The Adoption Curve

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Welcome to the Adoption Curve podcast. Over the course of this series, we'll dive into what learning and enablement leaders are really doing every day to move beyond reactive training, bridge the gap between leadership vision and frontline needs, and unlock the true value of their technology investments. Join host Sean Adams as he uncovers the frameworks, strategies, and practical approaches that turn technology from a cost center into a competitive advantage.

  1. Ep. 26: Make Enablement Matter: How to Cut Noise & Drive Real Impact

    APR 9

    Ep. 26: Make Enablement Matter: How to Cut Noise & Drive Real Impact

    Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.com Make Enablement Matter: How to Cut Noise & Drive Real Impact with Tara MedeirosIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Tara Medeiros, Go-To-Market Enablement Leader at PTC, to break down how enablement teams can cut through organizational noise and align to real business goals using a priority-driven framework.Tara reveals why “everything being a priority means nothing is a priority” and explains how most enablement teams fall into reactive execution instead of driving measurable business impact. We also dive into her Priority-Driven Enablement Worksheet—a practical scoring framework that helps teams align to company goals, improve user adoption, and focus only on initiatives that actually move performance.If you're a sales enablement leader, L&D professional, or operations manager struggling with competing requests, stakeholder pressure, or unclear priorities, this episode gives you a clear system for better decision-making, stronger change management, and more effective technology implementation.💡 FREE RESOURCE: Priority-Driven Enablement Worksheet – Build Your Own Scoring Framework: https://book.iorad.com/adoption-curveSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/ 👨‍💻 Connect with Tara - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-roe-medeiros-77b47312/ 🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com ⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Introduction to enablement chaos and shifting priorities04:07: Why most teams are busy but not aligned to success08:41: Moving from reactive to proactive enablement strategy12:49: Building pillars and defining ownership across programs17:35: The Priority Framework: how to score what actually matters22:19: Pushing back on stakeholders with data (not opinions)28:06: “Do vs Aware” model to simplify execution for the field32:47: Measuring impact: tying enablement to real business outcomes35:16: Biggest mistake: moving too fast without proper discovery#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #ChangeManagement #UserAdoption #SalesEnablement

    38 min
  2. Ep. 24: Why Executives Don’t Value Training (And How to Fix It)

    MAR 19

    Ep. 24: Why Executives Don’t Value Training (And How to Fix It)

    Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.com Why Executives Don’t Value Training (And How to Fix It): Becky Willis on Executive Buy-InIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, Sean Adams sits down with Becky Willis, Chief Learning Officer and Co-founder of Tractus Learning, to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing learning teams today: why executives often see training as a cost center instead of a strategic driver of business results.Becky shares why many L&D teams struggle to gain executive buy-in—and how shifting from reporting training metrics to demonstrating business impact can completely change how leaders view learning. From aligning learning initiatives with company KPIs to building strong partnerships with IT, finance, and data teams, Becky outlines practical steps learning leaders can use to become trusted strategic partners.We also explore the maturity shift from order-taker to performance consultant, including how small experiments, A/B testing learning programs, and building internal champions can help teams prove value and gain momentum across the organization.If you're an L&D leader, enablement professional, operations leader, or HR strategist looking to strengthen employee enablement, software adoption, and training effectiveness, this conversation will give you actionable ideas you can apply immediately.💡 FREE RESOURCE:The Executive Buy-In Accelerator Worksheet – A step-by-step guide to help L&D teams align learning initiatives with business priorities and gain leadership support: https://book.iorad.com/adoption-curveSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/ 👨‍💻 Connect with Becky Willis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckywillis/ 🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com ⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Welcome and Becky Willis’ journey from training to executive leadership03:00 – The L&D maturity model: from order-taker to strategic partner05:00 – Why executives don’t connect with traditional training metrics08:00 – How to build business acumen and speak the language of leadership12:00 – A/B testing learning solutions to drive measurable outcomes17:00 – Using data analysts to prove the business impact of learning21:00 – Creating internal champions to accelerate adoption26:00 – The future of learning: performance consulting and AI31:00 – Advice for small teams and one-person L&D departments#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation #ChangeManagement

