Shows
In The Know with AxonifyMake Every Workday Count w/ Matthew Daniel (Guild), Al Dea (The Edge of Work), Lori Niles-Hofmann (NilesNolen)Frontline workers continue to grapple with long-standing challenges like burnout and inconsistent support. Axonify’s annual Deskless Report examines these issues in depth, highlighting the most urgent needs and providing actionable insights to help organizations better equip their frontline teams for success.In this episode, a panel of ITK faves—Matthew Daniel (Guild), Al Dea (The Edge of Work) and Lori Niles-Hofmann (NilesNolan)—and host JD Dillon discuss answers to 5 critical frontline questions:How can we better support managers so they aren’t forced to figure things out on the fly?How...2024-10-3044 minIn The Know with AxonifyEmpowering managers: A field guide to retail success w/ Kit Camproy (Author of The Retail Leader's Field Guide)Retail managers are at a breaking point. Facing staffing shortages, burnout and labor hour reductions, they’re struggling to keep operations running smoothly while balancing increasing demands. With the holiday season fast approaching, retailers are relying on frontline operations to deliver 20-30% of their annual sales at a time when inflation-wary consumers are reducing discretionary spending. How can corporate teams empower their managers to lead successful store teams during this critical season? Kit Campoy, a former retail manager with 20 years of experience and author of The Retail Leader’s Field Guide, has a few ideas. She shared pract...2024-09-2634 minIn The Know with AxonifyCooking Up a Great Workplace: Employee Experience in Foodservice w/ Alison Lambert (Director of Engagement & Insights, Eurest)Have you ever had two leaders telling you two different things that are in direct opposition to each other? It’s a common dish served in foodservice, where franchised locations, channel teams or contracted locations mean that a worker might suddenly feel like they’re sandwiched between more than one boss.And that disjointed experience makes it hard to rally employees around a consistent and engaging brand mission that enables and empowers employees to deliver guest experiences that drive loyalty and revenue.Enter Eurest USA, a contract foodservice company within Compass Group that's developed an awar...2024-08-1429 minIn The Know with AxonifyHow to Transform Frontline Managers Into Leaders w/ Monica Rothgery (fmr COO - KFC US)Frontline managers have the power to change lives. But 49% are burned out on a daily basis. If we’re going to rely on them to run our businesses and take care of our people, they’ll need our help.Monica Rothgery, former Chief Operations Officer of KFC U.S., joined JD Dillon to discuss the essential role frontline managers play in today’s workplace. They explore practical strategies for helping managers balance corporate priorities, demanding customers and frontline needs. Sharing real-world stories and lessons learned from years spent managing restaurants, movie theaters and theme parks, they unpack why it...2024-06-1330 minIn The Know with AxonifyHow to Build a Customer Service Culture w/ Timo Anderson (ZingTrain)Which companies provide the BEST customer service? Names like Disney, Zappos and Southwest Airlines immediately come to mind for their ability to deliver exceptional service while running efficient, safe and profitable businesses. But what if we told you that one of the world’s greatest service cultures can be found at a deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan?Zingerman’s Delicatessen opened its doors in 1982. Now, over 40 years later, the company operates 10 different specialty businesses, all working toward the goal of making the shopping and eating experience more memorable than ever. But Zingerman’s is more than a deli o...2024-05-1530 minIn The Know with AxonifySolving Everyday Performance Problems with Microlearning w/ Robyn Defelice (Consultant at RADLearning & co-author of Microlearning: Short and Sweet)It's our smallest episode ever! But it’s not the runtime that’s shrinking, it’s your learning strategy. That's right—we’re talking about microlearning. Robyn Defelice, Consultant at RADLearning and co-author of Microlearning: Short and Sweet, joins JD Dillon for the latest on all things microlearning. They break down the key principles of microlearning design, discuss how AI is making microlearning more effective and explain why it represents the outcome-focused approach L&D needs right now. Plus, JD challenges Robyn to our first-ever Microlearning Melée game! They use their microlearning skills to sol...2024-04-0338 minIn The Know with AxonifyLights, Camera, Learning With Video! w/ Enrique Olives & Craig Kingsbury (Vyond)Creating compelling training content is tough. You're often forced to choose between building it on your own, which is time-consuming and expensive, or borrowing it from an off-the-shelf library, and we all know how disengaging generic training modules can be. What if you could leverage a proven method for telling powerful, meaningful stories to boost your training effectiveness? We’re exploring the magic of video with the experts at Vyond. Enrique Olives and Craig Kingsbury join JD to discuss how video content makes workplace training and communication more relevant, efficient and effective. They’ll also share...2024-03-2030 minIn The Know with AxonifyA New POV on Employee Engagement w/ Michael Esau (Global HR Advisor at SAP SuccessFactors)Four years—that’s currently how long the typical employee sticks around before looking for new opportunities. But it wasn't always this way and median employee tenure has dropped 10.9% since 2012. The idea of staying with the same company for an entire career is a thing of the past thanks to high-profile layoffs, technological advancements, the rise of the gig economy and a renewed focus on work-life balance. People are starting to question the basic nature of employee loyalty so it makes sense that a new perspective is required.Michael Esau, SAP's Global HR Advisor, joins JD Dillon to e...2024-03-0731 minIn The Know with AxonifyReclaim Your Workplace from Toxic Leadership w/ Loren Sanders (Speaker, Author, Coach, Consultant)How do you survive toxic leadership that goes beyond bad managers? We're talking the kind of leaders who bully, intimidate and exploit their teams, creating a work environment that erodes trust, damages relationships and undermines the well-being of employees. If you have a toxic leader, what are your options? And how can your organization protect the workplace so employees feel safe to do their best work in an environment that's fundamentally inclusive, trusting and supportive?Loren Sanders shared some ideas on ITK! Loren is a coach, author and talent management consultant who helps non-HR people better understand...2024-02-2131 