Every great learning culture starts with one thing: a clear philosophy of how people grow. 

Dwayne Britton has spent his career shaping culture and capability at Apple, Lululemon, Adidas, Zalando, and On. Across each, he’s learned that lasting impact comes when learning is guided by philosophy, not just programming.

In this episode, Dwayne shares how L&D teams can redefine their role from content creators to cultural amplifiers, by building a learning philosophy that connects business strategy, brand identity, and human growth.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between a learning culture and a learning philosophy
• How a learning philosophy positions L&D as a strategic partner
• The SPARK framework Dwayne used at On to connect learning to culture
• How to align brand, business, and learning goals 
• How to identify your organization’s learning beliefs

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Dwayne Britton

(02:19) Dwayne’s path from musical theater to L&D

(04:36) What defines a learning culture vs. philosophy

(06:47) Three realms every L&D program should serve

(10:03) The question that defines your learning philosophy

(12:20) The SPARK method for scaling learning

(15:06) How to get leadership buy-in for new L&D initiatives

(19:36) Advice for L&D teams to increase cultural impact

To learn more about Dwayne, check out his LinkedIn, his website, and his musical background. 

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus

About Dwayne Britton:
Dwayne Britton brings 15+ years at the intersection of learning, culture and brand. He’s shaped programs at Apple, Adidas, Zalando and Lululemon, and led Global Learning & Development at On. Through his Berlin-based consultancy, DAY|WON, Dwayne provides fractional L&D leadership for startups, scale-ups and internal teams, with a focus on brand-led onboarding, culture building and collaboration. He partners with leaders to design clear, practical programs and workshops that align teams, clarify decisions and build momentum.Dwayne also serves as an L&D Strategic Advisor to Manageable, a UK startup helping managers build the confidence and habits to lead well.

Technical expertise doesn’t automatically translate into leadership traits. So how do we help engineers, scientists, and specialists become confident and effective managers?

Leadership development expert and former SpaceX trainer, Matt Gjertsen, shares how to grow strong leaders inside technical organizations. Drawing on 15 years of experience across aerospace, defense, and emerging tech, Matt specializes in turning skilled technical professionals into confident, effective leaders.

You’ll learn:

• Why leadership is often the biggest blocker to scale, not technology
• How to engage technical employees in learning (even the skeptical ones)
• Why engineers are uniquely suited to lead and what holds them back
• The mindset shift new technical managers must make

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Matt Gjertsen

(02:09) Why technical leadership is a unique challenge

(03:21) Scaling hard tech requires solving people problems

(05:23) The leadership gap in reindustrialization and the trades

(07:59) A humbling mindset shift: You can’t lead alone

(10:12) Why engineers are better at conflict than you think

(13:13) Getting skeptical technical leaders to buy in

(15:01) Designing leadership programs that drive measurable change

(16:27) Microlearning done right: Narrow goals, real impact

(19:16) How to get employees to engage in training

(22:54) Start small: The fastest way to executive buy-in

To learn more about Matt, check out his LinkedIn and his website.

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus

About Matt Gjertsen:

Matt Gjertsen is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and former Air Force Instructor Pilot with 2500 flight hours. After leaving active duty, he spent over 4 years leading the training and development team at SpaceX before founding Better Every Day Studios in 2021. 

Matt’s 20 years of experience working with and leading high performing teams all over the world has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to lead teams in this ever changing world. He has previously shared these lessons with organizations like the XPRIZE Foundation, Lockheed Martin, and NASA. 

He and his team and Better Every Day Studios are now on a mission to train better managers, build better companies, and create a better world.

Ingrid Hu Dahl believes the most effective leaders are those who intentionally break rules, challenging the status quo. 

With diverse experience as a punk-rock musician, executive coach and L&D leader at Gap, Meta and Capital One, Ingrid offers a radically human perspective on leadership - one that is rooted in rebellion and genuine connection. She shares personal stories and learnings about why the best leaders are the rebels who dare to challenge the status quo and lead with authenticity. 

