Welcome to the final episode of the Trainer Tools Podcast - not much happens, I just say goodbye and avoid the temptation to end on a song!

(I didn't write this, it was the AI function on the podcast platform ... see what you think):

In this enlightening (hmm, that's a bit much - JT) episode of the Trainer Tools podcast, explore the far-reaching influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in learning and development mechanisms. Our distinguished (I'd never use the word "distinguished" - JT) guest, David Ly from cutting-edge technology conglomerate Iveda, masterfully (it's a bit over-the-top, isn't it? - JT) simplifies the intricate concept of AI, stressing its role in performing tasks for human beings and delivering tangible benefits. Ly emphasizes the significance of letting AI work to our advantage and not the other way around. Not just in theory, but he brings to light actual examples showcasing consistency and safety in training brought about by AI.

Anyway ... it goes on like that for a bit (see below if you're interested), but here's David's info before it gets lost in among the superlatives.

David Ly is the visionary founder of Iveda, having served as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors since the company’s inception in 2003. With over 20 years of experience in wireless data, cellular, IT, and cloud video surveillance, David has built a pioneering cloud video hosting and real-time surveillance infrastructure with use cases across the globe.

Here Iveda on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.

The podcast opens up a fascinating conversation on the role and impact of AI across various job roles. With notable advancements in sectors such as the automobile industry, finding AI as a facilitator for increasing consistency and productivity, especially in intricate assembly line processes. The episode continues to delve more into the promising prospect of AI transforming other sectors, helping learning and development professionals alter and improve their approaches.

This indispensable listen invites you to a compelling perspective on the evolving interface of AI and traditional work environments. With its increasing influence in enhancing workplace safety and building operational efficiency, professionals get a glimpse into the future of workplaces. Further, the talks delve into the advent of AI in traditionally analog spaces, such as the warehouse, touching upon AI's role in real-time recognition and processing of environmental data.

The discussion rounds up with valuable advice for organizations contemplating incorporating AI for the first time, urging them to take this leap of faith. With a focus on its role in augmenting learning experiences, catering to personalized requirements, and optimizing efficiency and accuracy, AI can become a significant ally in revolutionizing learning and development initiatives.

In this episode John Tomlinson discusses a favourite topic with Omer Glass: learning evaluation (no, seriously, it is a favourite topic ...). It's easy to evaluate at the reaction level with a happy sheet, but how do we answer the so-what question? That was great training, but so what? What difference did it make? That challenge is one of the most interesting parts of L&D!

Omer Glass is the Co-Founder and CEO of Growthspace. Before co-founding Growthspace, Omer worked as a Management Consultant with Shaldor, one of Israel's leading management
consultancies, and held various positions in the US, UK, Singapore, Germany, and Turkey.

Omer holds an MA in Behavioral Economics from Ben Gurion University of the Negev and is the Chairman of “Hands Of Light,” a non-profit dedicated to supporting ALS and cancer patients. In
his spare time, Omer practices yoga and meditation.

In this episode John Tomlinson speaks to Robert Kirby of People People about the role of the voice in our personal impact, not just in the training room, but more generally how we can train ourselves to improve how we come across with authority and influence.

Rob is Director of People, People, which provides workshops, courses and coaching using the ‘People, People Way’. It combines psychology, acting tools and coaching principles to improve productivity, performance, and employee engagement for businesses. With a focus on interpersonal communication, People People have supported a range of public and private sector clients including the NHS, MoneySupermarket Group, and the Crown Prosecution Service.

David James is Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning (formerly at Looop) and has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa.

David is host of The Learning & Development Podcast, a prominent writer and a conference speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D.

Twitter: @DavidInLearning

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

Website: https://www.davidinlearning.com

Heather Hansen focuses on helping organisations communicate better, and helping individuals at work get their voices heard. Her book Unmuted talks through her holistic process of building confidence, capability and connection - not just ticking some training boxes. In this episode John Tomlinson talks to her about how she makes this work.

Heather Hansen helps multinational companies enhance collaboration, innovation and inclusion across their global teams through greater understanding and stronger, more efficient communication policies. She focuses on fostering unmuted communication cultures where every voice is heard, resulting in greater inclusion, innovation and efficiency across remote
and global teams.

Along with private leadership communication coaching, Heather facilitates group training courses and consults on a number of topics related to global communication. Heather is also an External Industry Expert for NUS Business School’s Executive Education programs where she runs modules on communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.

Social media links for Heather:

Linkedin
Youtube
Twitter

I've always though that hospitals are the best example we have of a good learning organisation, and the medical profession the best example of continuous professional development, so I was keen to chat to someone who understood this field better than I did (my medical training is entirely made up of watching Grey's Anatomy) - and so I was grateful to have the opportunity to have a conversation with Dr Alex Young, a qualified surgeon and L&D entrepreneur (and marathon runner etc.).

