The Adoption Curve

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comMake 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

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comWhy 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

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comBuilding 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

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comWhere 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-curveSOCIALS:👨‍💻 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

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comSales Enablement Without Friction: Designing Adoption-First ExperiencesA 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-curveSOCIALS:👨‍💻 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

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

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

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comWhat Smart L&D Leaders Do Before Launching New Tech: Yasmin Gutierrez on Change Management & AdoptionIn 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=sharingSOCIALS:👨‍💻 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⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Introduction & Yasmin’s L&D journey04:50: What to do in your first 90 days as a new L&D leader07:30: How to evaluate in-flight tech initiatives10:15: Diagnosing low adoption post-implementation12:10: How to partner with vendors to improve utilization19:45: Focus group strategies for adoption feedback24:00: Building a change management plan that sticks33:40: Visualizing the rollout with Yasmin's strategic canvas38:50: Customization vs. configuration: What’s scalable45:00: How to measure impact and ROI in L&D#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation #ChangeManagement #TrainingEffectiveness

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comHow Ashton Williams Operationalized Enablement for 13,000+ Reps at SalesforceIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Ashton Williams, Director of Enablement for SMB at Salesforce, to discuss how to scale enablement across massive organizations and share practical frameworks for enablement and L&D leaders.Ashton reveals why “scale forces strategy” and explains how enablers can escape the operational muck by aligning with revenue outcomes and thinking like business leaders. We also dive into her Enablement Prioritization Playbook — a simple model to map, balance, and justify what you focus on next.If you're a learning leader, enablement strategist, or ops manager trying to lead high-impact initiatives across complex orgs, this conversation delivers the strategic clarity you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: Enablement Prioritization Playbook - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YCaNU4L2ngMsINWZ6PqQrqMi051puVfJ/view?usp=sharingSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Ashton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonwill/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Ashton’s journey from sales to enablement leadership04:10: Why scale forces strategy (and how to adapt)06:39: The 3-priority framework to drive enablement focus09:05: Selling enablement like sales: champions, buy-in, and consensus12:55: Orchestrating cross-functional alignment16:03: The health check system: Reach, Readiness, Behavior21:46: Launching Slack’s AI product with a global field kickoff29:29: Driving internal tech adoption through peer advocacy40:18: Lessons from the Slack → Salesforce acquisition#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #ChangeManagement #KnowledgeTransfer #SoftwareImplementation

Check out iorad’s interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comWhat SaaS Buyers Really Want: How to Remove Friction and Drive AdoptionThis is a special collab episode between The Adoption Curve and SaaS Therapy, where Sean Adams and Todd Kirk team up to explore what SaaS buyers truly value after the sale—removing friction, driving adoption, and turning tools into outcomes.Todd (VP of Software Engagement Advisory at BrainStorm Inc.) and Sean (Chief Revenue Officer at iorad) blend their experiences from both sides of the SaaS table to unpack:• Why features don’t sell—outcomes do• How IT champions think (and what they really want from vendors)• The mindset shift from implementation to adoption• Tactics you can use immediately to reduce post-sale frictionIf you're a product leader, customer success manager, or SaaS founder aiming to increase adoption and reduce churn, this episode delivers a roadmap for building real, lasting value.💡 FREE RESOURCE: THE PROACTIVE POST-SALE PLAYBOOK – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hnHqqu8P58e5ha-sGa0u5ldejjxb-lmh/view?usp=sharingSOCIALS👨‍💻 Connect with Sean — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Todd — https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddjeffreykirk/🌍 IORAD website — https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Episode intro & podcast crossover04:30 — What SaaS buyers are really looking for10:15 — Common friction points in onboarding17:45 — Strategies to remove friction and increase adoption24:30 — How to surface unseen value for IT champions30:10 — Translating adoption into expansion#SoftwareAdoption #UserEnablement #SaaSSuccess #CustomerOutcomes #TechImplementation