minIn The Know with AxonifyMake Learning a Business Priority w/ Dr. Keith Keating (Author - The Trusted Learning Advisor)"We don’t have time for learning!” How many times have you heard this objection in your L&D career? There’s just too much going on in the operation to make time for L&D activities. Plus, people are already overloaded with compliance training. This means learning is often seen as a distraction from work rather than an essential part of the job. How do we make learning a top priority, even in the busiest workplace? And how do we evolve the role of L&D from compliance-focused order takers to strategic business partners trusted...2024-02-0728 minIn The Know with AxonifyBalance the PUSH and PULL of Learning at Work w/ Daniel Johnson (Employee Learning Experience) + John Parsell (Learning Experience Technology Architect)When should you PUSH training to employees, and when should you make learning resources available for people to PULL on their own?Daniel Johnson and John Parsell from Merck sit down with JD Dillon to discuss the challenges of balancing the push/pull reality of workplace learning. They explore the complexities of L&D within a highly-regulated industry and the problems that can arise when employees get overloaded with required training. Daniel and John also provide practical tips for leveraging technology to balance push/pull learning and helping stakeholders understand why every problem doesn’t require a tr...2024-01-2425 minIn The Know with AxonifyWant to delight your guests? Teach your people to problem solve w/ Dara Pinke (Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts)Think back to your most memorable hotel experiences. What do they have in common?Moments of delight. It’s when you’re greeted by name at reception. Or when that bottle of champagne suddenly appears in your room. Or when an associate goes out of their way to get you that dinner reservation. Those are the moments that build lifelong loyalty.But those moments are hard to scale. How do you empower associates across the world to deliver this top-tier experience, while still maintaining the brand consistency that guests are accustomed to? For Dara Pinke, Vice-President of L...2023-12-1332 minIn The Know with AxonifyBlended Learning: Elevating Customer Service in Healthcare w/ Sam Anderson (Cardinal Health)Great customer service in healthcare is essential but includes added expectation thanks in part to the sensitivities and vulnerabilities associated with the industry. People want to be treated with respect and empathy and have easy access to reliable, accurate information. But providing this type of experience can be a challenge when you have thousands of employees across multiple business units. How do you make sure each customer gets the same top-notch experience during every interaction?Sam Anderson, Director of Customer Experience Learning and Development at Cardinal Health, joins JD Dillon to share his team’s aw...2023-11-1524 minIn The Know with AxonifyHow AI Can Make Work More Human w/ Juan NaranjoAI is already taking on tasks typically completed by people. It’s answering contact center calls, taking drive-thru orders and writing marketing copy. Companies are betting on AI to reduce costs, alleviate staffing challenges and improve efficiency. But where does this leave workers? Is AI just going to replace people, or can this technology actually make work more human? Join Juan Naranjo and JD Dillon as they share ideas for leveraging AI to improve the employee experience. Juan applies AI in his work as Senior Manager of Corporate Design and Development in the Canadian telecommunications ind...2023-11-0127 minIn The Know with AxonifyThe Road to AxoniCom 2023To celebrate AxoniCom 2023 taking over Nashville, host JD Dillon invited some of the conference’s movers and shakers to ITK.Foot Locker’s former CEO Dick Johnson discussed what attendees can expect from his fireside chat with Axonify Co-founder and CRO Christine Tutssel. Then, Dessy Daskalov, Axonify’s SVP of Development, shares three nuggets about Axonify and AI. And Vijitharan Nageswaran, podcast host, Axonify’s Principal Solutions Consultant—and the big show’s mainstage MC!—shares what to look forward to as a first-time AxoniCom attendee.This episode also takes a short detour with a look back at o...2023-10-1827 minIn The Know with AxonifyDesign a Workplace Culture with Purpose w/ Melissa Daimler (Author of "ReCulturing" and Chief Learning Officer for Udemy)How do you build a truly great and healthy workplace culture, and what does it take to bring the values posted on office walls to life, every single day?Melissa Daimler, CLO at Udemy and author of "ReCulturing: Design Your Company Culture to Connect with Strategy and Purpose for Lasting Success," joins JD to explore the key elements of building exceptional workplace cultures and how behaviors, processes and practices intersect to shape the outcome.Melissa and JD also discuss how remote work impacts (and can even contribute) to an effective company culture and...2023-10-0435 minIn The Know with AxonifyDesigning Jobs That Don’t Suck! w/ Dr. Steven Hunt (Chief Expert of Technology & Work - SAP)What do today’s employees want in a job?Dr. Steven T. Hunt, Ph.D., SAP’s Chief Expert of Technology & Work, joins JD Dillon to share his perspective on what it takes to create a desirable workplace. Steve digs into trendy topics, like generational differences and remote work, and explains why they’re distractions from the important ideas organizations should focus on: job design and human psychology. Steve also talks about his new book, Talent Tectonics, and how it can help companies design work experiences that attract, enable and retain exceptio...2023-09-2129 minIn The Know with AxonifyWhat You Need to Know About Optimizing Your Tech Stack w/ Rachel Horwitz (Learning Culture Partners)How much learning technology do you actually need?Rachel Horwitz joins ITK to discuss learning tech optimization. Rachel has managed HR and L&D practices at Mars, The Estée Lauder Companies and ConvaTec. Now her team at Learning Culture Partners helps organizations improve the utility, scalability and cost-effectiveness of their learning tech ecosystems. If you want expert tips on how to get maximum value and impact from your technology investments, join Rachel and JD for this spirited conversation! Watch the full video of this episode on the Axonify YouTube Channel.Subscribe for...2023-08-2431 min
This New WayBeyond the Bad News: Leading With a Plan of Action and Assurance (with Carol Leaman, CEO of Axonify)👉 Check out the resources mentioned here: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/carol-leaman-axonify-beyond-the-bad-news-leading-with-a-plan-of-action-and-assurance
How transparent is your leadership team about company information?
