Shows
Absence Management PerspectivesIs Upskilling an Employee Perk or an Expectation?Hear insights on education trends that set employers up for greater success, including a shift toward competency-based analyses that ensure employees have a clear roadmap for growth that aligns with employer expectations and leads to smarter hiring choices for employers, more focused development, and stronger performance management. Get the inside scoop from DMEC Education gurus Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director, Education Programs, and Laura Boll, CLMS, Experiential Learning Manager.Resources:Certification & Training resourcesCertified Leave Management Specialist Certification: Expanded and RedesignedBuilding a Return-to-Work Microcredential CourseBridging the Upskilling Belief Gap Report, SkillsWave2025 DMEC AI Think Tank White...
2025-12-1137 min
An Educated GuestS3E15 | The Innovator's Mindset: D2L’s John Baker on Why EdTech Should Stop Solving Yesterday's ProblemsIn this exclusive episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with John Baker, the visionary Founder and CEO of D2L. John shares the remarkable 25-year journey of D2L, tracing its evolution from a student startup into a publicly traded global learning platform. The conversation explores the massive industry shift from simply managing content to building a "true perpetual learning platform" that serves K-12, higher education, and corporate clients. John argues that AI is the critical enabler—the final piece of the puzzle that will solve chronic issues like lack of pe...
2025-10-1545 min
The SkillsWave PodcastRearchitecting Talent: Cisco’s Shift to Skills-First Enablement in the Age of AI | Marci PainoIn this episode of the SkillsWave Podcast, we sit down with Marci Paino, Chief Learning Officer at Cisco. A leading voice in workforce transformation and skills-first strategy, Marci shares a front-line perspective on how organizations—and their people—can thrive in a world defined by rapid change. Drawing from her work driving forward skills-first enablement in a large, global enterprise, Marci explores the shift from role-based models to dynamic, AI-powered skills development. She offers a candid, practical look at how businesses can build a more agile workforce, empower employees with meaningful learning opportunities, and foster a culture where adaptability beco...
2025-09-1722 min
The Inner Game of ChangeE91 - The Change Maker Who Started a University! - Podcast With Sasha Thackaberry-VoinovichWelcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation. On today’s episode, I am speaking with someone who is not just talking about fixing higher education; she is building a new one from the ground up.Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich is a change maker in every sense of the word. As Founder and President of Newstate University, a skills-first, competency-based online university, she is on a mission to lift people into the...
2025-08-0953 minThe SkillsWave PodcastCuriosity, Empathy and Joy at Work | Michael HornIn this episode, author and education expert Michael Horn shares practical advice on how individuals can stay ahead in a world where skills are constantly evolving. Drawing from his work on innovation and career development, Michael explains why upskilling is no longer a one-time activity but a continuous process tied closely to personal growth, energy, and purpose. He introduces the concept of a “skills balance sheet” to help people make more strategic decisions about what to invest in next. The conversation explores the importance of curiosity, the challenges of self-assessment, and how to frame learning as a source of joy—...
2025-07-2827 minThe SkillsWave PodcastUnlocking Hidden Talent—The Power of Skills-Based Hiring | Denise LeaserIn this episode, we sit down with Denise Leaser, President of MyInnerGenius®, to explore how organizations can unlock hidden potential in job candidates, employees, and students. Together, we unpack what it takes to improve workforce readiness, drive internal mobility, and build more engaged, agile teams. Our conversation focuses on the power of aligning individual strengths, interests, and aptitudes with meaningful career opportunities to enhance retention and job fit. We also examine how data-driven tools can surface untapped talent—especially among those who may not follow traditional career paths but have the potential to excel. If you're looking to upskill you...
2025-05-1424 minThe SkillsWave PodcastFrom Training to Transformation: Building a Data-Literate Culture | Delia van HeerdenIn this episode, we sit down with Delia van Heerden, a thought leader whose journey spans continents and industries - from founding a corporate training company in South Africa to shaping data-driven cultures in Canada. As VP of People Operations at Fast-Loop, a data consulting firm, Delia brings a unique perspective on integrating data literacy into the fabric of an organization.We’ll explore how companies can foster a data-driven mindset, the intersection of training and transformation, and why data literacy isn’t just for analysts—it’s for everyone. With real-world insights from building internal and external...
