Catalysts: The Leaders Shaping the Future of Learning and Growth

What if company culture wasn’t just a set of values on the wall—but a daily operating system ? In this episode of Catalysts , Jacob Ratliff sits down with Chris Dyer —globally recognized leadership speaker, best-selling author, and remote work pioneer—to break down what high-performance culture actually looks like in practice. Chris has been named a Top 50 Global Thought Leader, a #1 Leadership Sp...

In this episode of Catalysts , Jacob Ratliff sits down with Ash Seddeek , founder of Executive Greatness Institute , to talk about what it really takes to elevate your executive presence, master influence, and earn trust in the rooms where decisions get made. Ash has coached senior leaders at Amazon, Salesforce, Cisco, and Capital One—and his message is clear: If you can’t communicate with clarity...

If your learning team is still seen as a cost center, this episode will change how you show up. Jacob sits down with Andrew Scivally , CEO of ELB Learning , to explore why L&D’s credibility is suffering—and what it takes to reposition the function as a performance-driven strategic partner . Andrew has worked with Fortune 100s, led L&D at JPMorgan Chase and Zion’s Bank, and now helps learni...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Rahul Karan Sharma—organizational development consultant, fractional CLO, and Forbes Coaches Council member—to explore what it really takes to lead through change that matters. Rahul has spent 20+ years helping companies navigate post-merger integration, cultural alignment, and leadership acceleration. But his secret isn’t in a strategy deck—it’s in c...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Ron Price, Chief Learning Officer at Yukon Learning—Articulate’s official training partner for over 17 years. Ron brings a rare blend of deep instructional design expertise and hands-on development experience, helping organizations turn good ideas into great learning experiences. Together, we explore: Why scenarios and storytelling are essential for m...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Arika Pierce Williams, CEO and Founder of Piercing Strategies, to talk about what it really means to lead in the AI era—without losing what makes us human. Arika isn’t just rethinking leadership—she’s rebranding it. Through her Human-First Leadership™ framework, she’s helping organizations develop leaders who are self-aware, emotionally intelligent, a...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Mark Cruth, Principal Modern Work Coach at Atlassian, to explore what it really takes to create effective, energized, and high-performing teams in today’s complex world of work. Mark is a keynote speaker, collaboration coach, and one of the leading voices in the future of teamwork—internally at Atlassian and across the broader industry. He’s helped sh...

In this episode of Catalysts , I’m joined by DavidLee Richardson, Head of Organizational Leadership Development at Harris & Harris. David brings a grounded, deeply human approach to developing leaders—focusing on trust, credibility, and connection as the foundation for high-impact leadership. We explore: Why employee engagement data should drive leadership development How he turned How Full Is...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Andrew O’Malley, instructional designer and learning strategist, to talk about how L&D is evolving—and what it takes to stay ahead. From experimenting with AI to designing emotionally intelligent learning experiences, Andrew is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in training and development. We explore: How AI is transforming content develop...

In this episode of Catalysts , I’m joined by Cole Bastion, Senior Director of Learning and Culture at HOA Brands, where he's helped reduce management turnover by 10% and transformed L&D into a powerful driver of enterprise-wide change. We dive deep into how Cole positions his team not as order-takers—but as change makers. Key topics we cover: Why L&D must become the “epicenter of transform...

David Grad was once leading creative teams at MTV. Now, he’s solving one of the toughest problems in learning and development: how to make live training actually stick. In this episode of Catalysts , David shares the origin story behind elevator9, the learning tech company he co-founded to ensure live training drives measurable, lasting impact. Drawing from learning science, cognitive psychology,...

In this episode of Catalysts , I’m joined by Dr. Keith Keating , Chief Learning & Development Officer at BDO Canada and author of Hidden Value: How to Reveal the Impact of Organizational Learning . Keith is a powerhouse in the world of learning strategy—a practitioner-scholar who believes L&D shouldn’t just defend its worth, but amplify its impact. We dive into what it truly means to be a...

In this episode of Catalysts , I’m joined by Danielle Wallace , Chief Learning Strategist at Beyond the Sky and host of You in 2042: The Future of Work . With a background in marketing and leadership roles at companies like Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, Danielle brings a uniquely human—and deeply practical—lens to some of the biggest shifts happening in the world of learning and work. We dive...

What if the real key to innovation isn’t speed, strategy, or structure—but the ability to sit with discomfort long enough to transform it? In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Janet Harvey , CEO of inviteCHANGE , former global president of the International Coaching Federation, and one of the most influential voices in coaching and leadership development over the past three decades. With...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Bianca Baumann , award-winning strategist, international speaker, and author of Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro . With over 15 years in the field, Bianca brings a rare blend of creativity, empathy, and business alignment to the way organizations approach learning. We talk about the mindset shifts that L&D teams need to make—starti...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Brandon Carson , Chief Learning Officer at Docebo , to explore the future of learning and development in a world reshaped by AI, transformation, and trust. Brandon is a globally recognized L&D leader and the author of Learning in the Age of Immediacy and L&D’s Playbook for the Digital Age . He’s led learning strategy at Walmart, Starbucks, and...

What does real transformation look like in learning and development—and how do we design for it in a world defined by disruption? In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Sean Bengry , Chief Learning Officer at Sablethorn Consulting and a global leader in educational innovation, to explore the intersection of human-centered design, technology, and organizational change. With over 20 years of...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Steven Van Cohen —global leadership consultant, executive coach, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Connectable . Dubbed “The Leadership Whisperer,” Steven helps companies reduce isolation, improve well-being, and foster true belonging in the workplace. We explore what it really takes to build a culture of connection—far beyond icebreakers...

In this episode of Catalysts , I’m joined by Megan Dillon, Director of Learning and Development at Q-Centrix . Megan leads with clarity and heart, aligning workforce development with business strategy and building systems that create real behavior change—not just training events. We explore how L&D is evolving from content creation to business enablement, and what it looks like to step into th...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Patty Miller , a senior HR executive with over 24 years of experience helping leaders navigate complex people challenges across North America. Patty is known for her sharp insights, unshakable integrity, and powerful frameworks like the Core Values Index and Vitality Pulse Review that bring clarity to messy, fast-moving workplaces. We talk about the e...

In this episode of Catalysts , I sit down with Nick Day , a learning leader at Roundtable Learning , where he designs immersive, tech-driven learning solutions for enterprise clients—including over 50 Fortune 500 companies. Nick shares why XR (extended reality) is more than a buzzword—and how it can deliver measurable impact when paired with the right learning strategy. We explore real use cases f...

What does it really take to create learning that sticks? In this episode of Catalysts , I’m joined by Taresa Scott , founder of Bleuprint, for a refreshing and thought-provoking conversation about what’s broken in traditional L&D—and what we need to do differently. We talk about why emotional intelligence belongs at the center of learning strategy, how consulting skills can help L&D profes...

In this episode of Catalysts , I’m joined by Aaron T. Jones, Director of Onboarding and Training . With a background in performance and a passion for people, Aaron brings a storytelling-driven approach to L&D that’s both strategic and deeply human. We explore how his skills-first onboarding framework has led to major gains in retention and time-to-productivity—and why that success starts with...

🎙️ New Podcast Launching Soon... CATALYSTS: The Leaders Shaping the Future of Learning and Growth This isn’t just about improving how we learn and lead.  It’s about redefining it —so it actually reflects the complexity, urgency, and opportunity of this moment. I’m launching Catalysts to spotlight the bold voices shaping the next decade of learning and organizational growth—founders, executives, an...