In an age where transparency can make or break trust, many leaders still wrestle with pulling back the curtain, especially when it comes to sharing sensitive company details such as finances. But what if withholding information is more perilous than sharing it?
Axonify’s CEO, Carol Leaman, delves into why she views the repercussions of not sharing this information as a greater threat. She offers actionable strategies to promote transparency and o...2023-08-1743 minIn The Know with AxonifyAgree to Disagree! The Essentials of Learning Experience Design w/ Cara North (The Learning Camel)We’re celebrating the release of Learning Experience Design Essentials, the new book from one of our favorite ITK guests, Cara North!Cara’s gone from “accidental instructional designer” with Amazon to L&D director with Circulo Health to literally writing the book on modern learning design. Now she joins JD for a rousing game of Agree to Disagree! where they both share their takes on the hottest questions in L&D. Watch the full video of this episode on the Axonify YouTube Channel.Pick up a copy of Cara North's new book L...2023-08-0932 minIn The Know with AxonifyEmbracing Accessibility in L&D w/ Diane Elkins (Artisan E-Learning)Who deserves the chance to get better at their jobs?Everyone, of course! And while the answer is obvious, delivering on that promise is more nuanced than you may realize.Diane Elkins, co-founder of Artisan E-Learning and founding member of Inspire Accessibility, joins JD to share practical insights for improving equity in workplace learning and explains why accessibility is about so much more than checking regulatory boxes. She debunks common accessibility myths, highlights frequent learning design mistakes and provides proven tips for selecting partners that truly prioritize accessibility.Watch the full...2023-07-2630 minIn The Know with AxonifyLessons in Learning From a Former Startup w/ Gloria Chau (Endy)If you want tried-and-tested tactics to keep your people engaged and invested in the success of your business, look to startups. If larger organizations can successfully tap into that agile innovation … you’ve got the potential for magic.Endy, Canada’s leading online mattress brand, is building a culture of deliberate and continuous learning that starts on day one. The goal? Build out a team of experts who can pivot quickly to act in the company’s best interest, every single day.Join Gloria Chau, Endy’s Manager of Learning and Developmen...2023-07-1221 minIn The Know with AxonifyCareer 2.0: How to Unleash Your Professional Potential w/ Al DeaDid you know the average person will have between 3 and 7 different careers over the course of their professional lives?We explore modern tactics for career development with Al Dea, Leadership Development Consultant and host of The Edge of Work podcast. Al's work has been cited in The Wall Street Journal, Time, Fast Company and The World Economic Forum. Now he joins JD on ITK to redefine concept of a career in the modern workplace, including:What's wrong with the phrase "employees should own their careers"Why career building is a team sportThe role managers...2023-06-2131 minIn The Know with AxonifyLeveraging Breakdowns to Breakthrough w/ Elizabeth ThompsonElizabeth Thompson (Founder and Chief Experience Officer for Intuitive Quest) has seen it all in her 20-plus year career in HR. From mass layoffs at Starbucks during a recession to having a front row seat to a Chapter 11 experience with Southeastern Grocers as the Chief People Officer and how the grocer came out of the experience not only wiser but transformed to a level that resulted in a Harvard Business School case study on their cultural transformation. Elizabeth has witnessed seismic global shifts that have impacted how we support employees and develop leaders, and created a...2023-06-0729 minIn The Know with AxonifyOvercoming the Barriers to Frontline Success w/ RedThread ResearchHow do we make it easier for frontline workers to do their jobs?It’s a simple question, but the answer is more nuanced than you might expect. RedThread Research asked over 500 employees and 50 leaders from a wide range of industries and job functions about what’s working—and what’s not—when it comes to enabling the success of their teams for its recent report, Getting Real About the Frontline Workforce. Join report authors Heather Gilmartin Adams and Dani Johnson and Axonify’s Josh Felix as they unpack the findings...2023-05-2625 minIn The Know with AxonifyITK REWIND: Gamification in Learning w/ Karl KappWe’re settling the debate on gamification—again!Join us for a rewind (not rerun) of our most popular episode to date. Karl Kapp—the man who literally wrote the book on the subject—joins JD for a no-nonsense conversation on the dos and don’ts of gamification. Karl plays the ITK Game and explains how you can increase engagement, boost knowledge and super-size the fun by blending game mechanics within your learning programs.Karl also gives us an update on his YouTube series, The Unofficial, Unauthorized History of Learning Games. If you’ve ever wond...2023-05-1035 minIn The Know with AxonifyBack to the Future of L&D w/ Donald TaylorWe’re jumping into our DeLorean to discover the future of L&D!2023 is a critical year for the L&D profession. After three years of nonstop disruption, L&D pros have an opportunity to define the role they’ll play in the future of work. To make smart investments, they must get past the hype and focus their limited time and resources on the best ideas. But how can L&D specialists determine which ideas are worth pursuing and which will fade out fast? It’s not like they have a time machine—or do they?2023-04-2623 minIn The Know with AxonifyWhy Education is the Key to Customer Retention w/ Ryan Dillon (Thought Industries)This conversation gets SPICY!!!With a marketplace full of options and new competitors emerging daily, it’s more difficult (and expensive) than ever to attract and retain customers. Today’s buyers aren’t just looking for vendors; they’re searching for partners who are dedicated to shared success. That’s why an awesome customer education program is essential to improving retention and growing your brand. Ryan Dillon, Vice President of Corporate Development at Thought Industries, joins JD Dillon to break down the essentials of a solid customer education program and connect over some common gro...2023-04-1523 minIn The Know with AxonifyEverlasting Upskilling: put employees on the Wonkavator to success w/ Lori Niles-Hofmann (NilesNolan)Do you remember the end of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the original, not the remake)? Charlie, Grandpa Joe and Willy Wonka board the Great Glass Wonkavator. It’s not an elevator because “an elevator can only go up and down, but the Wonkavator can go sideways and slantways and longways and backways … and any other ways you can think of …”A flying elevator isn’t just a fun way to end a movie—it’s also the perfect metaphor for career development in today's workplace!Join Lori Niles-Hofmann (Senior EdTech Transformation Strategist at