Are your training programs falling flat—or worse, failing to stick? If you're struggling to decide whether to build learning programs internally or bring in a third-party partner, this episode is for you. HR and L&D professionals will walk away with a clear decision-making framework and two essential action steps to choose partners that drive real change. 

In this episode of The Learnit Lounge, host Mickey Fitch-Collins sits down with Kayla Wilson, a seasoned organizational development professional from Horizon Farm Credit, to unpack the real decision-making process behind choosing a learning partner. From cost-effectiveness to culture fit, Kayla shares the exact criteria she uses to evaluate training providers—along with hard-won lessons on what makes partnerships truly effective. Whether you’re considering outsourcing for the first time or looking to refresh your approach, this episode offers thoughtful, practical guidance on how to select the right learning partners and get real impact from your L&D investment. 

This Episode Covers: 

• Six must-have criteria to evaluate external training providers 
• Why customization isn’t just “nice to have”—and how to ask for it effectively 
• Why internal teams sometimes lack the innovation spark—and how outside experts can help 
• When outsourcing makes sense (and when it doesn’t) 
• The biggest misconceptions about training ROI—and what to track instead 

Timestamps:  

00:00 – Intro: Why choosing the right learning partner is more important than ever 

03:10 – Six criteria for evaluating external training partners 

04:50 – Why cost-effectiveness isn’t just about the invoice 

06:20 – The “naughty word” of L&D: what customization really means (and why it matters) 

08:00 – Real-life example: how Learnit adapted a session mid-week to address organizational change 

09:45 – Co-creating training: the power of collaborative design and feedback loops 

12:50 – Trust as the foundation of effective learning partnerships 

14:15 – The real pros and cons of outsourcing vs. building programs in-house 

17:25 – Why “you’re never an expert in your own territory”—and how outside voices can help 

18:15 – Assessing a learning partner’s ability to scale and evolve with you 

21:20 – How to evaluate cultural fit with an external learning partner 

25:00 – Questions you should be asking potential partners—but probably aren’t 

27:35 – Common challenges with insourcing vs outsourcing (and how to mitigate them) 

32:10 – Leadership lesson: You own your experience (and how to help others own theirs) 

35:15 – Uncomfortable truth: Not all training leads to real behavior change 

36:00 – How to design for engagement when the average attention span is 20 minutes 

37:40 – Measuring impact, aligning with business goals, and involving leadership 

38:30 – Action Step 1: Know your culture and choose partners who align with it 

39:45 – Action Step 2: Don’t just look at cost—evaluate the full value of training 

41:10 – Where to find Kayla and how to keep the conversation going 

41:45 – Outro: Subscribe, review, and share to keep the learning going 

About Kayla: 

Kayla Wilson is an organizational development and training leader with more than six years of experience designing innovative, high-impact learning programs. With a master’s degree in organizational development and leadership, Kayla is passionate about empowering employees to take ownership of their growth. At Horizon Farm Credit, she leads employee onboarding, leadership development, and change management initiatives. Kayla is known for her collaborative approach, customizing training to meet real organizational needs while creating a culture of continuous learning. 

Resources Referenced: 

Kayla Wilson on LinkedIn 

Horizon Farm Credit 

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