Category: Learning & Development

Employees are valuing career development more than ever—it’s a sign that the company is willing to invest in their future. How are businesses approaching training today? What are their pain points, and what topics are being addressed in training?

SHRM 25 Day 2: Generational Gaps, Growing Pains, and Junctions

Day 2 of SHRM 25 keeps the conversation rolling on HR’s biggest struggles, and the strategies and solutions are only getting more innovative. The theme for many sessions today seemed to focus around the five generations that currently make up the workforce. From the silent generation to Gen Z, each brings a unique list of […]

SHRM 25: 3 Strategies We’re Taking After Day 1

SHRM 25, one of the largest HR conferences in the world, kicked off this weekend. We landed in the beautiful town of San Diego on Sunday in time for the initial events, sparking the conversations around HR professionals’ biggest challenges. After day one, we’ve found 3 strategies all HR leaders need to take back home. […]

Be Your Own Advocate: A Short Guide to Self-Promotion

Rabbi Hillel the Elder is credited with saying, “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?” I mention this to students who are about to enter the workforce, and it applies as well to readers of our newsletter. The Harvard Business Review tells us as much in “How to Self-Promote (When […]

Gen Z and Millennials Say Skill Development is Non-Negotiable: Here’s How to Meet This Group Where They’re At  

Despite economic uncertainty, the job market is still showing stronger than expected gains. For employers banking on employees staying put, this spells bad news.   New data also reveals that young people are especially open to change – 75% of Millennials and 79% of Gen Z employees say they’d actively look for a new job if […]

SHRM 25: 3 Things We’re Looking Forward To

Next week, SHRM 25 is taking place in San Diego, California, where HR leaders and industry professionals from around the world are gathering to discuss the most pressing HR topics. From AI implementation, to how to boost falling employee engagement, to the best employee benefits you can offer, next week will be jam-packed with valuable […]

Corporate Ladder Becomes Corporate Matrix  

The traditional career ladder, with its predictable rungs and clear next steps, is fading into the background. In its place, a more fluid, personalized approach to career growth is taking shape—one that prioritizes flexibility, choice, and self-direction. For HR teams and business leaders, this evolution presents both complexity and potential.  Today’s professionals, especially those early […]

Why Personalized Employee Experiences Are the Future of Work and How Fractional HR Can Lead the Way 

In today’s talent landscape, organizations can no longer afford a one-size-fits-all approach to managing people. Employees increasingly expect—and value—personalized experiences at work, from tailored career development paths to flexible work arrangements that suit their individual lifestyles and goals.  For small to midsize businesses, meeting these expectations can be a challenge, but it’s also a significant […]

The Great Career Shift: How Work, Growth, and Success Are Being Redefined 

Career development doesn’t look the way it used to. And honestly? That’s not a bad thing.  Between automation, shifting values, and changing ideas about success, the old model—climbing the ladder, one rung at a time—just doesn’t fit anymore. Over the next few years, people across industries will be rethinking what growth means, what they want […]

HR’s AI Awakening: Stop Waiting, Start Leading (Your Future Depends On It)

Forget what you think about AI in HR. According to Jen Kirkwood, CEO & Founder of Talvana Consulting, and a speaker at SPARK Talent 2025, generative AI isn’t just changing talent acquisition—it’s flipping it on its head. This isn’t a future trend; it’s the urgent present, and HR’s role is critical. For years, HR’s journey […]

Striking the Balance Between High Tech and Human Connection

HR leaders across industries are finding creative ways to integrate AI and other new technologies into their workflows. Some are carefully testing the waters, while others are jumping in with AI integration embedded throughout their workday. Regardless of adaptation level, all HR professionals are trying to balance new efficiencies with the heart and soul of […]