NilesNolen) a...2023-03-2927 minIn The Know with AxonifyThe Robots Are Here! How AI is transforming EXAI is everywhere!ChatGPT can write quirky poetry. Bing can summarize entire webpages. Stable Diffusion can make U.S. presidents look like Pixar characters. The technology is impressive, but how will this next wave of digital innovation impact the employee experience?Join JD Dillon as he dives into the potential benefits and risks for AI at work with a very special guest: AI. That’s right! JD stretches the limits of AI-powered tech by conducting a live interview with a fully digital guest. Together, they explore a range of AI workplace applications, from recruiting and tra...2023-03-1523 minIn The Know with AxonifySecrets from a Disruptor w/ Shawn Kanungo (The Bold Ones)What if you could transform disruption from a BIG, SCARY force into a personal strategy for success?Shawn Kanungo brings his passion for storytelling and unique lens on disruptive innovation to ITK. His new book - The Bold Ones - is a playbook for putting new ideas into action and levelling up your career. Shawn and JD discuss the impact of disruption on today’s workplace, why Shawn thinks the best way to get ahead is to try and get fired, the myth about best practices and what it takes to get people to embrace cha...2023-03-0128 minIn The Know with AxonifyMaximize Your L&D Investment with Workflow Learning w/ Bob Mosher (APPLY Synergies)Budgets are tight. Time is tighter. L&D often shifts from critical business strategy to unnecessary distraction when people are asked to do more with less. “We don’t have time for learning” becomes a common objection. How can organizations close skill gaps and deliver business value without constantly disrupting the operation?Bob Mosher, Founding Partner and Chief Learning Evangelist at APPLY Synergies, wrote the book on workflow learning—literally. He joins Josh Felix from Axonify to discuss the missing ingredient in most L&D strategies— sustainment—and why it's essential to delivering business value. Bob also exp...2023-02-1527 min
The Retail Perch85. Interview with Carol Leaman of AxonifyIn this episode of The Retail Perch, Gary returns to join Shekar in welcoming Carol Leaman. Carol is the CEO of Axonify Inc., a company that delivers fun training and communications to frontline employees. In this episode learn why companies like Kroger and Walmart have used Axonify to communicate with their frontline employees. The three discuss the effects the pandemic had on Axonify, digitization of employee training, retail workforce predictions and much more!2023-02-0632 minIn The Know with Axonify2023 EX Trend Breakdown w/ Jordan EkersIs it HYPE or HAPPENING?That’s the question we answer on this ITK as we explore the BIGGEST employee experience trends for 2023. There are lots of articles, podcasts and webinars out there right now telling you what to care about this year as L&D, HR and EX professionals. But are those topics really worth your limited time, resources and investment?Jordan Ekers (VP - Product Marketing at Axonify) joins JD to break down the hype machine. We get past the headlines and share practical insights into …Economic uncertaintyLayoffs and labor shor...2023-02-0221 minIn The Know with AxonifyFrom Jobs to Careers: Help Your People Thrive at Work w/ Jenifer Calcamuggi (Shake Shack)Empower your employees to bring their whole selves to work!Jenifer Calcamuggi, Director of Learning and Talent Development at Shake Shack, joins JD to explore the role of talent development in shaping the future of work. Jenifer explains why topics like resilience, wellbeing and fulfillment are essential focus areas in today’s workplace. We discuss transforming jobs into careers through continuous people development. Jenifer highlights an underestimated pool of new corporate talent — transitioning teachers — and the unique skills they bring to workplace learning.Sign up for ITK updates and show announcements at ...2023-01-1827 minIn The Know with AxonifyJD’s Book Launch Extravaganza! w/ Elaine Biech, Karl Kapp & Cara NorthWe’re celebrating the launch of JD’s new book!The Modern Learning Ecosystem dropped on November 29th. It’s a call to action for L&D to rethink their practices to help employees keep pace with change, solve today’s biggest problems and build the knowledge and skills needed to seize tomorrow’s opportunities.JD invited L&D’s most well-known authors to join the party, including Elaine Biech (The Art and Science of Training), Karl Kapp (The Gamification of Learning and Instruction) and Cara North (Learning Exp...2022-11-3032 minIn The Know with AxonifyThe 5 Pillars of Belonging at Work w/ David Bator (Achievers Workforce Institute)Make sure employees feel like they belong from Day 1!Belonging is a fundamental human need. We seek out people and places that accept us for who we are. This drive for connection extends into the workplace where a strong sense of belonging can improve engagement and performance. What steps can organizations take to foster belonging, boost trust and create enthusiastic brand advocates?David Bator, Director of the Achievers Workforce Institute, joins JD to explore the importance of belonging in today’s workplace. David explains why companies that foster belonging have 3x higher productivity, en...2022-11-0928 minIn The Know with AxonifyWhat Do Deskless Workers Want?42% of deskless workers want to quit. Why?This is a must-answer question for companies trying to attract and retain workers in a tight labor market. Frontline employees have more options than ever thanks to rising wages, remote positions and gig work. The best gift you can give your frontline teams this holiday season is the exceptional employee experience they deserve. They are doing the heavy lifting after all!Luckily, we have the information you need to get started.JD and Josh Felix from Axonify uncover the biggest insights from The Deskless Report2022-10-2624 minIn The Know with AxonifyThe Formula for Solving the Labor Shortage Problem w/ Tom Rudar and Jeff Berquist (Heinen's)Attract + Enable + Engage = Retain“Now Hiring” signs are a common sight nowadays. Retailers and restaurants continue to struggle with labor shortages, and the problem only seems to be getting worse. 