ATD Accidental Trainer

Chelsea C. Williams, Founder & CEO of Reimagine Talent, is an expert on intergenerational talent strategies and the Gen Z workforce. In this episode, Chelsea debunks myths about Gen Z and shares lessons we can learn from the youngest working demographic.

She breaks down what research reveals Gen Z truly values—from transparency and purpose to wellbeing and career development—and reveals the stereotypes that ofen misguide managers. Discover what resonates with young professionals and how leaders can evolve to better engage, retain, and empower early talent in today's dynamic, diverse workplace.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseacwilliams/
• Website: https://chelseacwilliams.com/
• Reimagine Talent: https://www.reimaginetalentco.com/
• Forbe's Content: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/people/chelseacwilliams/

To elevate your training, it's time to take a page from the marketing playbook. In this episode, we're joined by Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor—co-authors of Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro: Strategies to Ignite Learning—to explore how applying marketing strategies within learning programs can supercharge engagement, drive measurable impact, and secure stakeholder buy-in.

Bianca, VP of Learning Solutions & Innovation at Ardent Learning, and Mike, a learning consultant at Nationwide, share actionable insights on:

• Building a program content strategy that captures learner attention
• Leveling up with technology and measurement tools
• Tapping into the emotional drivers that make learning stick

Marketing strategies go beyond boosting program visibility. Learn to create learning experiences that resonate and reframe your L&D mindset through a marketer's lens.

Resources:

• Book: https://www.td.org/product/book--think-like-a-marketer-train-like-an-ld-pro/112507
• Website:
  • Bianca: https://www.biancabaumann.com/
  • Mike: https://mike-taylor.org/
• LinkedIn:
  • Bianca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancabaumann/
  • Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketaylor/

Siri Chilazi, senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School and co-author of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results, joins the podcast to explore how organizations can meaningfully advance fairness at work.

Drawing on insights from her research and the book, Siri discusses how to drive change even in risk-averse or hesitant environments. She unpacks the difference between fairness and sameness, how to bias-proof training, and what it really takes to embed behavior change into day-to-day decision-making.

From debunking persistent workplace myths to practicing "norm entrepreneurship," Siri offers practical strategies—grounded in data—that leaders and teams can apply right away.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirichilazi/
• Website: https://sirichilazi.com/
• Book: https://sirichilazi.com/books/make-work-fair/

Neil Thompson is the founder of Teach the Geek, a company dedicated to helping technical professionals effectively communicate the value of their work to non-technical stakeholders. He joins the podcast to share how anyone with a specialization can sharpen their presentation skills—moving beyond acronyms and jargon that only experts understand.

This conversation also explores what L&D professionals can do when they're on the receiving end of technical lingo. How do you collaborate with a SME who seems to speak a different language? How can you encourage technical workers to embrace soft skill training? And where do we even start when it comes to AI?

Neil answers all of these questions and offers practical tips to solve a common workplace issue: getting too technical.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilithompson/
• Website: https://teachthegeek.com/
• TD Magazine article (Member-only): https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/public-speaking-struggles-for-technical-professionals
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/teachthegeek

Jenny Wood, former Google executive and author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It, challenges the idea that success means playing it safe. In this episode, she reveals how to reclaim nine so-called "negative" traits—like being selfish, nosy, or even manipulative—and use them to build confidence, influence without authority, and stand out in your career.

We explore how these traits play out in risk-averse vs. risk-friendly workplaces, how to apply them in team settings (not just as individuals), and how to avoid Trait Traps that turn strengths into weaknesses. Plus, Jenny tackles skepticism around reframing words like "manipulative" and shares which trait challenged her the most.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyilles/
• Website: https://itsjennywood.com/
• Book: https://itsjennywood.com/book
• Download Get Promoted Guide: https://itsjennywood.kit.com/7b1b560076
• More Tools from Jenny: https://itsjennywood.com/resources

Seth Godin – acclaimed entrepreneur, bestselling author of This is Strategy: Make Better Plans, and closing keynote speaker at ATD25 – joins the podcast to challenge the way we think about strategy.

