Navigating the Learning Landscape Under the AI Umbrella: Perspectives from L&D Experts
Doors open at 7:30 AM for breakfast seating. Your Talent hosts, Lauren and DJ Jeff, will kick off the preshow entertainment at 8:30 AM.
Join us for an insightful panel discussion live on the Main Stage featuring seasoned Learning and Development (L&D) professionals as they share their expertise and insights on navigating the ever-evolving learning landscape. From emerging AI trends and innovative strategies to overcoming challenges, this panel will provide actionable insights and practical advice for enhancing organizational learning and development initiatives. Whether you're an HR or L&D professional seeking to stay ahead of the curve or a business leader interested in optimizing your team's learning experiences, this discussion promises to offer valuable perspectives and strategies to drive growth and development within your organization.
Abhijit Bhaduri
As the GM Global L&D, Abhijit Bhaduri managed the upskilling strategy for Microsoft across 190 countries. Forbes described him as "the most interesting generalist from India." The San Francisco Examiner decribes him as the "world’s foremost expert on talent and development."
He is a LinkedIn Top Voice with more than a million followers on LinkedIn. Society for Human Resource Management has rated him as the No 1 HR influencer on social media. He is rated among the top ten experts on learning across the world. He is ranked among the top five "most sought after brand evangelists.
Prior to leading learning and development globally for Microsoft, he led an advisory practice to help organizations develop their leadership and talent strategy. His client include Disney, VMWare, Adobe, GE, Wipro. He has been an talent brand strategist and executive coach to CXOs.
He has led HR teams for Colgate-Palmolive, PepsiCo, Tata Steel and was the first Chief Learning Officer for Wipro. He was conferred Distinguished Alumni from XLRI where he did his post-graduation in Human Resources. Abhijit taught Learning and Development to the post graduate students at XLRI. He teaches at the Doctoral Program for Chief Learning Officers at the University of Pennsylvania.
Abhijit Bhaduri has been a bestselling author with his book on hiring called Don't Hire the Best (Harper Collins) which explains why hiring for "match quality" is a better predictor of hiring success for executives. Career 3.0 (Penguin 2023) suggests six skills that everyone will need in a world getting shaped by AI. He hosted a podcast called Dreamers and Unicorns that made the list of top business podcasts by Apple. His writings have appeared in Forbes and Business Line. He wrote a fortnightly column for The Economic Times about work, workers and workplaces that ran for several years. His article on skilling strategy for businesses was one of the most read articles in Harvard Business Review in 2023.
Amit Sevak
As CEO of ETS, Amit Sevak leads the world’s largest, private educational research and measurement organization, delivering products and services across 200 countries and territories, serving 50 million people each year.
Sevak has been a driving force in education, learning and workforce development around the globe. He has led the University of Europe in Madrid in Spain, INTI International University in Malaysia and Universidad Tecnológica de México (UNITEC) in Mexico. His transformational style of leadership consistently led to innovation, better learning and improved job prospects for hundreds of thousands of students and workers.
Sevak has long been a coach for edtech CEOs. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including Cambiar Education, CitiBridge and Education Design Lab. In 2017, he founded Mindset Global, an education investment firm. His early career included roles as a researcher, professor and advisor.
Sevak graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Chicago and earned his master’s in business administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School. He is a regular speaker on the future of education and work, educational measurement and civic engagement. He is married with three children and splits his time between Princeton, New Jersey and the Washington, D.C. area.
Lauren Ansley
As a corporate entertainer and trainer with a background in stand-up comedy, Lauren Ansley works with organizations to infuse energy and connection into their business meetings, conferences and special events. She provides interactive entertainment and delivers thought-provoking messages with the perfect amount of humor and storytelling sprinkled in.
Lauren's public speaking training programs are all designed to help professionals craft and deliver their presentations with clarity, confidence and charisma. She is the Founder and CEO of Ansley Corporate Entertainment and Instructor of the Women’s Stand-Up Comedy Class in Charlotte, NC.
DJ Jeff
Introducing the entertainment enthusiast, DJ Jeff, the visionary force behind Soulful Sounds, Inc. Jeff Taylor began engaging family at gatherings with his DJ skills. Today, Soulful Sounds, Inc. stands as a DJ production powerhouse, captivating audiences internationally. The company operates from two main offices located in Long Island, NY and Charlotte, NC.
With over two decades of industry experience, DJ Jeff is extremely passionate about entertainment. He fills every event with a unique essence, creating unforgettable experiences for guests. Soulful Sounds, Inc. has built strong partnerships with a prestigious clientele and is dedicated to delivering excellence and ensuring client satisfaction.
Tomissa Smittendorf
Tomissa Smittendorf has a passion for creating a workplace cultures that emphasize capability building, activating an intentional learner mindset and collaborating across the organization to drive impact. With over 30 years of CPG experience across various functions of the business, including learning and development, retail sales, supply chain, HR, sales finance, customer service and direct store delivery, Tomissa is a visionary leader with a strategic approach to cultivating a culture of continuous learning to invest in people.
At Kellanova, Tomissa leads the development of comprehensive learning strategies, ties learning to business solutions and consults with the business to overcome business challenges to drive growth. She is proud to have built multiple high-performance teams that prioritize agility and can adapt quickly to meet the changing needs of the business. With a "transformational drive" and "make it happen" spirit, Tomissa has committed her career to drive the organization to achieve results.