42% of frontline workers currently want to quit, up from 36% in 2021 according to The Deskless Report from Axonify. You can’t provide exceptional customer experiences without an experienced, knowledgeable staff. What does it take to attract and retain great workers in a tight labor market?Tom Rudar (Talent Manager) and Jeff Berquist (Training & Development Manager) from Heinen’s Grocery Store join JD t...2022-10-1228 minIn The Know with AxonifyHow to Measure the REAL Impact of Training w/ Kevin M. Yates (L&D Detective)Fix learning measurement (finally)!L&D has struggled with measurement for … well … forever. The industry is littered with models and frameworks, but most organizations continue to rely on flawed metrics like survey feedback and test scores to determine the value of learning programs.Good data practices are essential for justifying learning investment and powering advanced practices like adaptive learning. But how can L&D fix a problem that’s older than most L&D professionals? There’s only one way to solve this case: call the L&D Detective!Kevin M. Yates, the...2022-09-2823 minIn The Know with AxonifyThe Evolution of L&D Industry Events w/ David Kelly (Learning Guild)To go or not to go? That is the question when it comes to industry events. The conference landscape changed dramatically in 2020 as in-person events were replaced by online activities. Today, employees have hundreds of online options - webinars, events, podcasts, livestreams - to support of their development. Does this mean in-person conferences are a thing of the past, or are they still a meaningful part of professional development that’s worth the investment?David Kelly, CEO of The Learning Guild, sits down with JD Dillon to discuss the realities of industry events in...2022-09-1427 minIn The Know with AxonifyCan Skills Run the World (of Work)? w/ Dani Johnson (RedThread Research)Bring your skills strategy to life!The skills conversation is everywhere. Everyone appears to want skills - people's proven ability to do the work - to be the foundation of their workforce strategies. It makes sense - on paper. But there are still plenty of questions left to be answered, including: What is a skill?How do you measure skills?How do you operationalize skill data to improve the employee experience and add value to the business?Dani Johnson, Co-Founder and Principal at RedThread Research, stops by to set the record s...2022-08-3126 minIn The Know with AxonifyUsing Learning Campaigns to Keep Pace with Business Change w/ Amy Wallace (Members 1st Federal Credit Union)Turn off the training firehose!Here’s the biggest secret about workplace learning: people are built to forget. We can only retain so much information in a short period. This is why traditional courses don’t work - people aren’t built to learn that way. Instead, L&D should deliver and reinforce training in short bursts over extended periods. Instead of relying on courses, think about learning programs as campaigns.Amy Wallace, Vice President of Learning and Development at Members 1st Federal Credit Union, joins JD Dillon to share her insights into campai...2022-08-1827 minIn The Know with AxonifyFinding a Career Path in L&D w/ Tracie Cantu (Atlassian)What do L&D professionals actually do?It can be hard for L&D pros to explain their jobs to people outside the profession. Sometimes they’re teachers. Sometimes they’re media designers. And sometimes they’re the people who make employees finish those boring compliance courses. In reality, L&D is a dynamic profession with lots of opportunity for people with different interests and skills. Do you know your options for building a career in L&D? Does your company have the right L&D roles in place to properly enable your business? 2022-08-0327 minIn The Know with AxonifyNudging Employees to Peak Performance w/ Jordan Ekers (Nudge)The news is hot off the press: Axonify acquired Nudge! Together, we’re about to take the frontline digital experience to the next level.What does this partnership mean for frontline employers? How is Axonify going to transform the employee experience through learning, communication and execution technology? And how can we help companies become employers of choice in a competitive talent marketplace?JD Dillon is joined by Jordan Ekers, Co-Founder and COO at Nudge, to share our vision for the not-so-distant future of the frontline employee experience.Watch the full video of...2022-07-2030 minIn The Know with AxonifyEssential Skills for the Modern L&D Pro w/ John Hinchliffe (Jam Pan)L&D professionals are lifelong learners who inherently understand the importance of ongoing skill development. But do they prioritize building their own skillset to keep up with the rapid changes in the workplace? Unfortunately, the biggest irony in workplace learning is how little professional development the learning and development people tend to do. JD Dillon is joined by John Hinchliffe, Head of Engagement at Jam Pan and Founder of the Global Learning and Development Community (GLDC). They debate the essential skills L&D pros need to be successful in today's workplace as well as best...2022-07-0628 minIn The Know with AxonifyHow Curation + AI Accelerate Content Development w/ Ingrid Carreres (Sonnet Insurance)Content is a constant headache in workplace learning. It’s expensive to buy. It’s time consuming to build and maintain. And most of it sits on a shelf unused. Delivering good training content is hard. Doing it in an engaging way at the speed required is almost impossible … or is it? Let’s find out how a modern content strategy can save time, money and headaches. JD is joined by Ingrid Carreres - Senior Bilingual Instructional Designer at Sonnet Insurance. Ingrid explains how her team leverages a strategic mix of OTS and home-grown content to delive...2022-06-2227 minIn The Know with AxonifyThe Power of Good Multiple-Choice Questions w/ Patti ShankHow difficult is writing a GOOD multiple-choice question?a) It’s so easy anyone can do it.b) It’s a standard skill for all L&D professionals.c) There’s a lot more that goes into it than most people realize.The answer is always C - and that’s the problem! A well-written multiple-choice question can efficiently measure a wide range of important learning outcomes - not just recall. Unfortunately, we’ve all taken bad tests with unclear questions, tricky distractors and answer choices packed with so much legalese that the correct op...2022-06-0828 minIn The Know with AxonifyThe Big ATD22 Recap w/ Cara North (Circulo Health)Mickey Mouse. Harry Potter. Cara North!The ATD International Conference & Expo is the biggest event of the year in workplace learning and performance in North America. But don’t worry if you couldn’t make it to Orlando for ATD22. We’ve got you covered!JD breaks down the #ATD22 experience with Cara North, Director of Learning and Development at Circulo Health. They explore the most popular trends from the event along with big ideas that are making a real impact on workplace performance. JD and Cara also discuss topics that didn’t get enou...2022-05-2529 minIn The Know with AxonifyThe Unofficial, Unauthorized History of Learning Games w/ Karl KappPlaying games at work? What a waste of time! Or is it …Gamification has been a hotly debated topic in L&D for the past 15 years. Some people contend that it’s just a buzzword. Others swear by its ability to foster motivation and build good learning habits. Gamification is more than adding points and leaderboards to boring eLearning. To do it right, you must thoughtfully apply the right mix of mechanics based on a deep understanding of your workplace culture. Let’s settle the gamification debate once and for all with the man wh...2022-05-1130 minIn The Know with AxonifyThe Human Side of Digital Retail Transformation w/ Carl Boutet (Studio Rx)Technology has transformed retail. Online ordering, curbside pickup, on-demand delivery and personalization are now parts of our everyday