logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
38m 54s

The Skills Accelerator with Heather Stef...

DAVID JAMES
About this episode

CLOs today must ask: Is our work building lasting, relevant skills right now? Are we delivering business impact? Is the work building or diminishing L&Ds effectiveness and credibility? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then perhaps it is time for a skills accelerator approach. This is the title of a CLO Lift report and in this episode, we unpack what it means and why it’s critical to us, in L&D, but more importantly to our organisations and employees.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • L&D professionals need to become true business partners instead of just trainers and focus on the development aspect of their role.
  • When you focus on data you are effective, and the rest of the business understands that data.
  • Leverage AI and simulations to deliver fast. 
  • Understand the relevance of each skill. What is it about that skill or new technology that will enable the learner to do their job better?
  • When your business does something new, be a part of the rollout so truly relevant learning is available from the start.

BEST MOMENTS

“Capability building can't just be through learning programs. It needs to be truly employee-centric.”

“If we can spend less time churning content, we'll be able to spend more time developing people.”

“The scope of an L&D leader can no longer be just what training program.”

Heather Stefanski

Heather Stefanski is a Partner and Chief Learning and Development Officer at McKinsey & Company, overseeing Learning & Development for 45,000+ global colleagues and leading the People Data and Analytics Teams. 

During 28 years at McKinsey, she has held various roles in talent acquisition, professional development, and learning. She has an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University, and a BS in Engineering and Operations Research from Princeton University.

Bjorn Billhardt 

Bjorn Billhardt is co-author of The 12-Week MBA and CEO of Abilitie which has trained 100,000 learners in 50 countries, including rising leaders at Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola and GE.

He also co-founded Enspire Learning a custom e-learning development company and was a consultant and corporate trainer for McKinsey & Company.

Bjorn holds a BA from the University of Texas and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has served on multiple boards, including The Magellan International School, Spa Partisan, the Advisory Board of the University of Texas at Austin School for Undergraduate Studies and the UT-HDO Program.

Report: https://learningforum.substack.com/p/clo-lift-the-skills-accelerator

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

ABOUT THE HOST

David James 

David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 

As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 

CONTACT METHOD 

  • Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin
  • L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective
  • Blog: https://360learning.com/blog
  • L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home
Up next
Aug 18
Organising L&D for Results with Guus van Deelen
Many L&D teams are under pressure to deliver business impact—but are held back by disorganisation, unclear positioning, and a lack of strategic focus. In this episode, Guus van Deelen, author of Organising L&D for Results, shares a practical approach for transforming how L&D func ... Show More
38m 6s
Aug 4
Making Sense of the Learning Technology Market with Becky Willis
In this episode, Becky Willis joins David to explore the increasingly crowded world of learning platforms—from the evolution of LXPs to the challenge of aligning stakeholders with vastly different needs. Together, they tackle what’s hot (and what’s not) in the market right now, w ... Show More
49m 47s
Jul 21
Driving Business Impact with Talent Development at Scale With Martha Soehren
Traditional L&D teams often struggle to prove their value—but at Comcast, Martha Soehren built a Talent Development function that drove measurable business impact at scale. In this episode, Martha shares how her team aligned with strategic priorities, built trusted stakeholder re ... Show More
44m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
The Most Effective Communication Skills For Managers with Glenn Pasch
In the dynamic world of management, effective communication is not just a skill, but a cornerstone of successful leadership. Whether you're leading a small team or an entire organization, your ability to communicate clearly, confidently, and empathetically can make all the d ... Show More
20m 30s
Aug 2024
How to Be a More Confident People Manager
In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about people management. Whether or not you manage people today, you likely know that it’s a tough job! Not only do you have responsibility for a team of people who are relying on you but you’ve likely gotten very little tra ... Show More
36m 27s
May 15
The New Rules of Career Growth: What Talent Leaders Need to Know
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 Ra ... Show More
22m 39s
Dec 2024
Mark Savant | Content Creation and AI: Mark Savant's Expert Insights on Strategy and Success
Welcome back to another riveting episode of "Mick Unplugged"! Today, we have an extraordinary guest joining us—Mark Savant, a dynamic entrepreneur who transitioned from a traditional insurance career to becoming a powerhouse in podcasting and digital media. Mark's fascinating jou ... Show More
34m 31s
Jul 2024
Using Problem Solving Frameworks to Ease Self-Doubt
In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about how using problem-solving frameworks can help you ease self-doubt and make better decisions. My guest this week, Tommy Ogden, co-founder of Activera Consulting, shares his career journey, including the twists and turns ... Show More
38m 56s
Feb 2025
When Hiring, Emphasize Skills Over Degrees
The best leaders know that a person’s skillset and their willingness to learn are more important than the degree they have. Ginni Rometty, former Chairman and CEO of IBM, understands this deeply. She spearheaded a company-wide shift to skills-based hiring and development during h ... Show More
31m 36s
Aug 6
🎙️Manual Labor to Million-Dollar Mindset: Nathan Lancry on Resilience, Purpose & Leadership| English for Global Professionals
In this episode, Curtis Davies sits down with Nathan Lancry, A dynamic entrepreneur, thought leader, and author of The Mercury Mind, The Book of Matches, and Foresight is 20/20. Nathan’s journey is anything but ordinary. From leaving high school early and working manual labor job ... Show More
30m 13s
Mar 2025
Changing Leadership Culture and Scaling Content with Jeremie Kubicek
“We use visual tools and common language, so we share tools as if they’re mirrors so that the mirror does the heavy lifting and you get self awareness through looking at the mirror.”Navigating the world of speaking and building a unique brand can be daunting in the early stages o ... Show More
42m 3s
Apr 2025
Balancing Speaking With Your Full Time Job + Mastering Cold Outreach (Live Coaching W/ Erick)
“Knowing who you are as an individual on the spiritual side of life helps guide you to who you are created to be.”One of the coolest parts of TSL is watching our coaches work 1:1 with students and helping them find the clarity and confidence they need to take their speaking busin ... Show More
31m 19s