"You're either going to invest in your people to grow your people or you're going to pay later."

Key Moments

04:37 Establishing the Center of Excellence for Learning and Development at Disney.

07:30 Investing in workforce development program

11:16 "Corporate focus on people boosts business impact."

15:04 Shifting conversation from wages to long-term opportunities for employees.

16:04 Transitioning from Disney to starting own business.

21:20 Invest in employees for future success; aligning with business goals.

23:50 Innovative measures and community involvement for social impact.

28:35 Individuals creating and contributing to inspiring stories.

30:08 Find me at Donlon Insights on social media.

Connect with Chris

Donlon Insights website

Chris Trout on LinkedIn

Learn About Disney Aspire

Connect with Jody

www.jodymaberry.com

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymaberry/

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In 2018 Disney launched groundbreaking educational program, Disney Aspire. One of the individuals that spearheaded the project is Chris Trout, founder of Donlon Insights and former vice president of learning and development at Disney. He joins for a conversation about his unique journey from leading business operations at Disney to creating the award-winning Aspire program.

We also discussed how businesses can harness their existing workforce's potential and the importance of prioritizing "return on people." Chris offers a wealth of insights on adapting to a changing job landscape and investing in employee development.

Some of the takeaways from our conversation include:

• Empowering the Workforce: The Disney Aspire program has made a significant impact by providing educational opportunities for hourly employees, leading to over 4,000 promotions with an average 45% salary increase. It's a testament to how critical investing in your workforce is.
• Tackling Big Challenges: Aspire isn't just a corporate benefit—it's a solution to bigger societal issues like student debt and income inequality. By supporting their employees' educational journeys, Disney not only enhances individual lives but also strengthens the community at large.
• Storytelling and Leadership: Chris highlighted the power of internal storytelling at Disney to create missions that are aspirational, measurable, and practical. This approach fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, turning employees into brand ambassadors and driving engagement and innovation.

This episode is packed with invaluable insights for any business professional looking to improve their approach to workforce development and employee engagement. Make sure to listen to episode 324 for the full conversation with Chris Trout and explore how you can design a more human-centric workplace and check out his company, Donlon Insights.