Talent Development Leader

When budgets shrink, talent development leaders must do more than defend their programs—they must demonstrate their value through communication and influence. In this episode of the Talent Development Leader podcast, Amii Barnard-Bahn, former Fortune 5 executive and top leadership coach, breaks down a strategic communication model for elevating TD's role in the business. Learn how to communicate with clarity, strengthen your team's value proposition, and guide your organization through layoffs and disruption. Become a leader who re-engages and "re-recruits" the people who stay, and turns tough moments into opportunities to rebuild trust and commitment. Amii's Resources: https://www.barnardbahn.com/resources 

The role of the Chief Learning Officer is at an inflection point. In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, Tracie Cantu, Chief Learning Strategist at Your CLO and author of Running L&D Like a Business, breaks down how and why the CLO role has evolved beyond managing training and into enabling enterprise performance. Listen and learn what's keeping L&D stuck in reactive modes, where CLOs struggle most when juggling operational excellence with business agility, and why reframing learning as performance enablement can dramatically change how the business engages with L&D.  Finally, hear Tracie's take on what the CLO role may look like five years from now—and the actions learning leaders should take today to stay ahead.

AI is transforming work—but not in the ways many leaders fear. In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, Patrick D. Lynch, 2026 Thinkers50 Radar thought leader, AI Faculty Lead at Hult International Business School, and one of the world's leading voices on human‑AI collaboration, explores why the future of work is less about job loss and more about job transformation. Patrick brings a rare blend of Fortune 500 executive experience, behavioral science rigor, and real-world insight to the creation of his THRIVE framework, which is helping leaders worldwide design AI adoption as elevation, not replacement. Listen and learn how to preserve humanity and judgment in the human‑AI equation, what creative decision making looks like for a workforce of humans and agents, how to build long-term capability with the THRIVE model, and why leadership and learning matter more than ever in the age of AI. Join Patrick at the 2026 ATD International Conference and Exposition in Los Angeles, CA, May 17-20, to hear him speak about these topics and more.

Storytelling isn't a soft skill—it's a serious leadership advantage. In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, Julie Lancaster, CEO of Lancaster Leadership and author of Beyond Words: How Our Stories & Strategies Inspire Action, shares why storytelling is the missing link between great ideas and real impact. She explains what reseach says about storytelling and influence, the ingredients of a story that actually moves people to action, and how to lead with clarity and confidence during uncertain times. Listen for practical frameworks and real-world examples from Julie's work with 75,000 leaders that will help you tap into the stories already living inside your organization.  

In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, Tina Robinson, executive coach and author of the ATD Press book, Developing Your Business Leaders, explains why many TD leaders get stuck reacting to requests instead of driving the business forward, and how to break the cycle. Tina shares the common pitfalls talent professionals face, how to build credibility with executives, and why defining the WHO, WHAT, and WHY of learning strategy always matters more than the HOW. If you're ready to elevate your TD function from "nice-to-have" to business-critical, this episode is your playbook.

As organizations move beyond high-potential-only development models, AI coaching is emerging as a powerful enabler of personalized growth at scale. In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, Kirsten Moorefield, cofounder of Cloverleaf, describes how AI coaching is leveling the playing field for people development. Learn what to look for and watch out for when it comes to AI coaching tools, plus practical use cases in the workplace. And discover how you can responsibly use AI to support learning, true behavior change, and performance across your organization.  

What if the most powerful learning initiative isn't a program, but the way work itself is designed? In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, Sam Murray, Founder and CEO of AlignedCX, challenges traditional approaches to learning and enablement and makes the case for merging work and learning to drive real business outcomes. She describes how TD leaders can identify high-value work, decide what belongs with humans versus AI, and design employee experiences that fuel both growth and performance. Listen and explore new ways of thinking about data, performance measurement, and operating models for learning in a world where work is the classroom. Website: https://www.alignedcx.com/

Human sustainability is no longer a "nice to have"—it's a strategic imperative. In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, Allyson McElwain, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Director of Development, Learning, and Engagement at TELUS, describes what it means to create workplaces where employees leave better off than when they arrived. Topics include reimagining employee engagement, supporting mental health and well-being, enabling belonging, and designing meaningful and flexible work. You'll walk through TELUS's human-centric approach to AI, discover the company's transformation journey, and learn how to use AI thoughtfully across the talent development lifecycle.