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comSimplifying Complexity in Partner Enablement with Merav AmmarIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Merav Ammar, Partner Enablement Leader at SentinelOne, to discuss how to simplify partner ecosystems and share practical frameworks for learning and development leaders.Merav reveals why partner enablement must go far beyond sales training and explains why breaking roles into four clear functions—Sell, Deliver, Manage, Build—is the key to scalable success. We also dive into her enablement persona framework that you can implement immediately to tailor content and drive partner activation at scale.If you're an L&D professional, enablement leader, or partner program manager looking to scale partner adoption and improve training effectiveness, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: The Scalable Partner Enablement Playbook - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gNGsgQ23r4y0cC7-fthCnHcSKsyv3AML/view?usp=sharingSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Merav - https://www.linkedin.com/in/meravammar/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Introduction to partner enablement at SentinelOne03:01: Why being on the price list ≠ partner readiness06:50: Breaking down partner personas by function14:22: The “one shot” mindset in partner activation21:34: Mapping the partner journey and enabling self-service26:18: Expanding beyond partner tiers with capability paths35:00: How demo labs reduce friction and show real value44:10: Community, feedback loops, and gamified recognition#SoftwareAdoption #PartnerEnablement #TechnologyImplementation #TrainingEffectiveness #LearningAndDevelopment #UserAdoption

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comScaling Customer Success with Samantha Murray: Experience as a Growth LeverIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Samantha Murray, Go-to-Market & Customer Experience Strategist at AlignedCX, to discuss how to use experience as a growth lever and share practical frameworks for learning and development leaders.Samantha reveals why adoption is a two-way street and explains how aligning internal teams to customer outcomes drives faster scale. We also dive into her People Experience as a Product operating model—an agile, empathy-driven framework you can implement immediately to improve technology adoption and training effectiveness.If you're an L&D professional, enablement leader, or customer success manager looking to increase user adoption and remove friction from the customer journey, this conversation gives you the exact playbook to start today.💡 FREE RESOURCE: THE SERVICE BLUEPRINT FOR ADOPTION – https://book.iorad.com/adoption-curveSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👩‍💻 Connect with Samantha – https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-murray613/🌍 IORAD website – https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Samantha’s career journey from marketing to customer success06:41 – Early-stage strategies for scaling customer enablement09:35 – Adoption as a two-way street: customer & company alignment12:40 – Building empathy through user research & journey mapping16:51 – Shifting from outputs to business outcomes25:16 – The 4-stage People Experience as a Product methodology33:42 – Prioritizing solutions with the Cost of Delay framework38:13 – Using service design to uncover internal friction points48:37 – Leveraging partner ecosystems for customer success#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #CustomerSuccess #ChangeManagement #InteractiveTraining

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comCustomer Education Activation Playbook: Courtney Sembler on Driving Adoption Through LearningIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Courtney Sembler, Senior Director of HubSpot Academy, to discuss building a global education engine and share practical frameworks for learning and development leaders.Courtney reveals how customer education can directly drive retention, activation, and acquisition—and explains why starting with small wins is critical to gaining leadership buy-in. We also dive into her four-quadrant team model and HubSpot Academy’s proactive product sync strategy that you can implement immediately to scale education content without sacrificing quality.If you're a customer education leader, enablement strategist, or L&D professional looking to operationalize your academy or training team, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: Customer Education Activation Framework - book.iorad.com/adoption-curveSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Courtney - https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-sembler-b3394951/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Courtney’s 10-year journey at HubSpot03:32: How HubSpot Academy got started and scaled06:01: Getting buy-in from leadership for customer education08:23: Breaking down the 65-person global team10:02: ROI metrics: 700K leads, 13% retention lift12:53: Navigating internal partnerships across CS, Marketing & Product19:27: Automating product education updates with Zapier24:04: Content localization and standardization tips28:47: Using the “Why, How, What” framework for video lessons39:41: AI’s role in content accuracy, efficiency, and personalization46:05: Why AI won’t replace CE—but it will supercharge your strategy#SoftwareAdoption #CustomerEducation #EmployeeEnablement #InteractiveTraining #ChangeManagement #TechStackOptimization

