Who Should Attend
The Learning Leadership Conference is your opportunity to network with peers, discover innovative learning strategies, and enhance your leadership skills to advance your career and achieve business goals
The Learning Leadership Conference is the go-to event for L&D leaders who are committed to driving organizational transformation. Whether you’re an executive, director, mid-level manager, or emerging leader, you’ll find valuable content tailored to every stage of your leadership journey.
As an Executive or L&D Director, you’re faced with the daunting tasks of aligning L&D with business objectives, upskilling your workforce for the future, measuring ROI to prove learning effectiveness, and much more. At the Learning Leadership Conference, you’ll discover sessions, networking opportunities, and tools that address the distinct challenges you face, including:
Strategic Alignment & Influence
Position L&D as a trusted business partner and align learning with enterprise goals during these sessions:
Data-Driven Impact
Use insights and measurement to prove and improve L&D’s business value with these sessions:
Future-Focused Ecosystems
Design adaptive, scalable learning strategies that meet tomorrow’s challenges with these sessions:
End-to-End: Craft a Strategic Roadmap for Your Future Learning Ecosystem – Andrea Scroggy
Beyond the LMS: Building a Cohesive Learning & Performance Ecosystem – Matthew Tang
AI in the L&D Tech Stack: From Prompting to Agents – Josh Cavalier
- From Selection to Success: A Leader’s Guide to LMS Implementation – Michelle Kotulski
Build Your Executive Network
As an Executive or L&D Director, it’s crucial for you to talk with your peers to find solutions to shared organizational challenges, benchmark your L&D program, and more. At the Learning Leadership Conference, you’ll engage in networking events dedicated to helping you find other senior learning leaders, including:
- Welcome Party – Right off the bat, we’ll help you find other L&D Executives and Directors that you can spend time with throughout the event, with networking in a casual and relaxed atmosphere.
- Leadership Insight Forums – These engaging discussions allow you to hear perspectives from speakers and peers about topics relevant to your company.
- Lunch – We provide table placards in the lunch area to help you find like-minded professionals, turning lunch into another chance to share ideas and build your network.
Gain Strategies From Your Peers
Hear sessions presented by other learning senior leaders who have faced the same challenges that you have and overcome them, such as:
Kirsten Abbott-West, Director, Talent Development Leadership, Universal Destinations & Experiences – Orlando
- Laura Bartus, Head of Learning and Development, Humana – CenterWell Pharmacy
- Ryan Beck, Senior Director, Learning, Walmart Health & Wellness
- Becky Burke, VP Learning & Strategic Development, BankWest, Inc
- George Hanshaw, Director of Digital Learning Solutions, Los Angeles Pacific University
- Lucas Stidham, Senior Director, Learning & Development, Living Spaces
Find the Right Tools
At the L&D Solutions Gallery, you’ll discover new learning technologies, as well as strategies for workplace performance and talent development from leading consultants. You will have the opportunity to discuss your needs 1:1 with the solution providers and see insightful presentations on the Solutions Gallery stage.
As Mid-level Managers or Team Leads advancing in your careers, the challenges become more complex, from managing organizational change and driving strategic initiatives to developing high-performing teams and aligning with business goals. The Learning Leadership Conference provides insights and strategies you need to tackle them head-on with sessions, speakers, and networking like:
Effective Communication & Feedback
Master the skills that drive clarity, connection, and performance in teams.
Team Leadership & Engagement
Inspire, support, and lead diverse teams through motivation and culture.
Performance & Process Excellence
Enhance operational success with smarter systems and stronger onboarding.
Gain Strategies from Your Peers
Hear sessions presented by other learning managers who have faced the same challenges that you have and overcome them, like:
- Armando Contreraz, Manager of Training & Development, The Fort Worth Club
- Kayla Delaney, Senior Manager of Learning Program Effectiveness, Walmart Health & Wellness
- Dawn Peterson, Senior Manager, Learner Experience Design, Boston Scientific
- John Reynolds, Manager of Learning and Development, Anderson Windows
- Kelly Shambaugh, Senior Learning Program Manager, Farm Credit Mid-America
- Cheryl Vilimek, Manager of Instructional Design, Advocate Health
Build Your Manager Network
As a Mid-level Manager or Team lead, it’s crucial for you to talk with your peers to share strategies for team development, professional growth ideas, and more. At the Learning Leadership Conference, you’ll engage in networking events dedicated to helping you find other managers, including:
- Welcome Party – Right off the bat, we’ll help you find other managers that you can spend time with throughout the event, with facilitated networking in a casual and relaxed atmosphere.
- Leadership Insight Forums – These engaging discussions offer you the opportunity to hear perspectives from speakers and peers about topics relevant to your company.
- Lunch – We provide table placards in the lunch area to help you find like-minded professionals, turning lunch into another chance to share ideas and build your network.