    44 min
  3. Ep. 22: Building Adoption-First Training Programs That Actually Work

    FEB 19

    Ep. 22: Building Adoption-First Training Programs That Actually Work

    Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.com Building Adoption-First Training Programs That Actually Work: Stephanie Flint on Reducing Attrition Through Interactive TrainingIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Stephanie Flint, VP of Global Training & Learning Development at ResultCX, to discuss how to turn high attrition into measurable adoption using behavior-based training and interactive simulations.Stephanie breaks down how her team identified early drop-off patterns in a large healthcare technology implementation and uncovered the real root cause: lack of confidence using complex systems. She reveals how shifting from content-heavy instruction to simulator-based practice reduced attrition by 20%, improved CSAT by 25%, and decreased escalations across the board.We also dive into her Attrition-to-Adoption Playbook — a practical framework for learning and development leaders that combines root cause analysis, pilot programs, facilitator enablement, and interactive training to drive real user adoption.If you're an L&D professional, enablement leader, operations executive, or customer education manager looking to improve software adoption, increase training effectiveness, or scale employee enablement across distributed teams, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: The Attrition-to-Adoption Playbook Worksheet – https://book.iorad.com/adoption-curveSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/ 👨‍💻 Connect with Stephanie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-flint-aienabled/ 🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com ⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Why early attrition happens in large-scale technology implementation04:18: Identifying root causes through quality metrics and behavior analysis09:42: The 30-system training challenge and why content wasn’t the solution15:30: How interactive simulations reduced attrition by 20%21:10: Pilots, proof, and getting executive buy-in for new training tools27:45: The SME “intake process” secret to avoiding project delays34:12: Facilitator enablement and why trainer adoption matters too41:03: Simplifying training by focusing on behaviors, not tools#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation #ChangeManagement #TrainingEffectiveness

    36 min
  4. Ep. 21: Where are you on the L&D Maturity Model Curve?

    FEB 5

    Ep. 21: Where are you on the L&D Maturity Model Curve?

    Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.com Where Are You on the L&D Maturity Model Curve?: David James on Driving Real ImpactIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with David James, Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, to unpack the L&D Maturity Model and share a practical roadmap for learning and development leaders who want to move from reactive training to strategic business impact.David explains why most L&D teams feel “stuck” delivering courses instead of outcomes, and why polishing a course catalog won’t improve software adoption, employee enablement, or training effectiveness. We break down each stage of the maturity curve—from reactive and proactive to strategic and transformative—and explore how L&D teams can earn influence by aligning learning with performance, skills, and business priorities.You’ll also learn how to use consultative questioning to shift from order-taker to strategic partner, why measuring impact must start before training is delivered, and how a skills-based approach can fundamentally change technology implementation, change management, and long-term user adoption.If you’re an L&D leader, enablement professional, or operations manager looking to prove the value of learning, improve knowledge transfer, and drive measurable outcomes, this episode gives you a clear framework to move up the maturity curve—one rung at a time.💡 FREE RESOURCE: The L&D Maturity Model Worksheet – https://book.iorad.com/adoption-curve SOCIALS: 👨‍💻 Connect with Sean – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/ 👨‍💻 Connect with David – https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin 🌍 IORAD website – https://www.iorad.com ⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Why L&D maturity determines real business impact04:32 – The hidden cost of reactive and “order-taking” L&D08:41 – Breaking down the L&D Maturity Model stages12:49 – From access to influence: becoming a strategic partner17:35 – Skills-based learning and the future of L&D21:42 – Using consultative questions to unlock stakeholder buy-in26:46 – How to move up the maturity curve without burning bridges#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #ChangeManagement #TrainingEffectiveness

    45 min
  5. Ep. 20: Sales Enablement Without Friction: Designing Adoption-First Experiences