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comDigital Training for Industrial Teams with Thaddeus Tsohantaridis: Lessons from the FieldIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Thaddeus Tsohantaridis, Director of Training at Phoenix Global, to discuss building effective digital training systems for industrial teams and share practical frameworks for learning and development professionals.Thaddeus reveals why replicating classroom training over Zoom fails and explains why understanding “what success looks like for each learner” is the key to buy-in. We also dive into his peer-driven curriculum design strategy that you can implement immediately to improve hands-on training outcomes in field-based roles.If you're an L&D leader, enablement manager, or operations trainer looking to modernize training for manufacturing, construction, or infrastructure teams, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: FIELD-FIRST CHANGE MANAGEMENT WORKSHEET - https://book.iorad.com/adoption-curveSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Thaddeus - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaddeustsohantaridis/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Thaddeus’ journey from academia to corporate training04:25: Building training in infrastructure & steel industries07:45: Lessons from adapting live training during COVID13:20: Making digital documentation accessible in the field18:00: Teaching the “why” behind digital transformation23:10: Coaching workers through change with empathy32:00: How to co-create curriculum with field experts38:30: Tying L&D metrics to real business outcomes#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation #KnowledgeTransfer #JustInTimeLearning

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comThe Enablement Framework That Drives Real Revenue: Nick Lawrence on Performance ModelingIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Nick Lawrence, Revenue Enablement Lead at Databricks, to discuss shifting from skills training to outcome-driven enablement and share practical frameworks for learning & development leaders, enablement specialists, and sales ops professionals.Nick reveals the importance of focusing on “competence” — the actual outputs reps produce — rather than just competencies, and explains why true enablement is about designing the environment for performance, not just delivering knowledge. We also dive into his performance modeling framework—outcomes, outputs, and obstacles—that you can implement immediately to improve measurable pipeline and win-rate outcomes.If you’re an L&D professional, enablement leader, or sales operations manager looking to align training with real business results, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: The OUTCOMES → OUTPUTS → OBSTACLES Framework - book.iorad.com/adoption-curve-episode-10SOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Nick – https://www.linkedin.com/in/elevatingenablement/🌍 IORAD website – https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Intro & Nick’s transition into revenue enablement02:11: Defining enablement vs training vs performance consulting09:34: Competence vs competencies—what truly matters14:06: How to map outcomes → outputs → enablement actions20:30: Bringing tools into strategy, not the other way around25:44: Environment vs event: designing systems, not webinars33:07: Incentives, champions & change management tips38:10: How to measure enablement impact beyond SPR#EmployeeEnablement #L&Dstrategy #ChangeManagement #TechAdoption #PerformanceEnablement

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Heidi Kirby, Founder of the Useful L&D Community, to discuss how learning professionals can escape the order-taking trap and become strategic business partners inside their organizations.Heidi reveals why “completion is a useless metric” and explains how to use everyday data to prove impact—even without a dashboard. We also dive into evidence-based instructional design, like Mayer’s Multimedia Principles, that you can implement immediately to improve training retention and reduce cognitive overload.If you're a learning strategist, customer education leader, or instructional designer looking to increase your internal visibility and deliver measurable value, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: The 5-Step Strategic Pushback Framework - book.iorad.com/adoption-curve-episode-9SOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Heidi - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidikriz/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: From NASA to community founder: Heidi’s L&D journey03:09: How to be seen as strategic (before you get the title)06:15: Avoiding the “order taker” trap in L&D08:25: Tactfully pushing back on bad learning requests11:45: Using "invisible data" to measure learning ROI14:50: How customer education can drive down support costs18:44: Evidence-based design with Mayer’s Multimedia Principles24:14: Why course completion ≠ success in training26:49: Teaching only the 20% people actually use33:00: How to measure confidence, autonomy, and true adoption34:29: Cross-functional buy-in for successful tech rollouts38:31: Why L&D pros should network—without needing a reason#LearningAndDevelopment #TechAdoption #InstructionalDesign #TrainingEffectiveness #EmployeeEnablement #CustomerEducation