You’ll learn:

• Why rebellion is a powerful force in leadership
• Fast reset tools to reduce workplace stress
• How to break toxic patterns in traditional leadership cultures
• How to lead with empathy and inclusion in high-stress environments 

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Ingrid Hu Dahl

(02:43) Rebellion as a foundation for authentic leadership

(04:07) The parallels of young musicians and high-performing teams

(05:41) Coaching executives through fear, doubt, and isolation

(10:09) Leading with empathy in high-stress environments

(12:07) Fast reset tools to reduce workplace stress

(16:20) Writing a memoir and not a leadership book

(21:49) Breaking toxic patterns in traditional leadership cultures

(25:12) Bringing experimentation and play into team culture

(28:38) Daily behaviors that define inclusive leadership today

(33:40) Advice for leaders who are ready to rebel

To learn more about Ingrid, check out her website and her book Sun Shining On Morning Snow.

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus

About Ingrid Hu Dahl:

Ingrid Hu Dahl is an author, speaker, and leadership coach. She is the founder of a coaching and consulting business dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders. With over two decades of experience in learning and development, she brings her expertise to a wide range of industries, from corporate and media to nonprofit and social justice organizations. 

A TEDx speaker and a founding member of the Willie Mae Rock Camp in Brooklyn, Ingrid has a lifelong passion for amplifying underrepresented voices. She has written, filmed, and directed two short films exploring identity, representation, and the mixed-race experience. And, she has toured in multiple rock bands, playing bass, guitar, synth, drums, and singing.

Ingrid is certified by the International Coaching Federation and the Center for Creative Leadership. She is a global lecturer and speaker, and an advisory board member for the Institute for Women’s Leadership at Rutgers University. She lives in Sausalito, California, with her wife, Courtney, and their dog, Palo Santo.

• Invite Ingrid to be a speaker, facilitator, consultant or leadership coach: www.IngridHuDahl.com 
• Buy Ingrid's book and get it signed at one of her upcoming events: www.SunShiningonMorningSnow.com
• Check out Ingrid's interview in Authority Magazine: “The Hidden Superpower of Every Great Leader: Ingrid Hu Dahl On Uncovering the Traits That Separate Good Leaders from Exceptional Ones”
• Read Ingrid's article for Women in Leadership: “Leading with Heart and Wading Through Fear—How Women Can Drop Control and Embrace Their Power”

Suzy Welch has helped thousands find clarity on the question: What am I meant to do with my life? 

In this conversation, she shares the 3-circle methodology behind her wildly popular “Becoming You” methodology, which she also teaches at NYU Stern School of Business. She explains why knowing your true values is more powerful than skills training alone, and offers a practical path to purpose, at any stage of your career.

You’ll learn:

• Why most people don’t know their true values—and how to find yours
• How personal values, aptitudes, and economically viable interests intersect to reveal purpose
• How value conflicts show up in leadership and career choices
• Why aligning personal and organizational values can transform teams
• What leaders can do to help others live and work with purpose

This was our first ever live recorded podcast conversation in front of an audience - you’ll hear audience interaction throughout, and Q&A at the end of the episode. 

Take The Values Bridge test Suzy references here: https://thevaluesbridge.com/

Read Suzy’s book, Becoming You here: https://www.suzywelch.com/books/becoming-you-the-proven-method-for-crafting-your-authentic-life-and-career/ 

About Suzy Welch:

Suzy Welch is an award-winning NYU Stern School of Business professor, acclaimed management researcher, and New York Times best-selling author, most recently with “Becoming You: A Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career,” which is also a #1 bestseller on Amazon.

A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Business School, Professor Welch is a frequent guest of the Today Show and an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal. Her podcast, “Becoming You” is one of America’s most listened to career podcasts. She serves on the boards of public and private companies, and is the Director of the NYU | Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing.

As the founder and CEO of Becoming You Labs, Professor Welch, who received her PhD in business from the University of Bristol, has developed several digital assessment tools, including The Values Bridge and PIE360. Two more assessment instruments, the Career Traits Compass and the Holland Bridge, are currently in the final stages of beta testing.

Nearly 8 out of 10 workers feel stressed at work, and most say it's leaving them completely drained. If you're seeing warning signs on your team or feeling the impact yourself, this deep dive into the burnout epidemic will give you the science-backed strategies you need.

Dr. Ethan Kross, neuroscientist at the University of Michigan and author of Chatter and Shift, breaks down what's actually happening in your brain when stress feels debilitating. Jennifer Moss, workplace wellness expert and author of Why Are We Here? and The Burnout Epidemic, shares the organizational strategies that companies like Google and TD Bank use to transform their workplace cultures.

Together, they deliver both the "why" behind burnout and the "how" to fix it, giving you actionable frameworks to implement immediately.