As AI, reskilling, and shifting workforce expectations reshape organizations, talent development leaders face the unique challenge of balancing innovation with the enduring fundamentals of how people learn. In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, bestselling author, facilitator, and former learning executive Jonathan Halls suggests there is a dual mindset required of today's TD leaders: They must be anchored in evidence-based learning principles while navigating ambiguity and preparing for what's next. Listen for new research about current C-suite priorities (hint: AI literacy tops the list), and learn how asking the right questions can future-proof your learning strategy. Get Jonathan's book on learning objectives: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FYYPY918

C-suite leadership is changing as talent development leaders are gaining expanded responsibilities across learning, succession planning, engagement, and more. Many leaders are expected to be experts in talent development, pros at creating vision and strategy, and adept at AI—all while overseeing initiatives for the entire employee lifecycle. In other words, they're expected to be and do the impossible. In this episode of the Talent Development Leader podcast, Sara Daw—entrepreneur, researcher, and CEO of The CFO Centre and The Liberti Group—suggests practical solutions to these unrealistic pressures placed on TD leaders. She explores the rise of fractional leadership and the access economy and explains how TD leaders can use this new workplace context to their advantage. Listen here and learn about the Strategy and Leadership as a Service framework, a pragmatic approach that helps executives and organizations better adapt, thrive, and co-create sustainable value in this new era of work. 

In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, Ryan Gottfredson—bestselling author, professor, and expert in leadership development—describes what it truly means to become better. Drawing from his latest book, Becoming Better: The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation, Ryan shares why most leadership development is only incrementally helpful and how leaders can shift to transformational growth by elevating their "being side." Learn about mindset strategies, complexity quotient, and practical ways to build future-ready organizations. This episode will give you the tools to deepen your leadership impact and navigate complexity with greater clarity.

With an overwhelming abundance of skilling content and the rise of AI in talent development, what does effective employee support look like today—and what should organizations focus on? In this episode of the Talent Development Leader podcast, Lindsay Witcher, Global Leader at Randstad RiseSmart, discusses the evolving landscape of career development and the increasingly critical role of talent and learning leaders in building environments where employees can thrive. Listen here to learn what current research reveals about employee expectations around career growth, how to empower overwhelmed managers and create personalized development pathways, the strategic role of learning and development in a noisy ecosystem, and the impact of AI on career development strategies in 2025.

In this episode of the Talent Development Leader podcast, explore the power and pitfalls of performance feedback with renowned organizational psychologists Dr. Sandra Mashihi and Dr. Ken Nowack. With decades of experience in leadership development, coaching, and behavioral science, Sandra and Ken explore how feedback can fuel employee engagement, organizational culture, and business performance—when done right. From the neuroscience behind defensive reactions to feedback, to the essential elements that drive real behavior change, this conversation unpacks the disconnects between leaders and employees, and offers a clear, research-backed model for making feedback more effective. As a people leader and talent development professional, you'll walk away with practical strategies for building a feedback culture grounded in psychological safety and self-awareness.

Don't miss Amy on the main stage at ATD25. Register now to join us in D.C.: https://www.td.org/pre-checkout/atd25   In this special bonus episode of the Talent Development Leader podcast, we're joined by renowned Harvard Business School professor and bestselling author, Amy C. Edmondson—the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management and a keynote speaker at ATD25 in Washington, D.C. this May.  Amy shares powerful insights from her latest book, The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well. She explores why failure is so difficult for many, identifying aversion, confusion, and fear as core barriers. She breaks down the concept of intelligent failure and offers practical strategies for learning from setbacks, building resilience, and fostering cultures where thoughtful risk-taking is encouraged.  Guest host Jennifer Homer, ATD's vice president of career development, leads this thoughtful conversation, which builds on Amy's groundbreaking work on psychological safety and its critical role in talent development. 

In a world of constant disruption and rapid change, how can leaders and organizations build resilience, adaptability, and success? In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader, Karen Hough, Founder & CEO of ImprovEdge, explores the intersection of improvisation, neuroscience, and business strategy to help talent development leaders thrive through uncertainty. Uncover practical strategies for fostering agility, embracing the unexpected, and leading with confidence. From real-world success stories to actionable insights, this podcast is your guide to navigating change with creativity, resilience, and a "Yes, And" mindset.  

