transformation.   10:17 L&D must reclaim its seat at the table.  13:07 Value creation is not about better learning — it’s about better performance for the workforce and being held accountable for business outcomes.  18:14 Managers are no longer order-takers for training; they are responsible for the conditions under which intelligence flows and for designing how decisions get made. 22:22 Skill strategies succeed because of culture, not technology.  28:09 The uncomfortable question every L&D leader should ask: if your L&D function disappeared tomorrow, what would actually break in the company? Resources Mentioned: Brandon Carson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandoncarson/ L&D Cares - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ld-cares/ The AI-Powered Workforce: A CEO’s Roadmap to Competitive Advantage - https://www.td.org/content/atd-blog/the-ai-powered-workforce-a-ceo-s-roadmap-to-competitive-advantage L&D Cares website - http://www.ldcares.org/ "L&D's Playbook for the Digital Age" by Brandon Carson - https://www.amazon.co.za/L-ds-Playbook-Digital-Age/dp/1952157587 Thanks for listening to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with corporate L&D leaders.” If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss any of the insightful conversations. #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

    35 min
  7. Building Future-Ready Cultures Through Strategic L&D with Rapti Khurana of PortlyAI

    Apr 21

    Building Future-Ready Cultures Through Strategic L&D with Rapti Khurana of PortlyAI

    Rapti Khurana, Talent Squad Advisor of PortlyAI and former VP of Talent Engagement and Development of the NFL, discusses the shift from content-centric to capability-centric L&D, what the future of learning looks like and why combining scale with intimacy is the defining challenge for learning leaders today. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 04:05 The biggest shift in L&D is the move from content-centric to capability-centric thinking — learning leaders are now at the table with HR to shape talent strategy.  06:10 Organizations are living in paradox; people want bite-size asynchronous learning in the flow of work while simultaneously craving connection, community and coaching.  10:20 Human connection drives resilience, innovation and curiosity in organizations — the more it is leveraged in learning design, the stronger the culture.  11:15 The future of L&D is hyper-personalized, experiential and human-centered, and coaching will become an integrated part of learning strategy.  12:05 The future of L&D combines scale with intimacy, using AI and technology to personalize learning while preserving the conditions for reflection, conversation and human connection.  15:07 Rapti draws mentorship from talent leaders, business leaders, cross-functional peers and junior team members equally.  19:08 The most important skills right now are a cluster of adaptability, curiosity, business acumen, strategic thinking and learning agility. 22:10 Rapti recommends the book “Immunity to Change” for its insight that sustainable change requires shifting mindset, identity and behavior, not just building skills. Resources Mentioned: Rapti Khurana https://www.linkedin.com/in/raptim/ PortlyAI https://www.linkedin.com/company/portlyai/ NFL https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-football-league/ Josh Bersin http://www.joshbersin.com Chief Learning Officer Magazine http://www.chieflearningofficer.com Learning Forum https://learning.uclg.org/learning-forum Workforce Magazine http://www.workforce.com Gartner http://www.gartner.com McKinsey Quarterly http://www.mckinsey.com/quarterly "Immunity to Change" by Robert Kegan and  Lisa Laskow Lahey  https://www.amazon.com/Immunity-Change-Potential-Organization-Leadership/dp/1422117367 Thanks for listening to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with corporate L&D leaders.” If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss any of the insightful conversations. #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

    24 min
  8. Keeping the Human in L&D While Embracing AI with Dr. Darick Bryant of Clean Harbors

    Apr 14

    Keeping the Human in L&D While Embracing AI with Dr. Darick Bryant of Clean Harbors

    Dr. Darick Bryant, Director of Learning and Organizational Development of Clean Harbors, joins us to discuss how AI is reshaping L&D, why empathy has become an essential leadership skill and how organizations can use learning as a strategic retention tool for the next generation of workers.  Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:10 With over 24,000 employees across the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and India, Dr. Bryant leads all leadership development initiatives for one of the largest environmental and industrial services companies in the country.  05:05 Dr. Bryant came to L&D from an operational background — he didn't know the field existed until a VP of HR invited him to pursue a training director role, which later sparked a master's degree and a doctorate in strategic leadership. 07:15 L&D professionals are unicorns — they see potential in people that others, including the individuals themselves, cannot yet see.  08:10 The biggest change in L&D has been the evolution of learning modalities — balancing in-person, virtual and self-paced delivery to meet individual needs across a large, dispersed workforce.  12:20 AI will continue to accelerate in L&D, but the more pressing opportunity is using learning as a retention strategy for Millennials and Gen Z as Gen X approaches retirement and succession planning becomes critical. 20:04 Empathy and emotional intelligence are no longer soft skills — they are essential competencies, and leaders who lose sight of the humans they are leading create significant organizational risk.  22:07 When leading neurodiverse individuals, research provides a starting point but direct observation of the individual is essential — empathy must adjust as people grow and change.  27:10 Diversity, equity and inclusion are broader than ethnicity or race. True inclusion means placing people with different experiences and perspectives together so everyone has the same opportunity to grow.  31:05 Dr. Bryant recommends “Leaders Made Here” by Mark Miller for its focus on building a sustainable leadership pipeline and creating a culture that develops leaders at every level. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Darick Bryant https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-darick-bryant-55b7511ab/ Clean Harbors | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-harbors/ Clean Harbors | Website http://www.cleanharbors.com “Leaders Made Here” by Mark Miller https://www.amazon.com/dp/1626569819/ Harvard Business Review http://www.hbr.org LinkedIn Learning http://www.linkedin.com/learning John Maxwell Podcasts http://www.johnmaxwell.com Thanks for listening to “Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with corporate L&D leaders.” If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss any of the insightful conversations. #LearningAndDevelopment #CorporateTraining #TalentDevelopment

    35 min
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About

Welcome to Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with corporate L&D leaders — the podcast where we learn from leading minds in the L&D space. Each week, we’ll dive into the details of what it takes to thrive in learning and development, as guests from different corporate contexts and sectors share their expertise and experience. If you’re dedicated to staying on top of optimized growth, transformative industry technologies and all things training, then this is the show for you!

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