2025-04-1621 minThe SkillsWave PodcastRethinking Work & Learning: How Disruptive Innovation is Changing Everything | Scott AnthonyIn this episode of The SkillsWave Podcast, Kathleen Carr sits down with renowned strategy professor and author Scott Anthony to explore the seismic shifts reshaping education and the workforce. They dive into the parallels between disruption in media and learning, discuss the rise of AI-driven content creation, and question the traditional degree model in a world demanding continuous upskilling. Scott shares insights on how curiosity, adaptability, and lifelong learning can future-proof careers. Tune in to uncover what’s next in the evolving landscape of work and education!
2025-03-1114 min
Work ForcesSasha Thackaberry Voinovich on Upskilling Driven by TechSasha Thackaberry Voinovich, President of SkillsWave, an education benefit company, discusses the challenges and opportunities in bridging the gap between educational institutions and the workforce. She emphasizes the need for faster adaptation in curriculum development and teaching methods to meet the evolving demands of the job market. Sasha also highlights the importance of lifelong learning and upskilling, especially in the face of rapid technological advancements. Transcript Julian Alssid: Welcome to Work Forces. I'm Julian Alssid. Kaitlin LeMoine: And I'm Kaitlin LeMoine, and we speak with the innovators who shape the future of work...
2024-09-2428 minThe SkillsWave PodcastFueling Corporate Growth With Business and Human Skills | Anthony StephanIn an ever-changing workforce, it’s important for business leaders to know where, when and how their staff want to learn. In this episode, guest Anthony Stephan, chief learning officer at Deloitte, speaks to how L&D is approached in their organization, including Project 120 and Deloitte University.When it comes to internal development, Stephan highlights the need for both business and human skills in L&D programs. He also speaks to the importance of business leaders forecasting critical future skills to develop for their business, while also using active listening to provide different modalities and choices for em...
2024-04-1640 minThe SkillsWave PodcastCreating a Culture of Learning to Fuel the Future of Work | Steve Cadigan | Part TwoIn today's evolving workplace, employee development is challenging traditional compensation like salaries and bonuses. In the second part of this episode, guest Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn’s first CHRO and founder of Cadigan Talent Ventures, shares more insights on how investing in professional advancement is proving essential. Cadigan dives into his thoughts on remote work, the challenges of employee assessment and creating a work environment split between learning and performance. Tune in to discover how prioritizing learning agility and embracing humanity can navigate the modern work landscape.
2024-03-1943 minThe SkillsWave PodcastCreating a Culture of Learning to Fuel the Future of Work | Steve Cadigan | Part OneOur workforce is experiencing a rapid pace of change. The tactics and expectations that worked last year, week or even yesterday might not be the answers we need today. In this episode, guest Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's first CHRO and founder of Cadigan Talent Ventures, provides insights on the importance of learning in this new evolution of the workplace. Cadigan covers how employee expectations are changing, and how embracing the skill shift and refocusing on the future can impact company success—including how investing in learning can make your business become known as a place where people want to...
2024-03-0531 minThe SkillsWave PodcastBuilding a Vibrant Workforce Through Skills Development | Amanda WintersOrganizations across industries and U.S. states are facing challenges in finding skilled workers. In this episode of The Skill Shift, guest Amanda Winters, program director at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, shares how her organization is working on projects that focus on building talent pipelines, economic growth and skills-based hiring. Amanda highlights the importance of data to make evidence-informed decisions and its role in driving policy and program development, including micro-credentials. She also shares her passion for learning employment records and how they can be used to showcase skills and credentials for people f...
