1: Don’t Train for Yesterday: How to Future-Proof Your Workforce | Kamaria Rutland

Is Your L&D Strategy Built for Today—or Tomorrow? Are your learning programs helping employees perform now, or are they preparing them for what's next? Too many organizations build for the business they have—and risk being outpaced by those building for the future.  In this episode of The Learnit Lounge, host Mickey Fitch-Collins and Kamaria Rutland, a global talent development leader at Kendo Brands, talk candidly about the challenge of aligning L&D initiatives with evolving business goals. From needing to show ROI to the importance of psychological safety and experimentation, Kamaria shares strategic insights and actionable advice that HR and learning professionals won’t want to miss. If your L&D efforts feel siloed or stuck, this conversation offers a roadmap to relevance, impact, and cultural transformation. This Episode Covers: A key stat from PwC that underscores why reinvention can’t wait How to conduct organization-wide needs assessments that actually move the needle What ROI really means in talent development—and how to track what matters Why behavior change is harder than systems change (and how to start anyway) Two essential steps every L&D leader should take to stay aligned and future-ready  Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to the Lounge: Kamaria Rutland joins host Mickey Fitch-Collins for a conversation on aligning L&D with business goals  02:33 – Big question: Develop employees for today’s business—or tomorrow’s?  03:05 – Kamaria: We must do both—develop for now and what’s next  04:10 – Why emerging platforms and technologies are reshaping L&D priorities  05:52 – 42% of CEOs believe their company won’t be viable in 10 years without reinvention   07:12 – L&D as master mechanic: Tuning the engine while driving the car  08:25 – Risks of L&D working in a silo: Obsolescence and lost engagement  10:47 – How to stay aligned: Needs assessments, metrics, and listening to employees  13:45 – Human skills vs. technical skills: Emotional intelligence and communication still matter  15:11 – The ROI question: Why measuring human skill development is so difficult  16:50 – What we can measure: Time savings, innovation, culture, and team performance  19:45 – L&D as a catalyst for culture change and employee retention  21:56 – If it’s on the calendar, it’s a priority: Making learning visible and valued  23:15 – Breaking tradition: Why adults need learning labs, not just webinars  24:40 – Play as learning: How safe experimentation fuels innovation  27:41 – Leadership lesson: Own the outcome—failures and victories alike  31:26 – Hard truth: Behavior change is harder than technical change  34:10 – Kamaria’s advice: Learn your org’s long-term strategy + study emerging tech  36:00 – Connect with Kamaria on LinkedIn—and share what resonated  About Kamaria Kamaria Rutland is the Global Director of Talent Development and DEIB at Kendo Brands, an LVMH affiliate. With nearly two decades of experience at Marriott International across hotel management, B2B sales, and talent development, Kamaria brings deep insight into both hospitality and consumer goods. Known for “delivering results with a smile,” she’s passionate about helping teams and leaders perform at their best. Outside work, she’s an avid traveler and proud Oakland native.  Resources Referenced: Kamaria Rutland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamariarutland/ PwC CEO Survey: “42% of CEOs believe their company won’t be viable in 10 years without reinvention” Kendo Brands  Connect with Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: [email protected] Follow Learnit on LinkedIn and Instagram