This episode of The Science of Excellence welcomes Aaron T. Jones, who leads Onboarding & Training at Live Nation—the global leader in live events and ticketing. We discussed how he’s pioneering “skills-first onboarding” to transform generic new hire orientation into powerful skill-building experiences.His framework helps new hires reach productivity up to 70% faster and has contributed to a 26-28% overall productivity improvement. Instead of wondering if employees are ready, his approach enables organizations to measure specific skills and identify precise gaps.These 4 insights stood out most from our conversation:-Skills-Based Onboarding is Role-Specific-Focus on Application to Accelerate Ramp Up-Measure Success Through Task Mastery-Inspire By Linking Their Roles to Broader ImpactTune into the full episode to learn more!

This episode features Marco Andre, Executive Director of Global Marketing & AI Excellence at Novartis, and a prominent thought leader who guides executives through the complexities of AI adoption. Here are some of the topics covered in the episode:► Why high-impact AI training must be hands-on and social, not passive ► How curiosity—not technical ability—is the real differentiator in AI adoption ► The fundamental shift from having answers to asking better questions ► Why individual productivity gains are just the first step in organizational transformation ► The importance of focusing on business problems, not technology

This episode of The Science of Excellence welcomes Marc Steven Ramos, a veteran L&D leader who's helped shape learning programs for Google, Novartis, Cornerstone, and more. We talked about what it would take to transform L&D for the better, using all the incredible advancements we see today.Some topics we covered:► Why AI-driven personalization is not the be-all and end-all► Why collaboration and human connection matter in learning ► How to use adaptive learning for impact► The critical difference between performance and learning

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the second season of The Science of Excellence (formerly known as Learning Unbound) with Vince Jeong, Co-Founder and CEO of Sparkwise.

This episode features Geoffrey M. Roche, Director of Workforce Development at Siemens Healthineers.

Here are some of the topics we covered:

► Why healthcare's selective investment in senior leadership development is backfiring

► How arbitrary degree requirements are blocking exceptional talent

► What European apprenticeship models can teach U.S. healthcare

► Real examples of successful "grow your own" talent programs

► Why middle management development is the missing link

► How to create "sticky" career pathways that actually retain talent

► The surprising impact of leaders' own career journeys on development practices

In this episode of Learning Unbound, we welcome Dr. Jason Cisneros-Steinert, an expert in organizational change and leadership development.

Rebecca Taber Staehelin and Connor Diemand-Yauman, co-CEOs of Merit America, joined Learning Unbound to discuss how they’re addressing the workforce skills gap.

Skills-based organizations are reshaping how companies manage talent and adapt to change by using data to match the right people to the right tasks.

Lauren Waldman, founder of Learning Pirate and an experienced learning scientist, lives at the intersection of neuroscience and L&D. With an extensive background in instructional design and facilitation, she pushes for a new approach to helping others learn by working with the brain rather than against it.

Meet Dr. Martha Soehren, a talent development expert with a career spanning the military, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. Martha spent 25 years with the Army, where she honed her skills in instructional design and training evaluation. She then transitioned to the corporate world, joining Comcast Cable as Chief Learning Officer and later Chief Talent Development Officer. With a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and plenty of industry accolades, Martha brings both academic rigor and practical experience to her work.

The latest Learning Unbound features Jonathan Kvarfordt, a Revenue Excellence, Enablement, and Acceleration Executive with over 15 years of experience helping companies double their revenue. His diverse background includes selling everything from tires and wheels to SaaS products for Fortune 500 companies, giving him perspective on sales and enablement strategies across industries. From founding GTM AI Academy to his work as a life coach and his experience building enablement programs at companies large and small, Jonathan understands what drives people to learn and change behaviors.