The Science of Excellence

Leaders are obsessing over strategy, process, and technology at a time when traditional leadership playbooks are failing. Meanwhile, 75% of employees say the most stressful part of their day is time with their manager. What if the real challenge isn't what we're building, but how we're leading the people building it? In this episode of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, I spoke with Ramesh Srinivasan, Dea...

In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Jessica Lindl, Author of The Career Game Loop. Jessica brings her experience from both education technology and gaming industries to reshape how we think about career development. We talked about her Career Game Loop framework and how gaming principles can transform career planning. She offers a new perspective that turns career anxiety...

In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Keith Lillico, Associate Director of Global Learning Development at a Fortune 100 Pharma Company, where he leads enterprise-scale learning initiatives. We discussed how he's taking a different approach to learning design, focusing not on chasing shiny new tech, but on understanding the deeper psychological drivers that make people g...

In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Subbu Kalpathi, Talent and OD professional, podcast host and author. We talked about how companies can make the most of having different generations working together. Subbu offers a fresh take on a topic that's usually full of stereotypes. He looks at the broader context and life stages that shape how people act at work. These 4 ins...

In this episode of The Science of Excellence, I sat down with Ekpedeme "Pamay" M. Bassey, Chief Learning and Culture Officer at Kraft Heinz. We discussed how she's pioneering a learning culture that transforms how employees approach their development, encouraging them to "learn like an owner" and see learning as a superpower. Pamay's background in AI and technology has...

This episode of The Science of Excellence welcomes Aaron T. Jones, who leads Onboarding & Training at Live Nation—the global leader in live events and ticketing. We discussed how he’s pioneering “skills-first onboarding” to transform generic new hire orientation into powerful skill-building experiences. His framework helps new hires reach productivity up to 70% faster and has contributed to a...

This episode features Marco Andre, Executive Director of Global Marketing & AI Excellence at Novartis, and a prominent thought leader who guides executives through the complexities of AI adoption. Here are some of the topics covered in the episode:► Why high-impact AI training must be hands-on and social, not passive ► How curiosity—not technical ability—is the real differentiator in AI adopti...

This episode of The Science of Excellence welcomes Marc Steven Ramos, a veteran L&D leader who's helped shape learning programs for Google, Novartis, Cornerstone, and more. We talked about what it would take to transform L&D for the better, using all the incredible advancements we see today. Some topics we covered:► Why AI-driven personalization is not the be-all and end-all► Why colla...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the second season of The Science of Excellence (formerly known as Learning Unbound) with Vince Jeong, Co-Founder and CEO of Sparkwise. This episode features Geoffrey M. Roche, Director of Workforce Development at Siemens Healthineers. Here are some of the topics we covered: ► Why healthcare's selective investment in senior leadership development is backfirin...

In this episode of Learning Unbound, we welcome Dr. Jason Cisneros-Steinert, an expert in organizational change and leadership development. Jason holds a Ph. D. in Psychology and has over a decade of experience working with organizations from startups to established corporations. He specializes in the human aspects of organizational transformation, leading initiatives that stress the importance of...

Rebecca Taber Staehelin and Connor Diemand-Yauman, co-CEOs of Merit America, joined Learning Unbound to discuss how they’re addressing the workforce skills gap. Rebecca has a background in government and higher education, where she focused on bridging gaps in traditional learning systems. Connor is an entrepreneur with a passion for education and equity. In this episode, they share their journey f...

Skills-based organizations are reshaping how companies manage talent and adapt to change by using data to match the right people to the right tasks. EPAM Systems is leading the way in this space. Sandra Loughlin serves as their Chief Learning Scientist and has spent her career at the intersection of employee development and business transformation. At EPAM, she oversees programs that help both emp...

Lauren Waldman, founder of Learning Pirate and an experienced learning scientist, lives at the intersection of neuroscience and L&D. With an extensive background in instructional design and facilitation, she pushes for a new approach to helping others learn by working with the brain rather than against it. In this episode, Lauren and I explore the relationship between brain function and effect...

Meet Dr. Martha Soehren , a talent development expert with a career spanning the military, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. Martha spent 25 years with the Army, where she honed her skills in instructional design and training evaluation. She then transitioned to the corporate world, joining Comcast Cable as Chief Learning Officer and later Chief Talent Development Officer. With a Ph. D. in Educati...

The latest Learning Unbound features Jonathan Kvarfordt , a Revenue Excellence, Enablement, and Acceleration Executive with over 15 years of experience helping companies double their revenue. His diverse background includes selling everything from tires and wheels to SaaS products for Fortune 500 companies, giving him perspective on sales and enablement strategies across industries. From founding...

Eric Partaker , a peak performance expert and CEO coach, shares his insights on closing the gap between your current and best self this week on Learning Unbound. Named "CEO of the Year" at the 2019 Business Excellence Forum and recognized as one of "Britain's Most Disruptive Entrepreneurs" by The Telegraph, Eric draws from his experience advising Fortune 50 CEOs, helping bu...

Meet Beth Cobert, an experienced leader on a mission to transform the workforce development landscape. With a background spanning the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, including senior roles at McKinsey & Company and the Office of Personnel Management under President Obama, Beth brought a wealth of experience and insights to our conversation this week on Learning Unbound . In her most re...

As learning professionals, we've all grappled with the challenges of creating impactful learning experiences at scale. But what if we could revolutionize how we design learning by harnessing the power of AI and learning science? Enter Dr. Philippa Hardman , a trailblazing learning designer on a mission to transform the industry. With a background in higher education and a PhD from Sheffield Un...

Donald Taylor is a man on a mission to make sense of the AI revolution in learning and development. As the chair of the Learning Technologies Conference in London since 2000 and the lead researcher behind the annual L&D Global Sentiment Survey, he's had a front-row seat to the seismic shifts transforming the industry. But Don is no mere observer – he's a passionate advocate for harness...

Dr. Daniel J. Levitin has built a remarkable career at the intersection of music, psychology, and neuroscience. As a cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist, he's explored the complex inner workings of the mind and the science behind how we learn. But his expertise goes beyond the lab – he's also a bestselling author, musician, and record producer who's collaborated with icons like S...

Today, we’re launching Episode 1 of Learning Unbound, a podcast content series led by Sparkwise CEO, Vince Jeong. Vince welcomed Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning & Development Officer at BDO Canada, to discuss unlocking the power of learning in the age of AI. Dr. Keith Keating knows an enormous amount about the transformative power of learning. His own journey from high school dropout to earn...