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Sara Madsen, L&D Leader at Border States, to discuss strategic learning enablement during software rollouts and share practical frameworks for learning and development professionals.Sara reveals how involving L&D early can reduce chaos and explains why training ROI should be measured by behavioral change, not course completions. We also dive into her “Go/No-Go” planning approach and pilot team selection method that you can implement immediately to improve rollout outcomes.If you're an L&D professional, enablement leader, or implementation project manager looking to avoid rushed rollouts and build trust across departments, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: Software Training Rollout Success Kit - http://book.iorad.com/adoption-curve-episode-8SOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Sara - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-madsen-1a45bb78/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Introducing Sara Madsen & Border States’ L&D scope02:14: What happens when L&D is brought in too late03:44: Building trust with IT and project managers06:01: Executive sponsorship + "bribe with candy" tactic09:23: Why ghostwriting for execs leads to better rollout messaging10:35: Running an effective pilot: picking the right people12:03: Help desk training = your first line of defense14:42: What is a "Go/No-Go Date" and why it protects L&D17:27: Getting IT to lock down a stable version before training20:26: Using Iorad to keep up with constant changes22:12: How to assign roles across multi-team software projects26:27: Internal hype videos + marketing partnerships for rollout29:45: Short-form tutorials + self-serve help embedded in apps34:53: How to redefine training “success” from usage to behavior37:05: Calculating ROI: Time saved for SMEs & faster delivery39:47: End-of-year highlight reels to tell L&D’s impact story#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation #TrainingEffectiveness #ChangeManagement

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comAgile L&D Strategy with Megan Torrance: How to Design for ChangeIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Megan Torrance, CEO of TorranceLearning, to discuss how L&D teams can design training that adapts to change and share practical frameworks for learning and development leaders.Megan reveals why most traditional training assets break during system updates and explains how the Design for Change methodology allows teams to build learning materials that stay relevant—even when everything else is shifting. We also dive into the LLAMA framework (Lot Like Agile Management Approach), which helps L&D teams stay flexible, aligned, and strategically valuable throughout the technology implementation process.If you're a learning leader, enablement specialist, or operations manager looking to improve technology adoption and build training that doesn't go stale, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: Your Technology Implementation CanvasSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Megan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/megantorrance/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Welcome + Megan’s approach to agile learning03:58: The “Design for Change” mindset explained06:22: How one L&D team ran an internal campaign to gain influence10:03: Why most intake forms are built for failure15:43: What is LLAMA and how it evolved from Agile23:07: Training that survives change: CRM example + content tips27:45: Why “just-in-time” and “just-in-case” aren’t opposites#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation #ChangeManagement #InteractiveTraining

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.com/Frontline enablement for the modern workforce with JD Dillon: How to Embed Learning into Daily WorkIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with JD Dillon, Chief Learning Architect at Axonify, to discuss embedding learning into frontline workflows and share practical frameworks for learning and development leaders.JD reveals why frontline training is still broken ("this is Bill, he'll show you") and explains why real success comes from building systems that enable capable, confident workforces — not just delivering training sessions. We also dive into his proven approach to embedded learning, where support happens in the moment of need, not before or after, to drive real tech adoption and operational outcomes.If you're a learning and development leader, enablement specialist, or operations manager looking to improve software adoption, empower frontline employees, and optimize tech stack performance, this conversation provides the exact frameworks you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: Embedded Learning Playbook: How to Shift from "Train Then Apply" to "Learn While Doing" - [RESOURCE LINK]SOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with JD Dillon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jddillon/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Introduction: Why frontline learning is broken04:48: "Find Bill": The real frontline training experience today07:30: Why managers—not companies—own employee success16:18: How to build trust: Go do the job yourself19:45: Why executives don't care about learning (and what they care about instead)25:06: Building ecosystems vs. delivering courses42:53: Embedded learning: Supporting employees in the flow of work51:19: Avoiding siloed chatbots: How to create unified tech experiences#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareAdoption #DigitalTransformation #TrainingEffectiveness

