The Business of Learning

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.

Today’s employees want to learn and grow, and they expect their organization to help them do it. In fact, LinkedIn Learning’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report found that the No. 1 way organizations are working to improve retention is by providing learning opportunities.

However, integrating learning into the employee experience is easier said than done. For many training professionals, who are busy rolling out mandatory compliance programs or initiatives requested by business leaders, it sits on the (seemingly never-ending) list of “nice-to-haves.”

In this just-released episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Sydney Savion, senior director of learning services at Google and member of Training Industry Magazine’s editorial board, Thomas Fenstermacher, CPTM, learning specialist at TrellisRX, and Eric McArdle, CPTM, and manager of training and knowledge management at Cisco, for tips that can help.

Listen now for insights on:

• The business benefits of creating a culture of learning.
• How to make time and space for employees to learn.
• The importance of leadership training in creating a positive employee experience.

Human-centered leadership skills, like emotional intelligence (EQ), self-awareness, communication and more, are essential for leaders looking to support and empower their teams to perform at their best.
However, many leaders struggle to develop human-centered skills. In fact, according to Gartner, 71% of employees believe that their leaders don’t exhibit human skills.

In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Karolien Koolhof, an author and founder of the training and coaching business Quiet Quality, for tips on how to develop human-centered leaders.

Tune in now for expert insights on:

• Why human-centered leaders are critical to business success today.
• The connection between human-centered leadership and company culture.
• The (often overlooked) power of introverted leaders.

In today’s workplace, it seems like the only constant is change. Organizations need agile leaders who can adapt to evolving business needs and guide their teams through uncertainty. Of course, this is easier said than done: Leaders need training and development to build key skills like resilience and agility.

In this episode of The Business of Learning, we spoke with Jennifer Garvey Berger, an author and the CEO of Cultivating Leadership, and Mindy Vail, an author and the founder and CEO of The MindShift Effect, for tips on developing agile, future-ready leaders.

Tune in now for insights on:

• The skills leaders need to manage change.
• Navigating the human side of change.
• Innovating strategically to avoid burnout.