Performance Matters Podcast

Why do so many leadership programs sound great in theory but fall apart in real moments? In this episode of the Performance Matters Podcast, host Michael Thiel sits down with Björn Billhardt, CEO of Abilitie, and Lisa Fagan, our Vice President of Global Leadership & Inclusion, to explore what it really takes to build leadership capability at speed. The conversation dives into simulation-based...

If your business needs a new capability fast, do you have the systems to build it fast? In Episode 2 of “The Learning Velocity Series,” Performance Matters Podcast host Michael Thiel digs into the “how” behind learning velocity with two of GP Strategies’ sharpest minds: Chief Learning and Innovation Officer, Matt Donovan, and Senior Director of Consulting, Ella Richardson. Together, they unpack wh...

In a world moving at the pace of AI, can your organization build the capabilities it needs fast enough to matter? That’s the question at the heart of this first episode of The Learning Velocity Series, a three-part series on why learning velocity—the ability to build capabilities at the speed of business change—has become the defining competitive advantage. Performance Matters Podcast host Michael...

2025 has been a disruptive year for learning and talent, and 2026 promises even more change. In this episode of the Performance Matters podcast, host Michael Thiel sits down with Matt Donovan, GP Strategies Chief Learning and Innovation Officer, to unpack five learning trends that matter most for enterprise L&D and HR leaders. Listen and learn how organizations build capability, integrate AI,...

#custom-quote-block_f5a24c3df35ce6edf9d5275ca7f6688e { /* Add styles that use ACF values here */ } #custom-quote-block_0a8cf89f6f73a110c60bdfb13f6389ae { /* Add styles that use ACF values here */ } If AI can build a marketing campaign from scratch, what’s stopping it from designing your next training program? Enterprise learning leaders are under pressure to keep pace with AI while still protectin...

Blended Learning 3.0: Personalized, Adaptive, Impactful What if your next learning journey wasn’t just digital or face-to-face, but smart, adaptive, and powered by AI? In this episode of Performance Matters, host Michael Thiel sits down with Patrick Billingsley, Principal Learning Consultant at GP Strategies, to explore how AI is transforming blended learning. From personalized experiences and rol...

Redefining Leadership in the Age of AI: Why Being Deliberately Human Matters In an era where artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the workplace, leadership itself is undergoing a profound transformation. This episode of the Performance Matters Podcast dives into how leaders can thrive—not by competing with machines, but by embracing what makes them deliberately human. The Leadership Identi...

In this special episode, host Michael Thiel explores a story of navigating change at one of the world’s most iconic brands, tracing the path from resistance to readiness. We discover how organizations and individuals move through the discomfort of change to achieve transformation. Joining us are Dr. Cheryl Jackson, Director of the Organizational Design and Change Management Practice at GP Strategi...

Matt Donovan joins the show to introduce a transformative approach to instructional design which breaks learning into its smallest meaningful components, like atoms and molecules, rather than traditional course structures. Applying Atomic Design to learning and development isn’t necessarily a new idea, but AI orchestration is now able to make it happen at scale. Learning is no longer built as mono...

Nic Girvan joins the show to challenge the traditional approach to training budgets and advocates for investing in individual contributors. Nic explores how empowering frontline employees with development opportunities can drive performance, engagement, and long-term growth. Learn about the concept of the corporate lattice, a modern alternative to the outdated corporate ladder, how it supports div...