In today's world of work, leadership demands more than just vision—it requires courage. In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Angela Cheng-Cimini, an accomplished HR leader with three decades of experience across industries, and currently the fractional Head of HR for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, describes the concept of organizational courage. Angela explains what courage looks like in the workplace, how it differs from psychological safety, and why it's a critical skill for today's leaders. Tune in to learn actionable strategies to cultivate courage, key behaviors of courageous organizations, and surprising insights from Angela's latest research.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Julio Zelaya, an Amazon bestselling author, EdTech innovator, and business transformation leader, describes the evolving role of AI in education, the latest trends in learning technologies, and strategies for talent development leaders to scale personalized learning in today's dynamic workforce. Julio shares insights from his research at the University of Pennsylvania, his work at The RBL Group, and his experience co-founding EdTech ventures like Escolaris and Bright Domino. Listen to learn about the ethical considerations of AI-driven learning, the impact of emerging technologies on organizational development, and the groundbreaking Talent Development Executive Certificate program he's co-facilitating with ATD and University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Amii Barnard-Bahn, a former Fortune 5 executive and CHRO, and a consultant and coach to the C-Suite, talks about imposter phenomenon. She explains the history of imposter phenomenon and describes a helpful tool to diagnose it. Learn what it feels like to experience imposter phenomenon and how to distinguish it from low self-esteem or low-confidence. And gain practical tips for taming your inner critic, embracing normal self-doubts, and taking advantage of discomfort to learn and grow.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Lou Tedrick, Vice President of Global Learning & Development at Verizon, explains how she has seen the learning & development and talent leadership roles evolve over her career, and what she predicts for the future of the profession. She describes lessons learned and insights gained as she embarks on a new chapter in her career. And she offers practical advice to listeners who aspire to lead talent development in their organizations.

The Global Curiosity Institute's purpose is to empower individuals, organizations, and society to unlock their full potential through a relentless pursuit of learning, discovery, and innovation. In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, two Global Curiosity Institute fellows, Stefaan van Hooydonk and Hilary Lichterman, unpack the concept of curiosity and its connection to learning. Discover what great companies do to create curious employees and culture. Uncover an assessment for measuring curiosity on individual, team, and organizational levels. And learn how to grow your own curiosity muscle for gains in your personal and professional endeavors.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Charlie Gilkey, bestselling author and founder of Productive Flourishing, unveils 8 habits for ultimate team effectiveness. He addresses critical topics like belonging and well-being, change management, and organizational transformation—and explains how healthy team dynamics are critical for all. Learn how to lead your team toward greater harmony, engagement, and results by modeling and reinforcing good habits.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Victoria Trammel, facilitator, and leadership consultant with Arbinger Institute, addresses the leadership imperative around employee disengagement, and the critical role leaders play in engaging their people. She describes when self-deception shows up for many leaders and how self-awareness can be the antidote. Learn practical strategies from Arbinger Institute's latest research about how to become a leader with an outward mindset, and the self-awareness to empower their people to greatness.  

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Kimo Kippen, speaker and advocate for learning, and a former executive at Hilton and Marriott, shares his love for the talent development field and his personal vision and mission as a leader and lifelong learner. He also describes a variety of emerging research and trends affecting the TD profession, and offers his perspective on how leaders can respond to these transformations and drive lasting change in their organizations. Listen to this episode to gain new tips and inspiration for leading with purpose and impact.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Michele Molitor, master coach, hypnotherapist, speaker, and co-author of the new international best-selling book: "I Am Perfectly Flawsome: How Embracing Imperfection Makes Us Better, unpacks the shadow side of performance improvement. She examines the distinction between striving for perfection and striving for excellence, and the role imposter syndrome plays within a toxic workplace. Listen and learn how to become a flawsome leader who creates meaning and purpose for your people at work. As a special gift, get a free copy of Michele's e-book, What's Causing Your Imposter Syndrome? 6 Triggers Crushing Your Confidence, here.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Jenny Krengel, founder and CEO of Vim and Vibe Productions, the creative force behind the production of micro short films, explains her journey to making the training she wants to take. She describes how to design microlearning that is engaging, fun, and—most importantly—produces desired behavior change. Learn how Vim and Vibe's customers are experiencing performance improvements and how you might infuse a new vibe into your own microlearning.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Ludmila Praslova, global inclusive talent strategy expert and author of The Canary Code: A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work, describes how to design workplaces for maximum neuroinclusion. She creates a compelling case for creating systemic-level strategies for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in organizations. Hear Ludmila's story as an autistic person in the workplace, and gain new ideas from examples of companies with progressive neuroinclusion practices.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Tonika Quick, Enterprise VP of Talent Development for Caesars Entertainment, describes how she is designing the future of talent at her company. Given a blank slate when she started in her role at Caesars, Tonika spent time listening, learning, and honing her problem solving skills. She is now well-poised to deliver what the business needs (hint: it's not always training!), and divulges her secrets to success including her introverted disposition and consultative mindset. Listen to this episode to learn how to be a better advocate for your talent development team—and your career.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Josh Cavalier, AI educator, speaker, author, and host of weekly AI training show Brainpower, describes the challenges and opportunities talent development leaders face when implementing generative AI within the learning and development function. Josh addresses those who may feel overwhelmed by all they need to know and do when it comes to AI and learning, describes the components of a cohesive L&D AI strategy and ecosystem, and explains how TD leaders might best minimize risk around AI.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Ashley Walvoord, Associate Vice President of Talent Management for Verizon, dishes on performance management. Ash describes the "gray and squishy" areas of performance management - those high-impact moments that she believes can best move the needle for an organization. She provides practical examples of how listeners might choose to implement performance management in their organizations, and makes a compelling case for the role of learning and development throughout the process.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Dr. Nadine Greiner and Becky Davis, executive coaches and co-authors of the ATD Press book, Executive Coaching Playbook: How to Launch, Run, and Grow Your Business, describe the landscape of executive coaching today and trends gaining importance in the months ahead. They detail the skills needed to be an exceptional executive coach, a four-step process to guide coaches, and practical tips to manage the coach-client relationship. They also share advice for anyone who is ready to start their own executive coaching business.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Rick Hammell, author, entrepreneur, and founder of the groundbreaking expertise-enabled technology platform Atlas, talks about inclusive leadership. He shares practical advice about how to be an inclusive leader and explains how to scale such efforts for an organization's leadership development endeavors. Learn which organizations are doing this well, the role of culture, and how you can get started on your journey toward more inclusive leadership today. 