shopping experiences. Technology may be the face of retail, but there’s still a frontline team working to execute these digitally-enabled experiences. How has technology transformed the employee experience, and what can retailers do to improve their teams’ digital skills?JD explores the human side of digital retail transformation with Carl Boutet, Founder and Chief Strategist at Studio Rx. Carl joins us live from The Retail Technology Show in London to share his insights into how companies can...2022-04-2724 minIn The Know with AxonifyNavigating the Changing Learning Tech Market w/ Christopher Lind (ChenMed)Did you hear Cornerstone is acquiring Edcast? The learning tech marketplace is undergoing major transformation as familiar providers consolidate while new players continue to emerge. But what does this mean for workplace learning? How can L&D pros keep up with nonstop digital transformation and make smarter tech decisions? JD called on the most knowledgeable person in learning tech to set things straight. Join Christopher Lind, VP and Chief Learning Officer at ChenMed and host of Learning Tech Talks, for practical tips on how to navigate the changing learning tech landscape. JD...2022-04-1327 min
In The Know with AxonifyImproving Talent Mobility on the Frontline w/ Matthew Daniel (Guild)Did you know the same percentage of employees who quit due to pay also quit for not having career advancement opportunities (63% - Pew Research)? JD sits down with Matthew Daniel - Principle for the Career Mobility Center of Excellence at Guild Education - to talk about what it takes to improve talent mobility on the frontline and create meaningful career and life opportunities for essential workers. JD also provides a new perspective on the skills gap and why organizations need to focus on prioritizing development opportunity before investing in skills-based talent strategies. 2022-03-3029 min
Future-Focused with Christopher LindFrontline Focus with Axonify***Apologies for my stadium audio...I limited my talking as much as possible, but JD Dillon sound fantastic***
Will society ever return to normal post-pandemic?
It’s hard to say without society being post-pandemic yet, but I hope not.
We’ve had an opportunity to learn a lot over the last two years, and it would be unfortunate if all those lessons faded in an attempt to return to the way things were.
I believe the attention brought to front-line workers was much needed and here to stay and hope the lear...2022-03-2255 min
A Product Market Fit Show | Startup Podcast for FoundersHow to Build the Right Solution | Carol Leaman, Founder of AxonifyAfter you've had an idea and validated the problem, it's probably time to build. But how exactly do you decide what to build, how to build it, and how to get end users to actually adopt the solution?Carol is a multi-time founder and she has this process down to a science. On this episode, she shares how she built the first version of Axonify (now acquired for over US$350M). She explains how to find a champion, how to stay close to them throughout the build phase, and how to get end users to adopt the p...2022-03-1526 minFuture-Focused with Christopher LindExemplify Higher Learning with AxonifyI recently heard that Elon Musk has plans to install a cell tower on the moon. Unfortunately, the service would only be 1/6 G. I’m sorry, I can’t help it if people gravitate towards my puns.
Speaking of uncontrollable forces, the average time spent DAILY on a mobile device by users is OVER 4 hours. As a social critic, I find this incredibly alarming. Personal bias aside, I find it unusual with that information why most LMS solutions have mobile accessibility as a second-rate priority. With participation in an industry-wide problem, it would make more sense to meet...2021-10-221h 00
Building Your Unique Training BrandEp 2: Sherri Griffin, Sales Director at AxonifyI’m thrilled to have Sherri Griffin, sales director at Axonify, on today’s show.We talk about how to focus your outreach and marketing to serve a specific target market in a meaningful way, why technology and training will continue to become more seamless, and the importance of approaching business and life with an abundance and generosity mentality. Links from today’s episode:- Connect with Sherri on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherrijgriffin- Check out Axonicom 2021. Registration is free and the speakers are amazing...2021-08-1135 min
Consumer Focus with Martin NewmanThe importance of frontline workers with Carol Leaman, CEO of AxonifyMartin is joined by Carol Leaman, CEO of Axonify whose mission is to help companies give their frontline employees the support and tools they need to do their best work every day with training and communications. Carol shares her insights on the importance that frontline workers have on customer service and centricity and why educating this constituency is critical to the bottom line as it effects the whole in-store experience across sales, service and safety. Carol also discusses her views on company culture and how to build this in a distributed organisation and the impact culture has on staff...2021-04-2945 min
TechTO Quick Takes | Canadian tech news and analysisClearco, Axonify, Absorb Software, MazumaGo, Plooto - Apr 22, 2021It’s Thursday April 22nd 2021, and today we’re talking about: Clearbanc evolves into a double unicorn named Clearco, Waterloo's Axonify trains a US private equity firm to invest in them, Calgary-based Absorb Software is absorbed by another US private equity firm for over $500m USD, and Pay attention to these payment players: Victoria-based MazumaGo and Plooto. 2021-04-2229 min
In The Know with AxonifyDriving Retail Transformation with Digital Learning at Dairy Farm GroupWe’ve (virtually) traveled the world over the past year to tell the frontline story. We’ve explored a range of frontline forward industries and themes, from grocery and contact centers to resilience and burnout. Now, on the one-year anniversary of The 80 Percent, it’s time to wrap up our podcast series with one final story.JD sits down with Martin Cerullo, Group Talent Director at Dairy Farm Group, to discuss the connection between workplace learning culture and business agility. Dairy Farm Group is a leading pan-Asian retailer that operates over 10,533 outlets and employ...2021-04-1231 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: Does gamification work in frontline training?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...Does gamification work in frontline training?Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.Check out gamification books, articles and resources from Dr. Karl Kapp.Explore an example of gamified learning (and plus your language skills) with Duolingo.Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips...2021-04-0505 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: How can I translate frontline training content more quickly and cheaply?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...How can I translate frontline training content more quickly and cheaply?Learn more about how artificial intelligence can be applied to improve workplace learning with these curated resources from LearnGeek.Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips...2021-03-2904 min
