The SkillsWave Podcast

In this episode of the SkillsWave Podcast, we sit down with Marci Paino, Chief Learning Officer at Cisco. A leading voice in workforce transformation and skills-first strategy, Marci shares a front-line perspective on how organizations—and their people—can thrive in a world defined by rapid change. Drawing from her work driving forward skills-first enablement in a large, global enterprise, Marci explores the shift from role-based models to dynamic, AI-powered skills development. She offers a candid, practical look at how businesses can build a more agile workforce, empower employees with meaningful learning opportunities, and foster a culture where adaptability becomes a core capability. Whether you're rethinking your approach to L&D, grappling with emerging skills needs, or just trying to keep pace with the future of work, this conversation offers insight, inspiration, and a clear call to action for forward-looking leaders. 

In this episode, author and education expert Michael Horn shares practical advice on how individuals can stay ahead in a world where skills are constantly evolving. Drawing from his work on innovation and career development, Michael explains why upskilling is no longer a one-time activity but a continuous process tied closely to personal growth, energy, and purpose. He introduces the concept of a “skills balance sheet” to help people make more strategic decisions about what to invest in next. The conversation explores the importance of curiosity, the challenges of self-assessment, and how to frame learning as a source of joy—not pressure. Michael also weighs in on the role AI will play in shaping the future of work, and why those who learn to work with it, rather than fear it, will be best positioned to thrive. It’s a motivating look at how to stay adaptable and energized in an ever-changing world of work.

In this episode, we sit down with Denise Leaser, President of MyInnerGenius®, to explore how organizations can unlock hidden potential in job candidates, employees, and students. Together, we unpack what it takes to improve workforce readiness, drive internal mobility, and build more engaged, agile teams. Our conversation focuses on the power of aligning individual strengths, interests, and aptitudes with meaningful career opportunities to enhance retention and job fit. We also examine how data-driven tools can surface untapped talent—especially among those who may not follow traditional career paths but have the potential to excel. If you're looking to upskill your workforce and tap into overlooked capabilities within your organization, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, we sit down with Delia van Heerden, a thought leader whose journey spans continents and industries - from founding a corporate training company in South Africa to shaping data-driven cultures in Canada. As VP of People Operations at Fast-Loop, a data consulting firm, Delia brings a unique perspective on integrating data literacy into the fabric of an organization.We’ll explore how companies can foster a data-driven mindset, the intersection of training and transformation, and why data literacy isn’t just for analysts—it’s for everyone. With real-world insights from building internal and external training programs, this conversation will challenge how leaders think about upskilling in today’s digital-first world. Tune in to learn how to break down silos, empower teams with data, and create a culture where informed decision-making becomes second nature.

In this episode of The SkillsWave Podcast, Kathleen Carr sits down with renowned strategy professor and author Scott Anthony to explore the seismic shifts reshaping education and the workforce. They dive into the parallels between disruption in media and learning, discuss the rise of AI-driven content creation, and question the traditional degree model in a world demanding continuous upskilling. Scott shares insights on how curiosity, adaptability, and lifelong learning can future-proof careers. Tune in to uncover what’s next in the evolving landscape of work and education!

In today's evolving workplace, employee development is challenging traditional compensation like salaries and bonuses. In the second part of this episode, guest Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn’s first CHRO and founder of Cadigan Talent Ventures, shares more insights on how investing in professional advancement is proving essential. Cadigan dives into his thoughts on remote work, the challenges of employee assessment and creating a work environment split between learning and performance. Tune in to discover how prioritizing learning agility and embracing humanity can navigate the modern work landscape. 

Our workforce is experiencing a rapid pace of change. The tactics and expectations that worked last year, week or even yesterday might not be the answers we need today. In this episode, guest Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's first CHRO and founder of Cadigan Talent Ventures, provides insights on the importance of learning in this new evolution of the workplace. Cadigan covers how employee expectations are changing, and how embracing the skill shift and refocusing on the future can impact company success—including how investing in learning can make your business become known as a place where people want to stay and grow. Check out this episode of The SkillsWave Podcast to discover how creating a culture of learning can prepare your business for the future of work. Resources we talked about in this episode:Workquake by Steve Cadigan

Organizations across industries and U.S. states are facing challenges in finding skilled workers. In this episode of The Skill Shift, guest Amanda Winters, program director at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, shares how her organization is working on projects that focus on building talent pipelines, economic growth and skills-based hiring.  Amanda highlights the importance of data to make evidence-informed decisions and its role in driving policy and program development, including micro-credentials. She also shares her passion for learning employment records and how they can be used to showcase skills and credentials for people from all walks of life. Tune into this episode of The SkillsWave Podcast to discover how building a vibrant workforce is about giving people the skills to continue to learn, grow and be able to adapt to a changing world of work. Resources we talked about in this episode: 6:37 – Enabling Learning for Life: New Realities for Work and Education, D2L 7:49 - Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce  9:27 – Creating Accessible Pathways Between Workers and Open Jobs | Chike Aguh, The Skill Shift  16:01 – Why the ROI of Corporate Learning is Hard to Measure—And What To Do About It, The Skill Shift  23:19 – SkillsFWD   31:33 – Robert McGough, Chief Data Officer39:29 - Opportunity@Work 