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, former Fortune 5 executive and CHRO Amii Barnard-Bahn shares a powerful message about the nature of change. Amii thoughtfully deconstructs change and suggests a new mindset for approaching it. She offers practical tips and examples for ways TD leaders can build momentum for change initiatives and sustain them. And she explains how we all can better prepare ourselves to be more resilient and lead through ambiguity with grace.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Arun Bedi, Senior Fellow at the Human Capital Institute of the Conference Board, unpacks the critical components of a successful new hire experience. He describes some keys to effective onboarding, including best practices he uncovered when running VISA's onboarding boot camp. Listen and learn how to create a high-impact new hire experience that meets the goals of your organization and employees. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, we're talking to 2023 Chief Learning Officer of the Year, Michelle Braden, who is Vice President of Global Talent Development at WEX. Michelle describes her career journey, including the moments that have shaped who she is as a leader today. She admonishes listeners to lead with empathy, keep things simple, and invest in developing their people at all costs.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, we're talking about workplace conflict, something we have been experiencing for as long as there have been workplaces. Karin Hurt and David Dye, culture and communication experts and CEO and President of Let's Grow Leaders, explain what's new about workplace conflict today. They share findings from their current global research project, the World Workplace Conflict and Collaboration Survey, and explain practical solutions that TD leaders can use to create positive outcomes from conflict.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, we're talking about well-being: why it's more important than ever and how to elevate it in the workplace. David C. Tate, a licensed clinical psychologist, executive coach, and organizational consultant, describes how his recent well-being journey has raised his consciousness about the critical role well-being plays in organizations today. Learn why well-being is imperative for leaders today and how to practically prioritize it for you and your employees.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Amii Barnard-Bahn coaches us toward that next promotion. A former Fortune 5 executive and CHRO, Amii is a consultant and coach to the C-Suite and leaders at global companies like Bank of the West, Adobe, AbbVie, and The Gap. In this podcast, Amii discusses the most important considerations for anyone seeking a promotion or new career opportunity. She shares her free self-assessment, the Promotability Index, that measures one's strengths and opportunities for growth in five key elements of promotability. And she describes what she sees as the most important trends in career development.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, we're talking to Al Dea, talent and leadership development consultant, facilitator, and host of the podcast, The Edge of Work. Al explains the burnt-out state of middle management, and why thriving managers are critical for the success of employees and the business. He describes the many roles managers traditionally fill and offers some ideas for how to redefine management expectations and practices today.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, we're talking to Dr. Shadan Deleveaux, Staffing Team Lead of Global Partnerships at Google. Shadan shares his perspective about the power of technology to feed the job market, create new learning opportunities, and ensure greater equity. Learn how Shadan owned his career narrative, and gain tips for creating a change in your own career.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, we're talking about happiness at work. Dr. Angela Stopper, Chief Learning Officer and Director of People and Organization Development at the University of California, Berkeley, explains why it's important that organizations care about their employees' happiness. She explains some practical ways talent development leaders can drive happiness at work, recommends leading resources and experts on the topic, and shares her own tips for boosting happiness.

In this episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, we're talking about the state of leadership in 2023, and what leaders must do now. Kevin Eikenberry, a recognized world expert on leadership development and learning and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, shares his insights on leadership in a divided, dispersed, and discontented world. He describes the four qualities leaders need for success in this context. Finally, Eikenberry explains how talent development leaders can improve leadership development in their organizations.

