In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Stephanie Leal, Director of HR Learning and Development at Mission North. Stephanie is leading a company-wide initiative to build AI fluency, not just within HR but across client-facing teams serving some of the most innovative tech brands. What began with a simple usage survey has evolved into a structured learning program—Navigating AI—that combines show-and-tell sessions, AI principles embedded into onboarding, and ongoing cross-functional training.Stephanie shares how she shifted from AI skeptic to champion, helping Mission North employees transform curiosity into practical skills while balancing excitement with caution around data privacy and security. Her story offers a model for how HR and L&D leaders can drive adoption without mandates, creating a culture of experimentation and trust.Topics Discussed:

• How a baseline AI survey revealed 73% of employees were already “explorers.”
• Why mandates spread fear while experimentation spreads innovation.
• Building Navigating AI, a cross-company learning journey with measurable outcomes.
• Embedding AI principles into onboarding and company culture.
• Using show-and-tell sessions and super users to drive grassroots adoption.
• Balancing security, transparency, and responsible AI use.
• How L&D can leverage AI to create more personalized and scalable learning experiences.
• Why curiosity and continuous learning matter more than prior AI skills in hiring.
• The future of L&D: moving from manual training tasks to AI-powered content creation and strategy.

If you’re looking for a practical guide to building AI fluency across your organization while keeping HR at the center of trust, learning, and culture, this conversation with Stephanie Leal is packed with insights you can use today.Additional Resources:

• Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
• Future Proof HR Community
• Connect with Stephanie Leal on LinkedIn
• AI Creates Major Knowledge Gap