Find the Right Tools
At the L&D Solutions Gallery, you’ll discover new learning technologies, as well as strategies for workplace performance and talent development from leading consultants. You will have the opportunity to discuss your needs 1:1 with the solution providers and see insightful presentations on the Solutions Gallery stage.
New leaders face unique challenges as you step into leadership roles, from building credibility and influencing teams to navigating organizational change and driving strategic initiatives. The Learning Leadership Conference equips you with tools and strategies to confidently navigate these challenges with sessions, networking opportunities, and solutions, like:
Foundations for First-Time Leaders
Build confidence, core skills, and clarity in your new leadership journey.
Creative & Purpose-Driven Leadership
Lead with innovation, intention, and a strong sense of personal style.
Connection & Emotional Intelligence
Foster trust, empathy, and belonging to elevate your leadership impact.
Gain Strategies from Your Peers
At the Learning Leadership Conference, you’ll meet our Thirty Under 30 Program participants and be inspired by the valuable work they’ve done early in their careers. You’ll have the opportunity to ask them about their accomplishments and learn how you can do the same. Here’s just a sample of our Thirty Under 30 honorees:
- Faith Brown, Operations Trainer, Westgate Resorts
- Katie Buckner, Specialist, Organizational & Leadership Development, MedVet
- Sabrina Cervantes Villa, Human-Centered Design Specialist, Global Learning Experience, Align Technology
- Ashley Cooks, Sr. Instructional Designer, The Home Depot
- Mickailynn Holman, Specialist – Training & Instructional Design, Maximus
Build Your Learning Leader Network
As a new leader, it’s crucial for you to share ideas with your peers and also meet more established L&D leaders who can provide mentorship. At the Learning Leadership Conference, you’ll engage in networking events dedicated to helping you find both peers and potential mentors, including:
- Welcome Party – Right off the bat, we’ll help you find other leaders that you can spend time with throughout the event, with facilitated networking in a casual and relaxed atmosphere.
- Lunch – We provide table placards in the lunch area to help you find like-minded professionals, turning lunch into another chance to share ideas and build your network.
- Conversation Starters – Showcase your passions using the provided buttons to adorn your badge lanyard. These buttons will help you spark conversations with others who share your interests.
Find the Right Tools
At the L&D Solutions Gallery, you’ll discover new learning technologies, as well as strategies for workplace performance and talent development from leading consultants. You will have the opportunity to discuss your needs 1:1 with the solution providers and see insightful presentations on the Solutions Gallery stage.
Leaders at all levels face unique challenges in today’s fast-evolving workplace, from navigating AI and automation constraints to ensuring teams have the skills they need for the future. The Learning Leadership Conference is designed to help you overcome these challenges with sessions, speakers, and networking opportunities, including:
Innovative Thinking & Continuous Learning
Fuel creativity, experimentation, and growth through modern learning mindsets.
Collaborative Leadership & Culture Building
Shape environments where people connect, collaborate, and thrive together.
Purpose, Identity & Leadership Evolution
Elevate your impact by rethinking your role, brand, and strategic value.
Gain Strategies from Your Peers
Hear sessions presented by other learning leaders at all levels who have faced the same challenges that you have and overcome them, like:
- Kirsten Abbott-West, Director, Talent Development Leadership, Universal Destinations & Experiences – Orlando
- Becky Burke, VP Learning & Strategic Development, BankWest, Inc
- Kayla Delaney, Senior Manager of Learning Program Effectiveness, Walmart Health & Wellness
- John Reynolds, Manager of Learning and Development, Anderson Windows
Build Your Learning Leader Network
No matter your seniority, it’s crucial for you to share ideas with your peers and also connect with L&D leaders at all levels who can support you after the event. At the Learning Leadership Conference, you’ll engage in networking events dedicated to helping you build connections, including:
- Welcome Party – Right off the bat, we’ll help you find other leaders that you can spend time with throughout the event, with facilitated networking in a casual and relaxed atmosphere.
- Leadership Insight Forums – These engaging discussions offer you the opportunity to hear perspectives from speakers and peers about topics relevant to your company.
- Lunch – We provide table placards in the lunch area to help you find like-minded professionals, turning lunch into another chance to share ideas and build your network.
Find the Right Tools
At the L&D Solutions Gallery, you’ll discover new learning technologies, as well as strategies for workplace performance and talent development from leading consultants. You will have the opportunity to discuss your needs 1:1 with the solution providers and see insightful presentations on the Solutions Gallery stage.
Top Talent from these Powerhouse Companies Attend Learning
Earn Recertification Credits
The Learning Leadership Conference program has been approved for 9.00 Credit Hours.
The Learning Guild has been pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer educational programs that can be used towards initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.