What if strategy isn't about rigid plans but about systems, time, and the games we choose to play? What happens when we mistake false proxies for progress? And how can community action and empathy fit into the puzzle of creating change?

Seth shares his perspective on navigating ambiguity, designing upskilling and reskilling strategies for roles that don't yet exist, and building a future-ready workforce.

And for a sweet bonus? A little chocolate talk for dessert. 🍫

Resources:

• See Seth live at ATD25: https://atdconference.td.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethgodin/
• This is Strategy: Make Better Plans book: https://seths.blog/tis/
• Seth's blog: https://seths.blog/
• Website: https://www.sethgodin.com/

Sarah Mercier is the CEO of Build Capable and the editor of the newly released book, Design for All Learners: Create Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences. Sarah joins the podcast to share an inside look into Design for All Learners, revealing why everyone benefits from more inclusive design, and actionable steps you can take immediately to create more accessible content.

Sarah shares chapter sneak-peeks and explains how the story-driven format allows readers to understand accessibility in a new perspective. In addition, the conversation covers advocating for accessibility-focused roles and projects, how to make better design decisions, and going beyond a checklist mentality and basic standard compliance so that every learner can get the most out of your content.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcmercier
• Book: https://www.designforallbook.com/
• Build Capable: https://www.buildcapable.com/
• Episode Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/h3uEvlW6HvR

Erin Diehl is a podcast host, a bestselling author, and the CEO of improve it!. In this episode, she discusses how improv shows up in day-to-day life and simple ways to use improv techniques to find success in your work and relationships.

Improv as a strategic tool has a variety of uses, including building company culture, navigating workplace challenges, and reinforcing inclusivity. Try the "yes, and" theory to foster collaboration, the M.O.V.E. O.N. method to turn failure into a learning habit, and the Tomorrow Ready Checklist to set achievable goals.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erindiehl/
• Website: https://www.itserindiehl.com/
• Podcast: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/podcast-page
• Book: https://www.itserindiehl.com/i-see-you
• Tomorrow Ready Checklist: https://mailchi.mp/learntoimproveit/the-tomorrow-ready-checklist
• Other Free Resources: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/free-tools-resources

Juliana Sawaia is a happiness-at-work scientist, business consultant, and researcher with over 20 years of experience specializing in corporate happiness. On this episode, Julianna explains "why" fostering happiness is imperative not just for individuals, but as a business strategy. Tune in for actionable steps on "how" to cultivate happiness at work, as the conversation explores what the research says about happiness, why psychological safety matters, and practical strategies for getting stakeholder buy-in.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianasawaia

• Website: https://julianasawaia.com.br/en/

• Send a Letter to Future You: https://futureme.com/

• The PERMA Model: https://positivepsychology.com/perma-model/

Jessica Kriegel, Chief Strategy Officer at Culture Partners, is an author, podcast host, and culture expert. She joins the podcast to explore the many trend predictions for 2025, forecast which ones are likely to stick, and discuss how L&D professionals can anticipate changes to their roles.

The conversation delves into the evolving use of AI tools, the future of middle managers, and why the five-day return-to-office (RTO) trend isn't as daunting as it seems. Jessica's insights provide a roadmap of trends that deserve your attention, and practical recommendations to navigate both the expected and unexpected in the year ahead.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicakriegel/
• Website: https://www.jessicakriegel.com/
• Podcast: https://www.jessicakriegel.com/podcast-3/
• Jessica's 2025 Predictions article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-predictions-2025-workplace-trends-jessica-kriegel-w7mke/
• Jessica's Book Recommendation: https://gregsatell.com/cascades/
• RTO Article: https://www.smartbrief.com/original/what-the-data-shows-about-return-to-office-mandates