In The Know with AxonifyPreventing Frontline Burnout with Jennifer MossDo you feel exhausted at work?Do you feel increasingly distanced from or negative about your job?Are you noticing reduced quality in your work output?Then you may be experiencing burnout, a legitimate medical condition related to the workplace. In August 2020, 58% of US workers identified themselves as experiencing burnout, up from 45% at the beginning of the pandemic. This issue is damaging workers’ physical and mental health as well as productivity and innovation in the workplace. It’s especially problematic on the frontline, where employees have significantly less control over their day-to-day work expe...2021-03-2233 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: How do we implement BYOD on the frontline?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...How do we implement BYOD on the frontline?Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips on how you can provide right-fit support to your frontline teams, including how you can dramatically improve engagement.The 80 Percent is brought to you...2021-03-1505 min
In The Know with AxonifyAdopting Resource-Based Learning at VitalityWhat if you could take any random person off the street, plug them into your contact center operation and have them fielding customer calls right away? It may sound too good to be true. After all, contact center agents have to solve complex customer problems while keeping up with new products and process changes. They typically spend weeks in a classroom before they’re allowed to speak with customers. Managers need them on the phone NOW to deal with spikes in call volume, but they also want agents fully knowledgeable about the company’s offerings. How can conta...2021-03-0826 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: How do you measure the impact of frontline training?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...How do you measure the impact of frontline training?Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips on how you can provide right-fit support to your frontline teams, including how you can dramatically improve engagement.The 80 Percent is brought to...2021-03-0105 min
In The Know with AxonifyHow to Design Technology for the FrontlineZoom meetings. Slack channels. Online learning. Work is more digital than ever … for some people. While corporate employees have a rich technology ecosystem that keeps them up-to-speed, frontline workers struggle to find timely, consistent information. Tools designed for office-based and work-from-home employees just don’t fit into the hectic frontline workday. Instead, these workers rely on analog methods, such as pre-shift-huddles and time clock postings. They struggle to keep up with the pace of workplace change. They get justifiably frustrated. Their performance declines. Your customer experience and business results suffer. Corporate and frontline teams do their...2021-02-2230 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: How do we make frontline training more engaging?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...How do we make frontline training more engaging?Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips on how you can provide right-fit support to your frontline teams, including how you can dramatically improve engagement.The 80 Percent is brought to you...2021-02-1503 min
In The Know with AxonifyBuilding a Culture of Frontline Empowerment at Southwest AirlinesHow many times have you watched viral videos of Southwest Airlines flight attendants? They sing songs. They crack jokes. They make the safety spiel worth listening to. Southwest team members always seem ready and able to create exceptional guest experiences. However, they work in an industry that’s often known for the exact opposite. So how does Southwest do it?JD sits down with Ginger Hardage, former SVP of Culture and Communications at Southwest Airlines, to find out how they built an exceptional workplace culture through frontline empowerment. Ginger spent 25 years leading a te...2021-02-0823 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: What role does communication play in frontline training?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...What role does communication play in frontline training?Learn more about the importance of communication and shared knowledge as part of the Modern Learning Ecosystem Framework.Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips on how you can...2021-02-0105 min
In The Know with AxonifyThe Zappos Approach to Building a Great Contact Center CultureThink about the last time you called a contact center. How was your experience? Odds are it wasn’t the best part of your day.Contact centers have a questionable reputation with both employees and customers. But they’ve become a critical part of the brand experience within the digital marketplace. How can you transcend the stigma and create a best-in-class customer and employee experience?JD speaks with Rob Siefker, Senior Director of Customer Loyalty at Zappos, to find out what it takes to build a great contact center culture. Rob join...2021-01-2528 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: How do we find time for frontline training?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...How do we find time for frontline training?Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.Hear how leaders at O'Reilly Auto Parts and rue21 are preparing their frontline teams for what comes next in retail during Axonify's Big Ideas Session at the NRF Big Show on January 21, 2021. 2021-01-1805 min
In The Know with AxonifyWhat's Next in Frontline Retail? with Bob Phibbs - The Retail DoctorWe’re all experiencing the same storm, but we’re doing it in different boats. This may be the best metaphor for explaining the retail experience over the past 12 months. US retail sales in November 2020 were up 7.1% year-over-year. However, while grocery was up 11%, apparel was down 27%. Retail clearly isn’t going back to the “normal” we knew before 2020. So what will it take for a retailer to stand out in 2021 and beyond? Will brick-and-mortar stores survive this disruption, or will customers be pushed to more digital shopping experiences? What role will frontline employees play in executing the next genera...2021-01-1122 min