During this episode of The SkillsWave Podcast catch up with guest Chike Aguh, Fulbright Scholar, educator, business leader, award winning non-profit CEO, and Biden presidential appointee.  You can look forward to an engaging conversation connecting the dots between open roles and communities where workers need work, the importance of timeless skills for businesses and how employers can start using skills-based hiring.One takeaway from Chike that can be applied to many situations: sometimes the right thing and the smart thing are the same thing. Resources we talked about in this episode: 16:17 – “Long-Life Learning: Preparing for Jobs that Don’t Even Exist Yet” by Dr. Michelle Weise19:31 – Merit America35:16 – Harlem Children’s Zone, Geoffrey Canada 

This week we talked with Tom Whelan, director of corporate research at Training Industry. Tom is an organizational scientist and research professional with over 15 years of experience working with companies to improve enterprise and employee outcomes. In this episode, we dig into some of Tom’s recent research, Redefining the ROI of Corporate Learning. Tom discusses more modern approaches and models to measure the effectiveness of corporate learning and provides advice on how to overcome common challenges—including mining for the right data for different stakeholders and how L&D leaders can boost learner engagement. Resources we talked about in this episode: 1:23 - "Redefining the ROI of Corporate Learning" - https://www.d2l.com/resources/assets/redefining-the-roi-of-corporate-learning/  1:53 - "A Practitioner Friendly and Scientifically Robust Training Evaluation Approach," Richard Griffin - https://doi.org/10.1108/13665621211250298   3:43 - Kirkpatrick model - https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/the-kirkpatrick-model/     4:45 - Raymond Katzell - https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/in-appreciation-raymond-a-katzell    8:16 – Kraiger, Ford and Salas - https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0021-9010.78.2.311    8:25 - LTEM model - Will Thalheimer - https://www.worklearning.com/ltem/    8:52 - ISO/TS 30437:2023, Human resource management, Learning and development metrics - https://www.iso.org/standard/68714.html    22:47 – What Learners Want: New Strategies for Training Delivery - https://trainingindustry.com/research/content-development/research-what-learners-want-new-strategies-for-training-delivery/ 

This week we welcome two guests from Jobs for the Future (JFF): Meena Naik, director, skills-first design, and Cat Ward, vice president, employer mobilization. In their roles at JFF, our guests work to drive transformation of the education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. In this episode, we talk about what defines a quality job, and how JFF is striving to create more equitable access to these positions. Cat and Meena also unpack the topic of skills-based hiring—not only what it means, but also why it may not be the silver bullet many L&D leaders hope, at least not without taking a step back to build the support needed to make it a successful hiring practice.  Tune in to learn more about the role skills play in hiring and job mobility and advice on how to overcome challenges faced by companies looking to move past traditional ways of thinking and doing.  Resources we talked about in this episode: 16:22 - LinkedIn 2023 Talent Connect Conference 20:43 - JFF Horizons Conference 

This week we chat with our guest Jackie Barker, global director of the VMware IT Academy, which partners with governments, educational institutions and non-profits to offer courses that create a pipeline of much-needed talent in the IT industry. Jackie is passionate about creating change through education as well as upskilling and reskilling in an era of what she calls the skills evolution. Listen in to hear conversations about how quickly required skills are shifting, the role AI plays in skills development, how to incentivize employees to embrace learning and advice for L&D professionals who are experiencing the ramp up of the skills evolution. Finally, Jackie shares her excitement for the future evolution of the workforce and what professionals in the teaching and learning space can create—hope. Resources we talked about in this episode: 2:05 – Employment Projections – Information Security Analysts (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) 13:10 – National Governors Association meetings 16:56 – Enabling Learning for Life: New Realities for Work and Education (D2L) 18:57 – State of Cloud: The cloud skills vs. Expectation gap (Pluralsight) 27:04 – University of Helsinki AI courses 30:46 – Shane J. Lopez, Making Hope Happen (Simon & Schuster) 

This week, we're joined by guest Matt Sigelman, president at The Burning Glass Institute and chairman at Lightcast. He’s dedicated his career to unlocking new avenues for mobility, opportunity and equity through skills. He's a visiting fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and holds an AB from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard.We discuss how companies can anticipate skill demands and the illuminating findings from The American Opportunity Index, which identifies America's 250 largest public companies that have the best employment outcomes for their workers—and why.We also talk about the State of Skills report, which clearly lays out the skills that are most in-demand for jobs today and just how much they're changing.Finally, we cover how upskilling and reskilling can help employers fill skills gaps by putting transferable skills to work in areas of need.Resources we talked about in this episode:05:00 How Skills Are Disrupting Work: The Transformational Power of Fast Growing, In-Demand Skills (The Burning Glass Institute); referred to as “The State of Skills Report” in this episode 17:09 The American Opportunity Index (The Burning Glass Institute) 21:41 Building From the Bottom Up: What Businesses Can Do to Strengthen the Bottom Line by Investing in Front-line Workers. (Harvard Business School) 29:07 How to Create a Strengths-Based Company Culture (Gallup) 34:42 IKEA reskilling customer service reps to work as interior design advisors (Reuters) 38:28 Palette Skills’ SalesCamp