    JAN 22

    Ep. 20: Sales Enablement Without Friction: Designing Adoption-First Experiences

    Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.com Sales Enablement Without Friction: Designing Adoption-First Experiences A conversation on designing meaningful, scalable enablement journeys that turn digital transformation from a compliance tick-box into real human adoption—and measurable performance impact. In this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Nia Li, Senior Sales Enablement Specialist at TierPoint, to explore how modern enablement teams can reduce friction, lower cognitive load, and design experiences that sellers actually use—across onboarding, internal communications, and large-scale technology implementations. Nia shares why enablement content should feel like a safety net, not training, and explains how psychological safety is a prerequisite for real behavior change. We also unpack her Know–Feel–Do framework, a practical way to design training and change initiatives that drive adoption instead of resistance. If you're a sales enablement leader, L&D professional, operations manager, or change management practitioner looking to improve software adoption, training effectiveness, and user adoption during digital transformation, this conversation provides concrete, real-world strategies you can apply immediately. 💡 FREE RESOURCE: Enablement Experience Design Checklist (Know–Feel–Do Framework) — https://book.iorad.com/adoption-curve SOCIALS: 👨‍💻 Connect with Sean – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/ 👨‍💻 Connect with Nia – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nia-li-429302242/ 🌍 IORAD website – https://www.iorad.com ⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Why enablement should focus on friction, not content03:25 – Designing training adults actually remember07:15 – Psychological safety and behavior change12:01 – Peer-led enablement and trust at scale16:33 – Structuring async onboarding with live practice21:17 – Fixing internal communication overload29:31 – Change management for Salesforce and tech rollouts39:44 – The Know–Feel–Do framework explained #SalesEnablement #EmployeeEnablement #UserAdoption #ChangeManagement #SoftwareAdoption #TrainingEffectiveness

    40 min
  6. Ep. 19: Why Champion Networks Are a Key Unlock in Driving Internal Adoption

    JAN 8

    Ep. 19: Why Champion Networks Are a Key Unlock in Driving Internal Adoption

    Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comWhy Champion Networks Are a Key Unlock in Driving Internal AdoptionHow HubSpot Scaled AI Adoption with Early Adopters, Managers, and Measurable OutcomesJoin Ryan Orner, Senior Manager of Customer Success at HubSpot, as he breaks down why champion networks are a critical unlock for driving internal adoption—and how to build one that actually scales.In this episode of The Adoption Curve, we explore how HubSpot successfully rolled out an AI-powered Customer Success Assistant by combining early adopters, manager enablement, and a bottom-up change management strategy. Ryan shares practical lessons from the field on turning skeptics into promoters and building trust through real employee feedback.Ryan reveals why adoption fails when tools are “launched” instead of enabled, explains how to identify the right champions (not just top performers), and walks through the Champion Network framework that helped his team exceed 70% weekly active usage. We also dive into how peer-led storytelling and real use cases drive lasting user adoption.If you’re a learning and development leader, enablement manager, or operations leader looking to improve software adoption, employee enablement, and training effectiveness, this conversation gives you a proven playbook you can apply immediately.💡 FREE RESOURCE: Champion Network Adoption Worksheet👉 Build, launch, and scale your own internal champions program: https://book.iorad.com/adoption-curve/SOCIALS: 👨‍💻 Connect with Sean – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/ 👨‍💻 Connect with Ryan – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanorner/ 🌍 IORAD website – https://www.iorad.com ⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Ryan’s unconventional path into tech and enablement04:32 – Why most internal adoption efforts fail09:38 – Designing tools around real employee workflows14:30 – How to identify and select effective champions18:22 – Positioning new technology without adding friction25:29 – Turning early adopters into a global champion network37:08 – Measuring adoption success beyond vanity metrics44:10 – Why empathy is the foundation of change management#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #UserAdoption #ChangeManagement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation

