Chris Taylor built his first business at 12, selling homemade "devil sticks" at school fairs. Since then, he’s been on a wild ride, from selling knives to crashing hard as a young leader, to rebuilding from his parents' basement and becoming a trailblazer in behavior change and impact measurement.

In this conversation, Chris shares the real behind-the-scenes story: the failure that humbled him, the habits that changed everything, and why he believes L&D must evolve from content delivery to driving measurable behavior change.

He also opens up about building Actionable (a tech platform now used in 7,000+ programs) and Catalyst (his community for early-stage consultants). Plus, we talk about the power of choosing yourself, building social capital before asking for anything in return, and how living nomadically reshaped his view on success.

If you’re in learning, leadership, consulting—or dreaming about what’s next—this episode is full of gems.

🎧 Topics we cover:

• Early entrepreneurial roots
• Failing hard as a young leader (and what turned it around)
• Building tech from a basement with $600
• How to prove the impact of your work
• Why you should create value before asking to be valued

Chris founded Actionable.co in 2008 for the express purpose of helping corporate learners apply

what they learned; consistently and measurably. Since then, Chris – and his team at Actionable

– have supported the deployment of over 3000+ programs leveraging the Impact Certainty

model for driving change.

Described once by a client as “a curious blend of Boomer and Gen-Y”, Chris is often called

upon to act as a bridge and translator between generations at work, our new state of constant

change and impact technology has on team dynamics. He brings a self-deprecating sense of

humour and grounded-ness to his keynotes and workshops, ensuring attendees leave inspired

and well equipped to drive real change back in the workplace.

Chris is a regular speaker and writer on Learning Impact Measurement, Behavior Change and

how to overcome the challenges of eLearning.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjrtaylor/

Website: www.actionable.co

The Behavior Change Toolkit(TM): https://actionable.scoreapp.com/

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com

How does a kid stacking shelves in a South African supermarket end up advising Fortune 50 CEOs on AI strategy? In this episode, Gavin Bull — now a Principal at AWS — shares his unexpected journey from retail to tech leadership. We talk about the early jobs that shaped his people skills, the realities of moving across three continents, and the career pivots that led him into cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Whether you’re in HR, L&D, or just curious about real-world tech careers, this is a powerful reminder that your starting point doesn’t define your trajectory.

I’m a husband to an ambitious woman and a dad to two curious girls. I’ve spent years in tech as a seasoned IT professional, certified in AI and other areas at the world’s largest cloud computing company. Now I’m building a generative AI school for kids. The idea came from both personal and professional motivation. I want my daughters, and others growing up in this AI-shaped world, to understand the tools shaping their future.

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-bull-aws-canada-technologist

Website: https://nextgencloudacademy.com

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com

Keywords:

career transitions, Gavin Bull, AI in business, AWS Principal, global career path, HR podcast, learning and development, people development, AI journey

AJ Lauer, EdD: From Shoveling Snow in a Blizzard to Coaching Scientists Through Imposter Syndrome: a Story of Knowing When to Walk Away

What do snow shoveling, hurricanes, and a room full of grandmothers on a ferry have in common? They're all part of Dr. AJ Lauer’s winding, real-life journey to becoming a leadership coach for scientists, engineers, and STEM professionals.

In this episode, AJ shares her incredible path — from her first job trudging through Wisconsin snowstorms to standing on stage as an executive coach and author of My Monster Mungo, an illustrated book about imposter syndrome. We talk about the grit it takes to leave a toxic workplace, the courage to rebuild your confidence, and the power of knowing when it’s time to walk away.

Whether you’re in a leadership role, navigating burnout, or wondering if you really belong in the room — AJ’s story will hit home. She opens up about long-distance love, writing her dissertation while raising two babies, and why speaking up (even when it’s hard) matters more than ever.

🎧 You’ll love this if you:

• Feel like you're doing all the right things but still not getting recognized
• Are battling imposter syndrome (or coaching people who are)
• Want to hear a real, messy, inspiring story of reinvention
• Need a reminder that you can walk away and still rise

With over 2 decades of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, 10+ years developing the future science and technology workforce, and multiple publications on DEI in STEM, Dr. AJ Lauer is a leading expert on workforce development in science and technology fields.

Dr. Lauer regularly coaches professionals at the executive level on how to create more inclusive and productive workplaces. Her 1:1 clients have held leadership roles at Amazon, Stitch Fix, The Ohio State University, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the American Meteorological Society.

