Is Your L&D Strategy Built for Today—or Tomorrow? 

Are your learning programs helping employees perform now, or are they preparing them for what's next? Too many organizations build for the business they have—and risk being outpaced by those building for the future.  

In this episode of The Learnit Lounge, host Mickey Fitch-Collins and Kamaria Rutland, a global talent development leader at Kendo Brands, talk candidly about the challenge of aligning L&D initiatives with evolving business goals. From needing to show ROI to the importance of psychological safety and experimentation, Kamaria shares strategic insights and actionable advice that HR and learning professionals won’t want to miss. If your L&D efforts feel siloed or stuck, this conversation offers a roadmap to relevance, impact, and cultural transformation. 

This Episode Covers: 

• A key stat from PwC that underscores why reinvention can’t wait 
• How to conduct organization-wide needs assessments that actually move the needle 
• What ROI really means in talent development—and how to track what matters 
• Why behavior change is harder than systems change (and how to start anyway) 
• Two essential steps every L&D leader should take to stay aligned and future-ready 

Timestamps: 

00:00 – Welcome to the Lounge: Kamaria Rutland joins host Mickey Fitch-Collins for a conversation on aligning L&D with business goals 

02:33 – Big question: Develop employees for today’s business—or tomorrow’s? 

03:05 – Kamaria: We must do both—develop for now and what’s next 

04:10 – Why emerging platforms and technologies are reshaping L&D priorities 

05:52 – 42% of CEOs believe their company won’t be viable in 10 years without reinvention  

07:12 – L&D as master mechanic: Tuning the engine while driving the car 

08:25 – Risks of L&D working in a silo: Obsolescence and lost engagement 

10:47 – How to stay aligned: Needs assessments, metrics, and listening to employees 

13:45 – Human skills vs. technical skills: Emotional intelligence and communication still matter 

15:11 – The ROI question: Why measuring human skill development is so difficult 

16:50 – What we can measure: Time savings, innovation, culture, and team performance 

19:45 – L&D as a catalyst for culture change and employee retention 

21:56 – If it’s on the calendar, it’s a priority: Making learning visible and valued 

23:15 – Breaking tradition: Why adults need learning labs, not just webinars 

24:40 – Play as learning: How safe experimentation fuels innovation 

27:41 – Leadership lesson: Own the outcome—failures and victories alike 

31:26 – Hard truth: Behavior change is harder than technical change 

34:10 – Kamaria’s advice: Learn your org’s long-term strategy + study emerging tech 

36:00 – Connect with Kamaria on LinkedIn—and share what resonated 

About Kamaria 

Kamaria Rutland is the Global Director of Talent Development and DEIB at Kendo Brands, an LVMH affiliate. With nearly two decades of experience at Marriott International across hotel management, B2B sales, and talent development, Kamaria brings deep insight into both hospitality and consumer goods. Known for “delivering results with a smile,” she’s passionate about helping teams and leaders perform at their best. Outside work, she’s an avid traveler and proud Oakland native. 

Resources Referenced: 

• Kamaria Rutland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamariarutland/ 
• PwC CEO Survey: “42% of CEOs believe their company won’t be viable in 10 years without reinvention” 
• Kendo Brands 

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