2024-02-0642 minThe SkillsWave PodcastCreating Accessible Pathways Between Workers and Open Jobs | Chike AguhDuring this episode of The SkillsWave Podcast catch up with guest Chike Aguh, Fulbright Scholar, educator, business leader, award winning non-profit CEO, and Biden presidential appointee. You can look forward to an engaging conversation connecting the dots between open roles and communities where workers need work, the importance of timeless skills for businesses and how employers can start using skills-based hiring.One takeaway from Chike that can be applied to many situations: sometimes the right thing and the smart thing are the same thing. Resources we talked about in th...
2024-01-0942 minThe SkillsWave PodcastHappy Holidays From The Skill ShiftAs 2023 comes to a close, The Skill Shift will be taking a brief break over the holidays. We've had so many wonderful conversations with our guests about their unique approaches to learning and development. It’s been our pleasure to share them with you. As we head into a new year, we're excited to continue our conversations with industry thought leaders on how they're preparing their workforces for the future. We’ll release our next episode on January 9th with guest Chike Aguh, Fulbright Scholar, educator, business leader, award-winning non-profit CEO, and Biden presidential appointee. We’l...
2023-12-2002 minThe SkillsWave PodcastUsing Knowledge Sharing to Future-Proof Your Organization | Mary BollashThis week catch up with our guest Mary Bollash, engineering learning and development officer at Carrier Global Corporation. Mary uses her educational background in adult learning and education to lead knowledge management and transfer activities within the engineering function for Carrier. In this episode, Mary shares how Carrier promotes knowledge sharing to fill forecasted skills gaps. She talks about the expert and “nextpert” approach used at Carrier and the critical role of implicit, explicit and tacit knowledge. Listen in for Mary’s tips on mandatory learning (spoiler alert—avoid it) and how to help engag...
2023-12-0540 minThe SkillsWave PodcastWhy the ROI of Corporate Learning is Hard to Measure—And What To Do About It | Tom WhelanThis week we talked with Tom Whelan, director of corporate research at Training Industry. Tom is an organizational scientist and research professional with over 15 years of experience working with companies to improve enterprise and employee outcomes. In this episode, we dig into some of Tom’s recent research, Redefining the ROI of Corporate Learning. Tom discusses more modern approaches and models to measure the effectiveness of corporate learning and provides advice on how to overcome common challenges—including mining for the right data for different stakeholders and how L&D leaders can boost learner engagement. R...
2023-11-2146 minThe SkillsWave PodcastHow a “Skills And” Talent Strategy Can Help Companies Fill Open Roles | Meena Naik and Cat WardThis week we welcome two guests from Jobs for the Future (JFF): Meena Naik, director, skills-first design, and Cat Ward, vice president, employer mobilization. In their roles at JFF, our guests work to drive transformation of the education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. In this episode, we talk about what defines a quality job, and how JFF is striving to create more equitable access to these positions. Cat and Meena also unpack the topic of skills-based hiring—not only what it means, but also why it may not be the silver bullet man...
2023-11-0738 minThe SkillsWave PodcastWhy Organizations Need to Respond to the Call of the Skills Evolution | Jackie BarkerThis week we chat with our guest Jackie Barker, global director of the VMware IT Academy, which partners with governments, educational institutions and non-profits to offer courses that create a pipeline of much-needed talent in the IT industry. Jackie is passionate about creating change through education as well as upskilling and reskilling in an era of what she calls the skills evolution. Listen in to hear conversations about how quickly required skills are shifting, the role AI plays in skills development, how to incentivize employees to embrace learning and advice for L&D professionals who are experiencing t...
2023-10-2432 minThe SkillsWave PodcastUse Real-Time Labor Market Data to Upskill Your Workforce | Matt SigelmanThis week, we're joined by guest Matt Sigelman, president at The Burning Glass Institute and chairman at Lightcast. He’s dedicated his career to unlocking new avenues for mobility, opportunity and equity through skills. He's a visiting fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and holds an AB from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard.We discuss how companies can anticipate skill demands and the illuminating findings from The American Opportunity Index, which identifies America's 250 largest public companies that have the best employment outcomes for their workers—and why.We also talk about the State of S...
2023-10-1043 min