Her new book, My Monster Mungo: A Story About Imposter Syndrome, uses relatable characters, humor, and engaging illustrations to present a fresh new way to think about the dreaded imposter syndrome — your Imposter Monster.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ajlauer

Website: http://www.thrivingibis.com

Book: My Monster Mungo on Amazon (amzn.to/43WWEUj) and Bookshop (bookshop.org/a/103170/9798992394214)

Info about Imposter Monsters, upcoming workshops, and coaching: https://www.thrivingibis.com/imposter-monsters

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com

Alyssa Willet: From Cleaning Glasses at 13 to Coaching Women to Ditch the Doubt — a Story of Owning Her Voice

What does it really take to own your voice and design a career you actually love?

In this inspiring and refreshingly honest conversation, I sit down with Alyssa Willett—leadership trainer, certified coach, and talent development powerhouse—who shares her journey from cleaning glasses at age 13 in her stepdad’s optometry shop to coaching women to ditch doubt and design lives they're proud of.

We talk about:

✨ Early jobs, leadership lessons, and the power of that one person who believes in you

✨ Building a career in higher ed and pivoting into corporate talent development

✨ Imposter syndrome, micro-managers, and the moments that cracked her confidence

✨ Experiencing pregnancy discrimination—and what she wishes more women knew

✨ The power of coaching, CliftonStrengths, and helping women feel less stuck

✨ Why leadership development isn't just a job—it's a mission

Alyssa’s story will speak to anyone who’s ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or unsure—and is ready to reclaim their confidence and take the next brave step.

Alyssa Willet is an ICF certified life and leadership coach, CliftonStrengths practitioner, and founder of Willet Coaching. With a background in talent development and years of experience leading teams and empowering women in the workplace, she helps ambitious, heart-centered women — especially working moms — trade self-doubt for self-trust so they can lead, live, and design lives they love.

Through her signature group program, The Becoming Circle, Alyssa guides women to release limiting beliefs, reconnect with themselves, and design lives that feel true and fulfilling. She also offers 1:1 coaching for those seeking personalized transformation and is the creator of the Rooted Moms Book Club, a membership book summary community for moms craving reflection and connection.

Known for her warm, grounded presence, Alyssa blends mindset work, strengths-based tools, and practical action to help women become more of who they already are.

When she’s not coaching, you’ll find her soaking up Colorado sunshine with her family and new puppy.

IG: @willetcoaching

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssawillet/

Website: https://www.willetcoaching.com/

Resources: https://www.willetcoaching.com/resources

Coaching: https://www.willetcoaching.com/group-coaching

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com

Everyone says people leave bad managers.

But the truth?

People leave when they don’t see a future.

In this video, we unpack why lack of development and growth opportunities has become the #1 reason employees are quitting, and what Learning & Development can actually do about it.

📉 Braverly. Lattice. Gartner. Deloitte.

The data is loud: employees are craving growth, not more eLearning.

So if you work in L&D, HR, Talent, or People Ops, and you’re tired of feeling like you're patching leaks with training courses, this episode is for you.

🎯 Inside this episode:

– What the latest reports say about why people are really leaving

– The three biggest pressure points HR is facing around retention

– How L&D can respond strategically and practically, from career pathing to succession, from onboarding to capability-building

– The real role of culture in making growth part of everyday work

– 3 conversations to start having today, with HR, managers, and employees

Because if development is only seen as a course… it’s already too late.

We’re not just here to train. We’re here to build careers that stick.

—

📌 Keywords:

employee retention strategies, L&D and HR partnership, career development in the workplace, talent development, performance enablement, succession planning, organizational culture, learning and development strategy

—

🎁 Download the free Talent Enablement Impact Toolkit here → https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/impact

🧠 Practical frameworks to connect L&D with business priorities.

—

🙋‍♀️ Subscribe for new weekly episodes packed with smart, doable strategies for L&D professionals who want to lead, not follow.

Because development should never be an afterthought.

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com

Learning and Development isn’t just a support function—it’s a critical part of how HR delivers on its strategic goals. So why are L&D and HR still working in silos?

In this episode, we explore how learning and development in human resource management can become a true strategic partnership. We’ll unpack:

✅ Why L&D and HR often operate in parallel

✅ What high-impact partnership really looks like

✅ How integrated L&D–HR teams drive better business outcomes

✅ Where to start—even if you don’t have a seat at the planning table yet

Whether you work in human resources, talent management, or organizational development, this video will help you see the bigger picture—and your powerful role within it.

✨ Plus: I’ll give you 3 practical questions to kick-start a real partnership with HR.

📌 Keywords: learning and development in HR, HR strategy, HRM, human resource development, employee training, L&D in HR

👇 Let’s rethink the relationship—and build something better.

—

🎁 Want bite-sized career-boosting ideas straight to your inbox?

Join the newsletter here: [insert link]

—

🔗 Explore more:

Watch the full "How L&D Fits into HR" series here → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRPqNNQbaJw8Kom88Oncmo7A_QIFTf0-1

Download the free Talent Enablement Impact Toolkit → https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/impact

In this powerful episode, we dive into Desiree’s real, raw, and remarkably relatable story. From working in a nursing home at 15 to leading a dementia facility through the pandemic, from personal tragedy to launching a leadership company, Desiree’s path has been anything but smooth. And that’s exactly what makes it worth listening to.

We talk about:

• Why she felt unqualified for her first leadership role (and what helped her grow into it)
• How personal development books quite literally saved her
• The grief of losing her mom, and how she turned that loss into legacy
• What energy, boundaries, and resistance have to do with building a career (and a life) you actually want
• And the truth about the unglamorous grind of entrepreneurship

Whether you’re navigating your own career pivot, wrestling with purpose, or figuring out how to keep going when things feel heavy — this conversation will hit home. Desiree is the kind of guest who makes you feel seen and reminds you of the power you already hold.

🎧 Listen in and walk away with a little more strength, strategy, and self-belief.

What do a toy store, a dance dream, and cross-country running have in common with a career in data strategy?

Dr. Alaina Szlachta joins Candice Mitchell to unpack the incredible journey from juggling four jobs at 15 to becoming a data-obsessed entrepreneur, real estate investor, and advocate for building a life of intention. In this episode, Alaina reveals the powerful (and painful) lessons learned from early burnout, undercharging as a consultant, and being undervalued by clients — and how she used all of it to design a business and life that actually works for her.

They talk openly about:

• Letting go of childhood dreams to build long-term stability
• Making big life decisions before you’re ready
• What no one tells you about being underpaid as a woman in business
• The emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship
• Real estate, money mindset, and the importance of measurable value

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing it wrong, or feared you're the only one figuring it out in real-time, this conversation will make you feel seen.

👉 Learn how to take control of your data, your career, and your worth — one smart, intentional decision at a time.

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com

Learning and Development (L&D) and Human Resources (HR) aren’t two separate functions, they’re two sides of the same coin.

If you’ve ever felt like L&D is treated as an afterthought, just the training arm of HR or a line item on someone else’s to-do list—this video is for you. In this episode, we unpack what real partnership looks like between HR and L&D, and why that partnership is the key to unlocking better retention, performance, engagement, and business results.

We’ll explore:

✅ Why HR and L&D still operate in silos—and what that’s costing you

✅ What true alignment actually looks like inside high-performing organizations

✅ How to shift from being a service provider to a strategic partner

✅ Practical, doable steps to build trust and influence (even if you’re not in the C-suite yet)

Plus, I’ll give you three simple, high-impact things you can do this week to start showing your value as a partner, not just a learning provider.

Whether you’re in HR, L&D, Talent Development, or somewhere in between, this is your invitation to rethink your role, show your impact, and create people strategies that actually work.

Shelby Kiernan’s story is a masterclass in reinvention — not the fluffy kind, but the real, raw, what-am-I-worth-now kind. After 12 years in a job she loved, Shelby was laid off and faced a new kind of challenge: rebuilding confidence in a world that quietly tells older women they're past their prime.

In this episode, we trace Shelby’s journey — from her teenage jobs in small-town Wyoming to leading teams in higher education, healthcare, and beyond. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, why being “good with people” is the job, and how she rebuilt her career through 65+ face-to-face conversations (yep, real networking — the kind that works).

Whether you’re in career transition, questioning your worth, or trying to figure out what’s next, this conversation will hit home. Shelby doesn’t sugarcoat it — she shows you what it really takes to bounce back, reconnect with your bold younger self, and find the confidence to show up as the leader you already are.

Key themes:

Career transitions, imposter syndrome, soft skills as core capabilities, networking tips, mid-career layoffs, leadership development, women in the workplace, rebuilding confidence, job searching after 40.

Shelby Burnette Kiernan is the Clinical Director of School-Based Services at Aurora Mental Health & Recovery, where she leads a team bringing mental health support directly into schools. With over 30 years of experience across healthcare, education, and nonprofits, she’s passionate about making care more accessible—especially for kids and families who need it most. Known for her people-first leadership and ability to turn big ideas into action, Shelby brings warmth, strategy, and a deep belief in the power of strong teams to everything she does. She’s also a licensed marriage and family therapist and proud mom of three.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shelby-b-kiernan

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com