This episode kicks off the Strategic Learning Series, focused on helping learning professionals build credibility, trust, and influence through higher-quality work.
Joseph sits down (in person) with Tom Jager, a Learning and Development Manager at Smurfit Westrock, to explore a simple but transformative standard:
Would people be willing to pay for the learning experiences you create?
Tom breaks down why corporate L&D often defaults to “good enough,” how leadership support enables creative risk-taking, and why weak feedback loops let low-quality learning persist.
He defines what “high fidelity” actually means in practice, shares a real example of “TikTok training” that drove surprising demand, and offers a practical path for leveling up: copy great work, critique it, then iterate until you break into a higher tier of quality and speed.
A supportive leader creates room to experiment, stretch, and improve.
High-fidelity learning signals intention, quality, and respect for the learner’s time.
Most corporate learning lacks a tight feedback loop, so mediocre work often goes unchallenged.
Learning can be hard because of the skill being built, not because the experience is frustrating.
Creativity can elevate routine training without turning everything into a production.
Copying and critiquing strong examples accelerates skill growth and design judgment.
Incentives and expectations inside L&D often reward completion over quality.
Real-world application increases engagement and perceived value.
Collaboration makes innovation easier and raises the quality bar faster.
Continuous improvement beats perfectionism. Small gains compound.
“Learning that is so good people would pay for it.”
“Copy people to level up your skills.”
“Feedback loops are essential for improvement.”
00:00 In-person setup and introduction
01:20 Meet Tom – Learning and Development Manager
01:34 What Tom loves about L&D
02:21 Creativity and intentional design in L&D
05:07 Defining high-fidelity learning
07:35 Expectations in corporate L&D
09:55 Why feedback loops matter
11:12 Shifting your mindset toward elevated standards
14:15 Tom’s journey to higher-quality work
19:19 Leadership and collaboration as creative enablers
21:46 Real-world impact of elevated learning experiences
22:35 Where to start when leveling up your skills
25:22 Copying and critiquing as a growth strategy
28:25 Feedback, iteration, and continuous improvement
29:28 Resources for creative development
33:58 Transforming learning into something people would choose
34:51 Building feedback loops and learning strategies
Resources Mentioned (Not affiliated in any way)
Everything Is a Remix (video series) by Kirby Ferguson (Everything is a Remix)
Lovable (used to build a simulation experience) (Lovable)
Articulate Storyline 360 (Articulate)
Adobe Captivate (Adobe)
Articulate Rise 360 (Articulate)
Camtasia (TechSmith) (TechSmith)
Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (overview) (ScienceDirect)
E-Learning Heroes (examples to critique, community and inspiration) (Articulate Community)
CONNECT WTIH TOM
LinkedIn (best place to follow Tom’s work and experiments) (LinkedIn)
Overtime Courses (Tom’s work with micro-influencers and digital products) (Overtime Learning)
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