In this inaugural episode of ATD's Talent Development Leader podcast, Tamar Elkeles, Senior Advisor at East Wind Advisors, explains why now is the time for talent development leaders to get a seat at the Boardroom table. With companies concerned about ESG, culture, and succession, C-suite leaders and Board members are hyper-focused on the role of talent to drive competitive advantage. Elkeles discusses the SEC requirements for public companies to disclose human capital metrics, and how this is an opportunity for TD leaders to align with the business like never before. Tune in to learn from Elkeles's rich 30-year career building a learning function at Qualcomm, followed by her tenure leading talent in education technology startups, and her current experience as a Board member of several public and private companies.

The talent development function is uniquely positioned to act as the guardians of organizational culture, and TD professionals can lead the process for defining and promoting the culture that best serves the organization and its people. In this series members of CTDO Next—a group of talent development executives who are shaping the future of learning—discuss how to drive culture transformation across the organization. John Coné, CTDO Next Catalyst, is the series moderator. In this final episode of the series, Kathryn Coleman, SVP of Talent, Learning, and Insights at 3M, talks about how to understand and promote the behaviors that support the organizational culture you want.

The talent development function is uniquely positioned to act as the guardians of organizational culture, and TD professionals can lead the process for defining and promoting the culture that best serves the organization and its people. In this series members of CTDO Next—a group of talent development executives who are shaping the future of learning—discuss how to drive culture transformation across the organization. John Coné, CTDO Next Catalyst, is the series moderator. In this episode, Michelle Braden, VP of Global Talent Development at WEX, talks about how to help managers and leaders understand, promote, and model desired organizational culture.

The talent development function is uniquely positioned to act as the guardians of organizational culture, and TD professionals can lead the process for defining and promoting the culture that best serves the organization and its people. In this series members of CTDO Next—a group of talent development executives who are shaping the future of learning—discuss how to drive culture transformation across the organization. John Coné, CTDO Next Catalyst, is the series moderator. In this episode, Eivind Slaaen, Head of People and Culture Development at Hilti Corporation, talks about how organizational culture affects the employee value proposition.

The talent development function is uniquely positioned to act as the guardians of organizational culture, and TD professionals can lead the process for defining and promoting the culture that best serves the organization and its people. In this series members of CTDO Next—a group of talent development executives who are shaping the future of learning—discuss how to drive culture transformation across the organization. John Coné, CTDO Next Catalyst, is the series moderator. In this episode, John Kane, Head of Commercial Training and Development at SUN PHARMA, talks about how micro-climates—the good, bad, and ugly—affect an organization's macro-culture, and considerations for talent development professionals in the midst of culture transformation.

The talent development function is uniquely positioned to act as the guardians of organizational culture, and TD professionals can lead the process for defining and promoting the culture that best serves the organization and its people. In this series members of CTDO Next—a group of talent development executives who are shaping the future of learning—discuss how to drive culture transformation across the organization. John Coné, CTDO Next Catalyst, is the series moderator. Every interpersonal interaction between employees, decision made by a leader, and new initiative launched by the organization (read: every moment) contributes to a company's culture story. In this episode, Lisa Cairns, Director of Learning and Development at Smith, talks about how to actively and intentionally facilitate that culture.

The talent development function is uniquely positioned to act as the guardians of organizational culture, and TD professionals can lead the process for defining and promoting the culture that best serves the organization and its people. In this series members of CTDO Next—a group of talent development executives who are shaping the future of learning—discuss how to drive culture transformation across the organization. John Coné, CTDO Next Catalyst, is the series moderator. In this episode, two executives at WM discuss how to help managers and leaders model the culture that you want in your organization.

The talent development function is uniquely positioned to act as the guardians of organizational culture, and TD professionals can lead the process for defining and promoting the culture that best serves the organization and its people. In this series members of CTDO Next—a group of talent development executives who are shaping the future of learning—discuss how to drive culture transformation across the organization. John Coné, CTDO Next Catalyst, is the series moderator. In this episode, two executives at WM discuss how to drive organizational culture change at scale by connecting and aligning micro cultures.

The talent development function is uniquely positioned to act as the guardians of organizational culture, and TD professionals can lead the process for defining and promoting the culture that best serves the organization and its people. In this series members of CTDO Next—a group of talent development executives who are shaping the future of learning—discuss how to drive culture transformation across the organization. John Coné, CTDO Next Catalyst, is the series moderator. In this episode, Alissa Weiher, Director of Global Learning and Leadership Development at Cochlear, talks about how talent development professionals can identify and use the drivers of culture.