Dr Alex Young is an NHS trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, and founder of Virti. Passionate about improving human performance, he built and sold his first company whilst at university, before boot-strapping and scaling another while still training in the NHS. Virti develops immersive training tools to improve human performance in organisations around the globe. They have won a wealth of awards including being named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2021.

Check out Alex's website here (with links to his social media presence and YouTube channel) and here on LinkedIn.

In this episode John Tomlinson talks with Kushal Bose about his remarkable career and how he's used his engineering and film making background to create deep learning experiences in organisations.

Kushal Bose is the CEO of teledec.com and learning & development facilitator for corporate clients. He helps companies reduce costs and improve bottom line through the art of storytelling. With advanced degrees in engineering and film production, he founded Teledec International in 1987 to create engaging training tools that combine the different techniques of cinema, explaining complex technical concepts.

For 35 years Teledec has been at the leading edge of innovative training development with an impressive client list of Fortune 500 companies including: Abbot, BP, McDonald’s, Philips, Northrup, Ameritech, Kraft, Cisco, Discover and many more.

Their speciality is taking existing training material (PDF, Excel, AutoCad, Visio, MSWord engineering specs, job aids, etc) and publishing a seamless engaging presentation for an online audience. These presentations can be instructor led, self-paced, or blended.

• They excel in developing:
• Learning Solutions
• Compliance Training
• Technology Training
• Organization Development Training
• Sales Training
• Customized Training Solutions

Teledec has an impressive in-house capability including subject matter expertise, video production, graphics and animation, programming, authoring, instructional design, technical writing and LMS administration.

We all make mistakes, and when we're forced to suddenly start working entirely online after a lifetime of facilitating training in training rooms, we might make a lot more of them! No problem, mistakes are learning opportunities, and so in this podcast John Tomlinson talks to Caroline Black about five mistakes she's made since the Covid pandemic and moving her learning and development sessions into the virtual world.

Caroline Black is a specialist in leadership development and communication skills. She is a Fellow and Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Caroline designs and delivers bespoke online and face to face training courses, workshops and webinars. She is also a corporate event facilitator (online and face to face) and conference chair.

Her clients in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors include the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Cabinet Office, The Royal Navy, ACCA and Lloyds Banking Group.

Caroline is a published author of The PR Professionals handbook (Kogan Page 2014) and The PR Practitioner’s Desk Top Guide (Thorogood second edition 2009). In her spare time, she runs baby namings, weddings and funerals on behalf of Humanists UK.

Visit her website here or follow her on Twitter (@caroblack) or visit her profile on LinkedIn.

In this episode, John Tomlinson talks to Mary Brunton about her experience of bringing leadership training into the virtual world as the pandemic took hold and face-to-face training was stopped. In this conversation, Mary and John share their experiences and discuss how imposter syndrome has increased with the new ways of working.

Mary L Brunton MA (Hons) CIPD has been working internationally for over 20 years and in more than 30 countries. Mary has extensive professional experience of designing and delivering senior leadership training and executive coaching for teams and individuals.

Clients include the UK Civil Service, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), EU institutions, the British Council, the World Bank, OECD, the Commonwealth Institute and Deutsche Bank.

For over a decade Mary has been selected as an Executive Coach for the most senior grades in the UK Civil Service and has specialist expertise in promotion, resilience, branding, personal impact and public speaking.

Mary is an independent consultant and the Senior Director of the successful Pilot HR Consultancy (established 2006) which delivers training, coaching and facilitation services to organisations in the UK and internationally.

To contact Mary, email: [email protected]

In this podcast John talks to Sunita Sehmi about how Learning and Development professionals can approach inclusion in our work, and how we can move from talking about words like "diversity" and "inclusion" to thinking about "belonging"

Sunita Sehmi is a Certified Executive Coach, Consultant, Speaker and Trainer. She is of Indian origin and was born in London before moving to Geneva in 1992. She has a Psychology degree, specializing in Occupational and Developmental Psychology and a Post Graduate certification in the Development and Training of Adults from the UK. She also has a Masters in Human Resources, Coaching and Career Management from HEC University of Geneva. Where she wrote her Master Thesis “How does proficiency in English affect French-native professionals at work?” A qualitative research conducted in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

She is the founder of Walk The Talk, which provides tailor-made professional coaching consultancy and training.

Her business background includes working with International companies in banking, finance, media, pharmaceuticals, and FMCG industries. Sunita’s coaching style advances the skills and approaches needed to develop performance. Her forte is the fact that she has studied and worked in several different countries and thus her understanding and knowledge of language communication and culture is compact and solid.

During her twenty-five years of international experience, Sunita’s objective has always been to support people to uncover and utilise their potential and to help individuals and organizations to perform at their very best.

Sunita is an accomplished speaker and business writer furthermore she has had several articles published articles in the press.

She has written two books:

The Power of Belonging

How to Get Out of Your Own Way