Learner Experience Evolution

In this episode of LX Evolution, host Michael Noble speaks with Ron Zamir, CEO of AllenComm, about the transformative impact of AI on the Learning and Development (L&D) industry. They discuss AllenComm's journey in integrating AI into their processes, the importance of exploration and discovery in AI implementation, and how to measure success and innovation. The conversation also covers the significance of governance in AI adoption, the challenges and opportunities in investing in AI technologies, and key takeaways for learning leaders navigating this evolving landscape.TakeawaysAI is a transformative force in the L&D industry.Exploration and discovery are crucial for effective AI implementation.Governance can accelerate AI adoption by building trust.Learning leaders must lean into existing technologies.Experimentation with AI tools is essential for innovation.Measuring success is key to understanding AI's impact.Client comfort zones must be understood and stretched.The barrier to entry for AI solutions is low.Investing in AI should focus on enhancing learning experiences.Don't hesitate to demand more from vendors.

What’s the secret to getting buy in and other support (so you don’t have to do it all yourself)? Michael Noble and Amanda Myton, Head of Learning and Development at Snowflake, discuss how AI and data-driven strategies can help. Especially today, when L&D teams are smaller than ever—but the asks have only gotten larger—being able to customize training and collaborate effectively across teams is critical to making your next initiative a success.Top TakeawaysThe team is building a leadership foundation with a people leader code. AI is being used to identify and level skills effectively. Organizational culture must be co-built, not just top-down. Building modular training programs allows for flexibility and reuse. Collaboration with stakeholders is crucial for success. Generative AI accelerates the creation of customized learning content. The future of learning involves creating tools for learners to develop themselves. Mentorship matching is being prototyped to enhance career development. The shift from traditional training models to more agile approaches is essential.

In some ways, people are not so different from our technology counterparts… and yet, there are so many special things that only a human can do. This episode follows a conversation between Michael Noble and Alison Shea, Coretography Chief of Global Learning Strategy, as they discuss Alison’s personal philosophy on change—that is, while innovations like AI provide incredible opportunities for those who can embrace them in their daily work and personal lives, the humanity behind learning is a unique force that drives the success of transformational change.TakeawaysAllison Shea is a fourth-generation educator with a passion for transformative learning.Change is constant, but growth is a choice we make.Effective learning should focus on retention and application, not just information acquisition.AI can enhance learning but requires careful implementation and ethical considerations.Data should be used to foster growth, not as a punitive measure.Transformational change often requires a strategic approach rather than just superficial adjustments.In regulated industries, understanding the rules can help create engaging learning experiences.Learning initiatives should aim to leave organizations better than they found them.Personalization in learning is evolving with AI, moving beyond simple name insertion.The future of learning will involve a partnership between AI and human insight.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Learning and Change06:40 Navigating Change in Learning and Development16:17 Transformational Change: A Case Study23:45 Adapting to Change in Regulated Industries29:37 The Future of Learning: AI and Personalization34:28 Outro with Art.mp4

Every leader’s L&D journey begins somewhere. For Justin Bridegan, Vice President of Training & Development at Stellar, that journey involved building an L&D department from the ground up. It wasn’t easy, but it was extremely rewarding… and even resulted in a comprehensive learning solution with over 10,000 courses. Listen as Ron and Justin discuss this transition, including working with stakeholders to get buy in, utilizing existing technology to streamline implementation, and keeping employees involved and engaged at every step to foster a lifelong culture of learning for the organization.TakeawaysJustin Bridegan transitioned from marketing to L&D to make a meaningful impact.A strong onboarding program is crucial for employee retention.Gaining buy-in from leadership is essential for L&D success.Communication and transparency help manage expectations during change.Leveraging existing resources can enhance training programs.In-house experts can provide valuable training insights.Personalized learning experiences improve employee engagement.Measuring training impact is vital for demonstrating value.Investing in employee development positively affects retention rates.Embracing challenges is key to success in L&D.

Innovation, change, and evolution… these three things go hand in hand. For the National Rifle Association (NRA), innovation and change were exactly what enabled them to evolve the Hunter Education curriculum into a best-in-class free learning solution for hunters worldwide. In this episode, Ron Zamir and Peter Churchbourne discuss the history of NRA’s program, as well as the challenges of introducing new learning methods in a traditional field. They also share insights into engaging learners and making an impact on a community, even if it means pushing the boundaries of what’s comfortable to inspire others to embrace change for a better future.

Great talent management is integral to your organization’s ability to achieve goals. But when it comes to change and innovation in the talent management space, there’s so much to consider—sometimes even more than other areas of the business! Don’t worry, though. Ron Zamir and Bernadette Sciarabba are here to break it down for you. In this episode, they discuss some of those key considerations, like the role of leadership, the importance of data access, and the impact of AI. Even more, they share insights and strategies for breaking the process down into simpler steps to successfully navigate tomorrow’s challenges.

We’re continuing the journey into AI, but this time we want to do it a little differently… What’s ideal may not always be what’s practical, and what’s practical should be rooted in realistic experiences and results, not rumors and trends. In this episode, Michael Noble meets with Kari Naimon, CEO of AIxHR, to discuss her own journey in the HR leadership space, as well as how she became passionate about integrating AI into employee engagement and organizational change. She shares practical AI applications and use cases throughout the employee lifecycle, personal stories of success, and advice to help leaders overcome barriers while measuring the impact of AI on business-critical goals.

Everyone’s comfort zone is different (especially when it comes to AI). That’s why it’s important to meet people where they are to better understand how they feel and how they learn best in a corporate training environment. In this episode, Ron Zamir and Jeff Martin, Senior Performance Consultant and Learning Strategist at AllenComm, discuss what it means to balance content and skills within someone’s comfort zone—as well as how AI can enhance creativity and effectiveness when paired with the right human oversight throughout the learning journey.TakeawaysThe evolution of learning experiences is crucial for 2025.Performance consultants play a key role in adapting innovation.Understanding comfort zones is essential for effective learning.AI can enhance learning experiences but requires careful integration.Balancing content and skills is vital for learner engagement.Disruption is necessary to cut through the noise in corporate training.AI serves as a creative partner in the learning process.Human oversight is critical when using AI for content generation.Meeting clients where they are fosters better learning outcomes.Continuous adaptation and innovation are necessary in learning and development.About JeffJeff Martin is a senior performance consultant and learning strategist with a proven track record of integrating AI-driven solutions to create innovative, user-centric learning programs. Starting as a high school teacher in 2008, Jeff began training new teachers after his first year of teaching. He has since been a teacher facilitator for JHU, helped develop a leading edtech iPad reading comprehension app, and has worked in global training for a company out of China. Having transitioned into the corporate L&D sphere in 2016, Jeff has led significant transformations by turning complex content into scenario-based, skill-building experiences. At AllenComm, he pioneered an AI club, where his hands-on approach to up-skilling teams and driving efficiency has earned leadership recognition. In his free time, Jeff enjoys playing experimental music and Tetris.