Bianca and Mike: from Recorder Lessons & Refereeing to Reinvention

Pull up a chair... this episode is a coffee chat with two brilliant minds in Learning and Development who followed wildly different paths to end up co-authoring a book that’s about to change the L&D game.Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor didn’t plan to work together. In fact, they didn’t even meet in person until after their first joint workshop. But from different sides of the world and through radically different journeys—one with a laser focus on L&D from the start, the other with some unexpected detours through programming, consulting, and digital marketing, they landed in the same place: building learning experiences that actually work.🎧 In this episode, we talk about:What it really looks like to build a career you loveThe early jobs that shaped who they are today (yes, scams and recorders included)How to know when to walk away from a job that isn’t for youThe L&D/marketing crossover no one’s talking about enoughThe partnership that started with a tweet and led to a full-blown bookIf you’ve ever doubted your direction, wondered whether L&D was “your thing,” or just needed a reminder that building a career is not a straight line, this episode will speak to you.🗓️ Their book, “Bringing the Best of Marketing into L&D,” launches May 27. You can pre-order it now on Amazon!About Bianca:Bianca Baumann is a seasoned L&D strategist with more than 15 years of experience. She is passionate about consulting on effective new solutions to serve learners’ needs. She’s developed processes, methodologies, and frameworks to help organizations meet their growth targets with the help of innovative L&D approaches. Bianca has helped dozens of organizations with their workforce transformations, as well as onboarding and reskilling programs. She has also spearheaded multiple projects in the marketing, automotive, financial, and events industries, creating award-winning programs along the way. Bianca speaks at international conferences and is a facilitator at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She’s the author of “Think Like a Marketer, Learn Like and L&D Pro – Strategies To Ignite Learning”Connect with Bianca: X: biancabaumannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancabaumann/The book: trainlikeamarketer.comAbout Mike:With over two decades of experience as a learning consultant, Mike has been a driving force behind transformative instructional design and organizational performance. Known for his captivating speaking style and influential newsletter, Mike is dedicated to making learning more engaging, accessible, and effective. As a faculty member in Franklin University's Graduate Instructional Design and Technology program, he bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world practice, equipping future learning professionals with the skills to excel in today's dynamic landscape. Mike's innovative approach and infectious passion are redefining the way we think about learning.Connect with Mike: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/miketaylorWebsite: https://mike-taylor.orgLinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14552471/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mike-taylor.orgGet the book today!trainlikeamarketer.comConnect with your host, CandiceYour host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerdTalent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tdaOriginal music composed by: Paul DeHavenpauldehavenmusic.comMeet your host, Candice MitchellCandice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies.Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentcollective.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_mscTalent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academyChoose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/Original music composed by: Paul DeHavenpauldehavenmusic.com