If your engagement, wellness, and workplace culture programs feel a bit stale, this episode is your wake-up call. Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins sits down with Michele Lau Torres, Chief Learning Officer for the City of Austin, for a candid, energetic conversation on how learning and development can go from “order-taker” to strategic engine, fueling not just performance, but authentic well-being, retention, and cultural transformation. From wellness “multipliers” to courageous truth-telling in leadership, Michele Lau Torres breaks down how true L&D leaders drive not just skill-building, but culture shifts, equipping managers to be architects of capability (and empathy), not just compliance. Get ready for actionable insights, refreshing honesty, and a few hard truths about what it really takes to nurture, retain, and grow great people in today’s world. What You’ll Learn: Why today’s best L&D teams are becoming “capability architects”, and what that mindset shift means for organizationsHow linking performance and well-being unlocks innovation, belonging, and discretionary effortWhy leaders are “wellness multipliers”, and how toxic managers affect physical and emotional health far more than we admitPractical ways learning leaders can begin changing toxic or fearful cultures (without waiting for overnight transformation)The critical role of internal mobility, career pathing, and honest “stay interviews” for retention and engagementWhy courage, transparency, and vulnerability are non-negotiable for transforming workplaces, plus the biggest myth about leadership development nobody wants to admit In This Episode: 00:01 – Welcome to The Learnit Lounge and topic overview01:42 – Michele Lau Torres’s background and impact03:16 – How L&D went from order-taker to strategic driver05:50 – The concept of “capability architect” and new roles in L&D06:51 – Well-being and performance: why they’re inseparable07:20 – How leadership directly impacts wellness (the “wellness multiplier” effect)09:41 – Why cultures often abdicate responsibility for well-being11:45 – How L&D can help transform toxic cultures14:52 – The underappreciated power of organization-wide learning strategies17:36 – Internal mobility and career paths: key to retention20:20 – The problem with fear-based leadership and avoiding “stay interviews”23:04 – Courage, transparency, and calling out issues in leadership28:22 – Why treating people well delivers discretionary effort29:36 – AI, role overload, and the risk of new workplace burnout32:07 – Michele Lau Torres’s biggest leadership lesson34:12 – The myth: Leadership development programs alone don’t create leaders About Michele Lau Torres: Michele Lau Torres is the Chief Learning Officer for the City of Austin, Texas, where she crafts citywide strategies for talent development, employee engagement, and inclusive workplace cultures. With over 18 years of public sector leadership, including pivotal roles at Austin Water, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and the Austin Police Department, Michele Lau Torres is a champion of equity-centered leadership and organizational learning. Her work centers on amplifying the voices and growth of public employees in complex, mission-driven spaces, and she is a frequent speaker on topics like leadership, workplace wellness, and people-centered performance. Resources & Mentions: Michele Lau Torres on LinkedInPoint Taken: Brilliant Business Advice from Women at the TopLiz Wiseman’s book, MultipliersKeith Keating – Order Taker No More: referenced leadership frameworks Podcast Contact Information: Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.