In The Know with AxonifyOur 10 BIGGEST Frontline Insights from 2020JD revisits our 2020 episodes to identify the 10 BIGGEST frontline insights:The frontline is still getting left behind. (02:14)Businesses must become people-first. (05:40)Train and communicate with your frontline to demonstrate your respect. (09:40)The frontline needs new skills to successfully overcome disruption. (12:11)Companies must adopt a continuous, focused approach to frontline training. (13:33)You must understand the frontline reality to provide the right support. (16:31)Right-fit technology and content are critical. (19:35)Managers are the primary frontline support system. (21:16)Forward-thinking companies will seize the opportunity to retain and grow new talent. (22:30)Your next big innovation may come from the frontline. (24:12)...2020-12-2129 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: What skills should we focus on in frontline training right now?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...What skills should we focus on in frontline training right now?Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips on how you can provide right-fit support to your frontline teams.Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.Join the #FrontlineForward effort by visiting axonify.com/frontlineforward to access free...2020-12-1404 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: Does microlearning work on the frontline?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...Does microlearning work on the frontline?Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips on how you can provide right-fit support to your frontline teams. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Microlearning for a full breakdown of this powerful but misunderstood workplace learning strategy.Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.2020-12-0703 minIn The Know with AxonifyFQ: How do I justify added investment in frontline training?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners.Today's question is ...How do I justify added investment in frontline training?Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips on how you can provide right-fit support to your frontline teams.Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so JD can answer it on a future episode.Join the #FrontlineForward effort by visiting axonify.com/frontlineforward to access free training content...2020-11-3004 min
In The Know with AxonifyFrontline Leadership at Disney with Dan CockerellFor over 60 years, Disney has set the standard for workplace safety, customer service and operational efficiency in hospitality and entertainment. But how does a dynamic company with hundreds of thousands of frontline employees manage to execute so consistently for so long? Is it magic? Or is it something much more practical that you can apply within your business? JD explores the connection between leadership and frontline performance with Dan Cockerell. Dan is a 26-year veteran of the Walt Disney Company. During his storied career, Dan worked in a variety of roles, from opening t...2020-11-2324 min
In The Know with AxonifyFQ: Is frontline training really different from corporate training?Welcome to Frontline Questions, a bi-weekly segment in which JD answers the most popular questions we receive from The 80 Percent listeners. Today's question is ...Is frontline training really that much different from corporate training?Send your frontline question to podcast@axonify.com so we can answer it on a future episode.Download The Ultimate Guide to Frontline Training for more tips on how you can provide right-fit support to your frontline teams.Join the #FrontlineForward effort by visiting axonify.com/frontlineforward to access free training...2020-11-1603 min
In The Know with AxonifyThe Future of Frontline Work with Heather E. McGowanDoes technology dictate the future of work? Or can we get smarter about how we leverage technology to create a better workplace (and world) for ourselves and the people around us?JD sits down with Heather McGowan, internationally-recognized speaker, author and future of work strategist, to explore the importance of taking a people-first approach to workplace evolution and why it's essential for businesses to put the frontline first.Grab Heather’s new book The Adaptation Advantage: Let Go, Learn Fast and Thrive in the Future of Work and check out her featured AxoniCom LI...2020-11-0926 min
In The Know with AxonifySeason 2 Preview + New Research ReportWelcome to Season 2 of The 80 Percent! JD provides an update on what’s been happening since Season 1 wrapped along with a preview of upcoming episodes scheduled to drop in the coming months, including:The Future of Work with Heather McGowanFrontline Leadership at Disney with Dan CockerellA Culture of Frontline Empowerment at Southwest with Ginger HardageThe Zappos Approach to Customer Support with Rob SiefkerDownload the new (and ungated) 2020 State of Frontline Employee Training Report.Join the #FrontlineForward...2020-11-0409 min
TLDCast PodcastChristiana Houck & Mike Peacock: Owning the LMS Business Process and A Peek Into AxonifyIn this fourth episode of The LMS "Real Talk" Playlist, we had guests Christiana Houck and Mike Peacock from Aristocrat.com talk about the LMSs they use, Axonify and Oracle Taleo Learn.
Christiana was really generous about sharing her screen on this one, so if you're researching LMSs or wanting to see an example of a leading edge LMS like Axonify, check out the episode on YouTube or Crowdcast to catch the visuals. They'll be linked below. There's no affiliate or sponsorship relationship here, so the discussion is completely independent of that influence.
It was...2020-09-2659 min
In The Know with AxonifyA Great Place for All with Michael C. BushWhat makes a workplace a great place? Is it the benefits? Is it the managers? Is it work itself? Or is it an algorithmic combination of all of these factors and more? Companies claim to have amazing cultures and that employees are their “greatest assets.” But are they doing what it takes to create a great place for all, including the frontline? JD sits down with Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, to explore what it really means to be a great place for all. Michael shares data-driven insights into trust, leadership and t...2020-09-2126 min
In The Know with AxonifyNavigating Disruption on the Frontline with Shawn Kanungo“The greatest era of innovation is coming.” This statement may sound out of place or downright tone deaf given how difficult it has been for businesses to just keep their doors open over the past six months. However, think about the ways you have adapted the way you live and work during the pandemic. Consider how much more quickly organizations have adopted digital tools and ecommerce options than they have in the past. The pandemic has disrupted our lives, but it has also set the stage for an unprecedented level of innovation … but only for companies who recogn...2020-09-0721 min
In The Know with AxonifyResilience in Grocery (Part 2)We launched The 80 Percent in April with a visit to the grocery store to find out how essential workers were coping during the beginning of the pandemic. Now, four months later, we're returning to the grocery story to find out how businesses and employees have adapted to their next normal. JD is joined by long-time grocery professionals Harold Lloyd and Evan Parkes. We explore the importance of communication and cross-training to enable operational agility. We highlight the talent retention challenge the industry is now facing. And we discuss how the face mask controversy...2020-08-2423 min