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comAdoption Curve with William Illingworth: 5 Proven Ways to Streamline AdoptionIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with William Illingworth, Learning Systems Manager at Collibra, to discuss bridging the gap between flashy tech investments and effective corporate training. I share how a process-first approach can transform training into a catalyst for real change and drive measurable ROI.William reveals that overwhelming systems can be cut down to clear, concise workflows that let teams hit the ground running—and explains why focusing on the essentials is key to long-term adoption success. We also dive into his proven Course Blueprinting Framework that you can implement immediately to boost training effectiveness and streamline implementation.If you're an L&D professional, enablement leader, or operations manager looking to turn technology investments into real impact, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: Course Blueprinting Framework Template - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P4bNTXuNA4ZUY0YY9gKlQqQy_BNFW-7w/view?usp=sharingSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with William Illingworth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-illingworth/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Introduction to tech adoption challenges03:00: From higher ed to corporate training08:15: Aligning tech investments with daily training needs12:30: Embracing a process-first approach16:45: The Course Blueprinting Framework explained21:00: Final thoughts on driving measurable ROI#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.comScaling Customer Education with Kevin Dunn: Building Adoption FlywheelsIn this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Kevin Dunn, Head of Customer Education and Community at Airtable, to discuss scaling customer education programs and share practical frameworks for learning and development leaders.Kevin reveals why early-stage customer education doesn't need to be fully formalized to be impactful and explains why aligning education to customer activation milestones is critical for success. We also dive into his 5-category reporting framework that you can implement immediately to improve training effectiveness, user adoption, and technology implementation outcomes.If you're a learning and development professional, customer success leader, or enablement manager looking to build or scale customer education programs, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: The 5-Category Reporting Framework: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q6SiyNKIjex7VQuQ6QUiHtLGu0tS46Y6/viewSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Kevin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kev-dunn/🌍 IORAD website - https://www.iorad.com⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Why Internal and External Adoption Aren't So Different04:45: When to Formalize Customer Education Programs08:56: How to Teach "How to Think" Before "How to Do"14:23: Using Customer Education as a Pre-Sales Accelerator17:06: Defining Success Metrics for Customer Academies19:23: The 5-Category Reporting Framework Explained27:23: Managing Version Control and Content Updates at Scale34:45: How Airtable Uses AI to Prioritize and Improve Courses41:57: The Future of Customer Education and Community Flywheels#SoftwareAdoption #EmployeeEnablement #CustomerEducation #TechAdoption #TrainingEffectiveness #ChangeManagement

Check out iorad's interactive tutorial builder: https://www.iorad.com In this episode of The Adoption Curve, I sit down with Matt Gjertsen from Better Everyday Studios to discuss the challenges of software adoption and share practical frameworks for learning and development leaders.Matt reveals that over-engineering can stall progress—"engineers love to engineer"—and explains why honing in on your core problem and setting tight deadlines is critical. We also dive into his 4-step process for first principles leadership that you can implement immediately to improve user adoption and training effectiveness.If you're an L&D professional, enablement leader, or operations manager looking to boost technology implementation and drive measurable ROI, this conversation provides the exact steps you need.💡 FREE RESOURCE: First Principles Problem-Solving Guide - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vv-z6u_yYhPbUdLm2LVdGMQiuwbH0xVCFPcmiZEaY7k/edit?usp=sharingSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-adams-sales/👨‍💻 Connect with Matt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgjertsen/⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Introduction & Episode Overview05:00: Over-Engineering vs. Building Fast10:29: Identifying the Core Problem15:00: Aligning Training to Business Outcomes27:00: Transforming Documentation into Strategy41:00: First Principles Leadership for Rapid Execution#LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEnablement #TechAdoption #SoftwareImplementation