You'll learn:

• The science behind burnout and brain function
• Case studies from Deloitte, Google and TD Bank on how they’re improving workplace culture
• Introduction to the WOOP framework to help employees build resilience
• The leadership practices that genuinely transform team mental fitness and engagement

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Dr. Ethan Kross and Jennifer Moss

(01:24) The science behind stress and burnout in the workplace

(03:51) How chronic stress affects focus and performance

(06:03) Emotional regulation and the impact on internal dialogue

(08:07) How stress alters brain function and decision-making

(09:01) The threat mode response and its influence on behavior

(15:19) The role of uncertainty and lack of control in workplace dissatisfaction

(17:53) Why culture plays a major role in mental fitness

(21:44) Building mental fitness muscles for long-term success

(25:23) Using the WOOP framework to handle negative emotions

(30:03) How leaders can help teams regain a sense of control

To learn more about Ethan, check out his website, most recent TED talk, and his books, Shift and Chatter.

And to learn more about Jennifer, check out her website and her books, The Burnout Epidemic, Why Are We Here, and Unlocking Happiness at Work.

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus 

In this episode of How to Make a Leader, we're joined by Al Dea, founder of Edge of Work consulting and a respected voice in talent and leadership development. Al breaks down why true leadership success hinges on a human-centric approach focused on two essential drivers: viewing leaders as developers of people and building social capital within organizations.

Drawing from his extensive experience as a consultant, keynote speaker, and podcast host, Al shares practical insights on how day-to-day leadership actions directly impact talent development. He challenges the notion that employee growth belongs solely to HR and L&D departments, revealing the common mistakes leaders make when developing their teams and offering actionable strategies that extend beyond traditional training programs.

You'll discover:

• Why developing your people is the highest-impact leadership investment
• Practical ways to implement human-centric leadership principles
• How to build and leverage social capital to enhance team performance
• Effective development strategies that don't require formal training programs

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Al Dea

(01:13) The evolution of workplace dynamics

(07:10) Defining human-centric leadership in real terms

(09:41) Leaders as developers of people

(12:09) Building growth into your weekly workflow

(15:28) How HR and L&D scale development

(18:02) Why investing in people ultimately saves time

(20:23) Common mistakes leaders make when developing others

(25:02) How to build social capital (and why it matters)

(31:26) A leadership development program that built real connections

(34:35) How to measure development and social capital

To learn more about Al and his work, check out his Linkedin profile, his website, and his podcast.

Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/events

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus 

In this episode of How to Make a Leader, we sit down with members of Big Think+’s very own product team, Charlotte Sharpe and Monica Karunakaran. They share insights learned from observing the learning habits and preferences of 115,000 learners that used our platform last year, as well as learnings from our 300 person user survey. 

They share juicy insights such as the truth behind optimal learning times (and length of content), the top skills learners searched on our platform, and the top challenges keeping L&D leaders up at night. 

You’ll learn:

• The type of career development that learners actually care about
• The most in-demand leadership skills
• What’s keeping L&D leaders up at night (and how to fix it)
• The humans skills that matter more than AI
• How to think about L&D strategy

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Charlotte Sharpe and Monica Karunakaran
(05:29) The role of Big Think+ in shaping leadership development

(06:58) Insights from a year of data from 115,000 learners

(09:43) What’s keeping L&D leaders up at night

(13:14) Leadership content for mid-level managers

(15:28) Balancing employee engagement with measurable success

(17:44) The most in-demand leadership skills

(19:08) Why emotional intelligence is so important

(26:31) Data on the learning experience (when, where, how long)

(28:37) The influence of AI on leadership development strategies

(33:27) The biggest surprise with the data

(35:03) The future of L&D: Integrating human connection with technology

To learn more about Charlotte and Monica, check out their LinkedIn profiles:

• Charlotte Sharpe
• Monica Karunakaran
  
  

Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/events

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus 

Can conflict actually make your team stronger?

In this episode of How to Make a Leader, communication expert and Harvard Business Review podcast host Amy Gallo discusses the communication dynamics that shape high-performing professionals and teams.

Amy shares strategies to build trust, improve collaboration, and ensure that even the toughest conversations lead to progress. Whether you’re a team leader, an aspiring manager, or someone navigating complex work relationships, this episode is packed with insights to strengthen your communication skills and leadership approach.