    43 min
  7. Ep. 18: The 5D Adoption Framework

    12/11/2025

    Ep. 18: The 5D Adoption Framework

    Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: www.iorad.comThe 5D Approach to Change ManagementIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, Sean Adams breaks down the full Adoption Framework using the 5D model—Discover, Design, Document, Deploy, and Drive—to help learning and development leaders, enablement teams, and program owners build adoption-ready training initiatives.Sean explains why adoption is never a one-time event and reveals how to translate leadership objectives into actionable, measurable programs. He also walks through the strategic role of each phase—how to define outcomes in Discovery, architect effective learning experiences in Design, capture knowledge clearly in Documentation, deliver content in context during Deployment, and maintain long-term engagement in Drive.We also explore real-world examples (including Salesforce rollouts) and the practical application of change management principles inside modern organizations.If you’re responsible for employee training, change management, or adoption strategy, this episode breaks down the exact framework you can use to build programs that actually stick.💡 FREE RESOURCE: The 5D Adoption Framework - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uYHigKiUyCiyyhm8yHAgFb4O97FMbG4S/view?usp=sharingSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com ⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Introduction to the 5D Adoption Framework02:38: Understanding the Discovery Phase05:06: Designing effective adoption strategies07:48: Documenting the learning journey11:49: Deployment of learning content in context14:38: Driving long-term adoption and engagement18:28: Real-world application of the 5D Framework#LearningAndDevelopment #ChangeManagement #EmployeeTraining #AdoptionFramework #5DFramework #ProgramDesign #ContinuousImprovement

    25 min
  8. Ep. 17: What Smart L&D Leaders Do Before Launching New Tech

    10/30/2025

    Ep. 17: What Smart L&D Leaders Do Before Launching New Tech

    Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.com What Smart L&D Leaders Do Before Launching New Tech: Yasmin Gutierrez on Change Management & Adoption In this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Yasmin Gutierrez, Director of Director of Culture & Capability Enablement at Phillips 66, to discuss how to audit your tech stack and share practical frameworks for learning and development leaders. Yasmin reveals why "tech is the enabler, not the solution" and explains why building adoption starts with understanding the people behind the process. We also dive into her adoption readiness framework and Megan Torrance’s Technology Implementation Canvas — both of which you can use immediately to improve rollout success and stakeholder buy-in. If you're an L&D professional, enablement leader, or operations manager looking to improve training effectiveness and maximize tech adoption, this conversation provides the exact steps you need. 💡 FREE RESOURCE: Tech Stack Adoption Optimization Guide - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tMiJD5c-t_lmyftMyQvtBH2qP_GnhKpR/view?usp=drive_link 💡 BONUS TOOL: Technology Implementation Canvas - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kf35i0Ty-q4EiHPreRwbzVfPUOMR8-Gv/view?usp=sharing SOCIALS: 👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/ 👨‍💻 Connect with Yasmin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmingutierrez/ 🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00: Introduction & Yasmin’s L&D journey 04:50: What to do in your first 90 days as a new L&D leader 07:30: How to evaluate in-flight tech initiatives 10:15: Diagnosing low adoption post-implementation 12:10: How to partner with vendors to improve utilization 19:45: Focus group strategies for adoption feedback 24:00: Building a change management plan that sticks 33:40: Visualizing the rollout with Yasmin's strategic canvas 38:50: Customization vs. configuration: What’s scalable 45:00: How to measure impact and ROI in L&D #LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation #ChangeManagement #TrainingEffectiveness

    43 min
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About

Welcome to the Adoption Curve podcast. Over the course of this series, we'll dive into what learning and enablement leaders are really doing every day to move beyond reactive training, bridge the gap between leadership vision and frontline needs, and unlock the true value of their technology investments. Join host Sean Adams as he uncovers the frameworks, strategies, and practical approaches that turn technology from a cost center into a competitive advantage.

Information

  • Creator
    iorad
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © iorad
  • Show Website
    The Adoption Curve