In this episode of the Adoption Curve, we chat with Pasha Irshad, co-founder of HubSpot Gold Partner Shape and Scale, about why most tech purchases fail to deliver ROI and his proven 3-step framework to fix it.Pasha shares why buying a solution doesn't equal solving the problem and breaks down the exact process he uses with clients to audit their tech stack, align stakeholders, and ensure successful implementation.If you're an L&D professional, enablement leader, or operations manager struggling with technology adoption, this conversation is packed with actionable frameworks you can implement immediately.Want to make your tech stack training more effective? Check out IORAD's interactive tutorial builder: iorad.comSOCIALS:👨‍💻 Connect with Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanadams/👨‍💻 Connect with Pasha - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pashairshard/🌍 IORAD website - [https://www.iorad.com](https://www.iorad.com/)⏰ TIMESTAMPS00:00: Introduction to tech stack adoption challenges02:33: Why buying software doesn't solve problems05:24: The 3 questions to ask before any tech purchase08:41: Process documentation before technology implementation12:49: How to measure training success (hint: silence is good)14:59: How AI is disrupting traditional learning17:35: The tech stack audit framework explained21:42: When NOT to automate (and why)25:17: Final thoughts on tech adoption

When Rich was tasked with migrating Zoom's entire company from Salesforce Classic to Salesforce Lightning during the pandemic, he faced a monumental challenge. The migration would impact nearly 90% of the company, with thousands of employees spread across the globe—all using Salesforce differently based on their roles.Traditional approaches weren't cutting it. Long-form training videos and conventional sessions were proving ineffective as the company scaled rapidly during COVID. With the pressure of being a mission-critical platform during a global crisis, Rich needed a fundamentally different approach to technology adoption."we were at a point where we had tried long videos and relied heavily on long-form training, and it just wasn't working. With a massively growing organization with a ton of tools and a ton of complexity, we needed to really shift how we thought about enabling our team on the tech stack across the entire company."Key Insight #1: Focus on the "Why" for Each RoleRich discovered that the number one reason technology adoption fails is that users don't understand how new tools help them personally. Organizations often push new technology from leadership without explaining the specific benefits to individual users.Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Rich implemented role-specific training that directly addressed how the technology would improve each person's workflow and objectives."when I say, 'Hey, tell me about the experience of learning how to use these tools.' The number one piece of feedback I get is they just don't understand why it helps them. They've seen the training, they've probably resisted it at times, but they just don't understand how it actually helps them in their role. This is a really simple switch—focus deliberately around how it helps each person in the organization by their role."Key Insight #2: Flip Traditional Training Upside DownRather than conducting endless training sessions attempting to cover every feature, Rich made a bold decision to completely invert the training approach. Instead of using live sessions to deliver comprehensive product training, he used them to teach people how to self-serve and access just-in-time learning resources.This approach acknowledged the reality of the forgetting curve and the impracticality of training thousands of global employees on every possible scenario."What if we flipped this on its head and said, what if we use the live training sessions to actually teach people how to use the tutorials and how to self-serve to learn as they're in the tool? Because nobody wants to go to a training and then go back to Salesforce or whatever tool they're in and try to remember what they had. They want to have it at their fingertips. They want it contextual. They want it just in time."Key Insight #3: Use Data to Identify and Address Adoption BarriersRather than guessing where users would struggle, Rich implemented a data-driven approach to identify specific pain points. His team tracked metrics like how often users switched back to the old system, what page they were on when they did so, and collected feedback through short surveys.This real-time data allowed them to quickly build targeted tutorials for common issues and deliver them proactively to users who needed them most."One of the metrics that we were looking at was how often a user was switching back from Salesforce Lightning to Classic, actually capturing what page they were on, what their user profile was, and they were required to fill out a short survey to say, 'Hey, what happened? Why did you need to switch back?' We leveraged that data to pick up on trends and themes to then continue to bolster our training documentation. The next time they log in, we can actually serve up that tutorial to them through their browser."