You’ll learn:

• How high performing teams disagree respectfully and collaboratively
• How to approach difficult conversations in the workplace
• Strategies to improve communication across remote, hybrid, and in-person teams
• The leadership mindset shift that drives long-term success

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introducing Amy Gallo
(01:39) Building trust quickly to enhance workplace communication
(04:57) Three key principles for navigating workplace conflict
(09:34) How remote and hybrid work impact workplace communication
(13:31) Strategies to prevent miscommunication in digital environments
(18:38) When to vent, when to wait, and when to take action
(21:27) What distinguishes high-performing teams from struggling teams
(24:49) Leadership strategies to encourage open and honest communication
(29:08) Emotional regulation and its impact on leadership effectiveness
(35:25) How societal tensions are influencing workplace interactions
(39:39) Maintaining composure in high-conflict situations
(44:13) Why connection should be a leadership priority

To learn more about Amy and her work, check out her Linkedin profile, her website, and her podcast. Read Amy Gallo’s book: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People).

Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/events

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus

How do strong leaders tackle today’s DEI challenges?

In a time of shifting policies and conflicting public discourse around DEI, consider this episode a practical guide to build inclusive teams with inclusive leaders. In this special How to Make a Leader episode, we’re sharing a virtual panel discussion with experts Chloé Valdary, Ruchika T. Malhotra, and La’Kita Williams, who bring decades of experience in inclusion, workplace culture, and leadership to tackle some of the toughest questions in DEI today.

From navigating fear-based rhetoric to rebuilding trust in organizational initiatives, this conversation cuts through the noise to focus on what truly matters: creating workplaces where everyone thrives.

You’ll learn:

• How to address fear and backlash surrounding DEI efforts
• The biggest reasons DEI initiatives succeed (or fail)
• Practical ways to build inclusion into leadership at every level
• How to foster real belonging beyond performative policies
• What leaders can do today to create lasting, meaningful change

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introducing Chloé Valdary, Ruchika T. Malhotra, and La’Kita Williams
(05:18) What diversity and inclusion look like in the workplace 
(09:29) Challenges of making DEI truly inclusive for people of all backgrounds
(12:28) The role of leadership in fostering inclusion and psychological safety
(23:13) Translating DEI into business language: Efficiency, innovation, and growth
(24:58) Common pitfalls in DEI initiatives and how to rebuild trust
(29:39) Crafting mission statements that reflect diversity as a business asset
(32:08) Audience Q&A about DEI Initiatives
(35:03) Avoiding scarcity thinking and expanding leadership opportunities
(39:45) Creating safe spaces for diversity and difficult conversations in the workplace

To learn more about our panel and their respective work, check out the links below:

• Chloé Valdary - LinkedIn Profile | Theory of Enchantment
• Ruchika T. Malhotra  - LinkedIn Profile | Inclusion on Purpose
• La’Kita Williams - LinkedIn Profile | CoCreate Work

Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/events

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus

How do you turn early talent into future leaders?

Harvard career advisor and WSJ best-selling author Gorick Ng shares the “unspoken rules” of professional growth and talent development. From career navigation to building a diverse leadership pipeline, he shares real-world insights garnered from thousands of interviews with professionals and his advisory work with Fortune500 companies. 

Whether you’re working with early, mid-level or senior employees, Gorick offers actionable strategies to level the playing field and maximize potential in your workforce.

You’ll learn:

• The “three Cs” framework for career success
• How to align onboarding with retention and engagement goals
• Practical steps to diversify your leadership pipeline
• The five traits of successful leaders
• The #1 piece of career advice (from a career advisor)

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Gorick Ng

(01:25) Gorick’s personal journey and first-generation college experience

(04:14) The important but unspoken rules of career navigation

(05:07) A real-world story about visibility and career advancement

(07:26) The “Three Cs” framework for professional success

(09:48) Systemic barriers to career growth and access to tools

(11:46) Preparing early-career professionals before day one

(13:26) The role of peer mentors in effective onboarding

(16:28) Creating psychological safety for early-stage professionals

(20:44) How to engage mid-level managers to balance growth and burnout

(24:58) Building lateral career movement opportunities within organizations

(27:10) The power of recognition and feedback in employee engagement

(29:38) Developing leadership pipelines with rotational programs

(33:52) Expanding diversity in leadership through actionable steps

(35:03) The value of vulnerability in leadership storytelling

(37:25) Leadership traits and the balance between managing and leading

(38:11) Gorick’s most memorable piece of career advice

To learn more about Gorick and his work, check out his Linkedin profile and his website. If you’d like to purchase his book, The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting your Career Off Right, you can check out this link. 

Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/events

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus