Talent Development is changing and evolving —fast.

On this episode of NovoEDTalks, Melissa sits down with Sara Loncka, CEO of Experience Institute, to explore why traditional approaches to learning and leadership development are falling short in today’s rapidly changing world. Sarah shares how experiential learning, personal motivation, and “learning by doing” create deeper, more lasting behavior change than convenience-driven programs. Together, they unpack what it takes to design learning that sticks — and how organizations can prepare leaders to navigate constant disruption and uncertainty.

On this episode of NovoEDTalks, Melissa sits down with Sara Cavallucci, Director of Training, Development, and Customer Service at GS1, to explore what it takes to design learning that truly works across a global, federated organization. Sara shares how her team embeds learning into the flow of work, prioritizes adoption over attendance, and balances technical expertise with human capability in complex environments. Together, they discuss the growing importance of informed judgment, the responsible role of AI in learning strategy, and what L&D leaders must unlearn to stay relevant.

In this two-part NovoEDTalks Season 2 Finale, Dr. Benjamin Granger (Qualtrics), Karen Ganitsky (3M), and Kathy Burton (Robert Half) unpack how mentoring, succession planning, and knowledge transfer can protect institutional legacy while preparing the next generation of leaders. Across the conversations, they explore the realities of leading across five generations, the rise of inclusive leadership, and the human-centered skills needed to thrive alongside AI and constant change. Together, they show how HR and L&D can move beyond “programs” to become true change agents—designing cultures, systems, and development pathways where every employee has a voice, a mentor, and a clear path to grow.   Related Insights Discussed:

• Qualtrics’ and Charter’s take on the joint research done about the importance of mentoring: https://www.qualtrics.com/articles/news/employees-believe-a-mentor-would-advance-their-careers-but-few-have-access-to-one/ https://www.charterworks.com/charter-cortado-remote-and-hybrid-mentorship/
• Qualtrics 2025 Employee Experience Trends report which discusses younger workers – their optimism and desire to challenge the status quo: https://www.qualtrics.com/ebooks-guides/employee-experience-trends/?utm_lp=trends-hub

In this two-part NovoEDTalks Season 2 Finale, Dr. Benjamin Granger (Qualtrics), Karen Ganitsky (3M), and Kathy Burton (Robert Half) unpack how mentoring, succession planning, and knowledge transfer can protect institutional legacy while preparing the next generation of leaders. Across the conversations, they explore the realities of leading across five generations, the rise of inclusive leadership, and the human-centered skills needed to thrive alongside AI and constant change. Together, they show how HR and L&D can move beyond “programs” to become true change agents—designing cultures, systems, and development pathways where every employee has a voice, a mentor, and a clear path to grow.     Related Insights Discussed:

• Qualtrics’ and Charter’s take on the joint research done about the importance of mentoring: https://www.qualtrics.com/articles/news/employees-believe-a-mentor-would-advance-their-careers-but-few-have-access-to-one/ https://www.charterworks.com/charter-cortado-remote-and-hybrid-mentorship/
• Qualtrics 2025 Employee Experience Trends report which discusses younger workers – their optimism and desire to challenge the status quo: https://www.qualtrics.com/ebooks-guides/employee-experience-trends/?utm_lp=trends-hub

In this Episode of NovoEDTalks, John Jell, Director of Organizational Development at Dole Packaged Foods, unpacks what frontline and people leader development looks like when it’s built for real business constraints. John shares how engagement and exit insights revealed career development as a top driver and how “people planning” can be integrated into annual planning so development is proactive, not delayed. The conversation also explores the power of structured onboarding, the limits of “digital-first” learning, and why instructor-led training still matters when it’s relevant, engaging, and immediately applied.

In this Episode of NovoEDTalks, we chat with Mark Monaghan, VP of Organizational Development at iQor, to explore how leadership development can scale across 40,000+ employees in 10 countries while staying deeply human. Mark shares how iQor uses a competency model, mentoring structure, and measurable assessments to build internal pipelines—while adapting programs over time to meet evolving workforce needs. They also discuss the role of AI in simulation, mentor support, and adaptive learning—and close with a powerful reflection on leadership, gratitude, and legacy.