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Development Nerds with Candice Mitchell: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Candice Mitchell
Honest conversations about career growth, resilience, and the messy middle of success. Hosted by Candice Mitchell, this podcast dives deep into what it really takes to build a career, and a Talent Development function, that makes an impact.Many solo episodes are tailored for high-level, strategic Talent Development professionals, offering the kind of depth you won’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s building and nurturing a Talent Development function, truly partnering with the business to become business critical, or navigating your own career growth, this podcast gives you the practical insights and unfiltered conversations you actually need.🎧 Listen in for:✔ Strategic insights for senior L&D professionals✔ Actionable career strategies you can actually use✔ Unfiltered conversations on leadership, growth, and business impact✔ Lessons from setbacks, pivots, and defining career momentsBecause career growth, and Talent Development itself, is never-ending and I love that for all of
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- 1 weeks ago15 min
Build vs Buy Is the Wrong Question
Most leadership teams walk into the build versus buy conversation with two camps already formed and zero diagnosis done. In this solo episode, Candice breaks down why that question is the wrong one to start with, and the three-bucket diagnosis she runs with every client before anyone opens a job requisition or builds a single course.She walks through the real cost of hiring, why training without a diagnosis is just a slower way to burn the same money, and the financial services client who went from two hundred fifty people to seven hundred fifty in six weeks and solved it without a single hiring sprint.If your team is stuck arguing hire versus train right now, this episode gives you the one hour of work that ends the debate before it starts.What you'll get from this episode:The real cost of a bad hire, and why hiring only fixes one specific kind of gapThe three-bucket diagnosis to run before you decide anything: can't do it, won't do it, or the system won't let themWhy a six-figure leadership academy can be excellent and still fix nothingThe financial services case where diagnosis, not headcount, got the firm retained through a hiring freezeThe one-hour exercise to run with your team this quarter before you build or buy anything
- 2 weeks ago52 min
You Don't Have To Fit In To Succeed | Kassy LaBorie
Kassy LaBorie built her career on technology nobody wanted to touch and colors nobody told her to wear. She was on the training team at WebEx on September 11th, the day the whole company understood that the tool they were building would change how the world worked. She went on to build a four million dollar business line at Dale Carnegie in four years. Then she left it to build her own thing, in her own colors, on her own terms.This conversation runs from an ice cream shop in Sacramento to a colleague who once told her, we don't wear red pants here, ten minutes before she took the stage.What you'll get from this episode:Why the confidence that makes someone memorable has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with owning what makes them differentHow Kassy turned a rejected industry into a four million dollar business line in four yearsThe exact ChatGPT prompt that changed how she teaches technology todayWhy the people who tell you to tone it down are rarely the people worth listening toGet to know Kassy:Kassy is a futurist and Connection Strategist whose personal style may draw inspiration from the past, but whose vision is fixed on the future, sparking excitement and curiosity among audiences nationwide about our evolving digital landscape.She’s in the futurist space, but not in a weird sci-fi, “let’s populate Mars” kind of way. Instead, she takes a Connection Strategist approach that sees the best of emerging technology and the best of what makes us uniquely human, and thoughtfully integrates both into work and life.From her early days developing groundbreaking virtual learning programs for L&D professionals, corporate trainers, and HR leaders, to advising Fortune 500 companies on virtual engagement strategies, Kassy has learned a thing or two about fostering genuine connection in digital environments.But the most profound truth she’s discovered is that the skills we master in the online space don’t just stay on the screen; they become the superpowers that shape how we show up in the real world.Connect with Kassy:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kassylaborieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassylaborie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kassylaborie5098Website: https://www.kassylaborie.com/
- 3 weeks ago40 min
85% of Employers Say Skill Development Is Their Top Priority. So Why Is L&D Still The First To Get Cut?
85% of employers say upskilling is their number one priority.71% say they expect to cut their Learning & Development budget when things get tight.I can't make those two numbers make sense.I've spent 20 years in L&D, and I've watched this contradiction play out in boardrooms and organizations again and again.The problem isn't that leadership doesn't value learning.It's that too often, we haven't made the value visible in the language the business understands.In this episode, I talk about what I've learned from building L&D functions, working through major business changes, and sitting across the table from leaders who need to know one thing:What changes because of this work?I share three stories from my own work and introduce the Five-Spoke Impact Model, which looks at how L&D contributes to:• Attracting and keeping the right people• Building capability at every level• Making high performance possible• Increasing agility and sparking innovation• Elevating the employee experienceAnd I share four things I would do this week to start making that value visible.Because being called a priority does not protect your budget.Proof does.And if we're serious about making L&D a strategic partner, we have to get better at showing what would break if our work disappeared tomorrow.The full Five-Spoke Impact Model and companion article, 85% Say It's a Priority. So Why Is L&D Still Being Cut?, are available on The Capability Edge Substack.Substack Post:https://substack.com/@candicemitchellmsc/note/p-212611003?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=73wbhnCheers to the ones who are tired of defending a function that nobody else understands.You know your work matters. Now go make it impossible to overlook.
- Aug 21, 202655 min
What If Your Career Could Bring You Joy? With Jenny Zook
What if the career path you were taught to follow is not the only way to build a good life?In this episode, I sit down with Jenny Zook, a former middle school teacher turned entrepreneur, to talk about career changes, motherhood, entrepreneurship, finding purpose, and the work that brings us joy.Jenny spent more than 20 years in education before stepping away from the classroom and eventually building Style School, a business that brings together her love of personal style and her passion for teaching. But the interesting part of her story is not just the career change.It is how she figured out what she wanted her work to give her.Jenny talks honestly about the hard parts of entrepreneurship, including building something that initially failed, learning to listen to feedback, making expensive mistakes, and accepting that a business rarely becomes what you first imagined.We also talk about something I think we need to discuss much more when it comes to careers:Joy matters. But joy alone may not be enough.The bigger question is how we connect what brings us joy with what gives our lives purpose.Because there is no single career path that everyone needs to follow.You can work in corporate. You can teach. You can build a business. You can change direction halfway through your career. The goal is not to find the "perfect" career.It is to build a life and career that actually fit who you are.What you'll get from this episode:How Jenny went from teaching for more than 20 years to becoming an entrepreneurWhy career paths do not have to follow a predictable formulaThe difference between finding something you enjoy and finding something that gives you purposeHow motherhood changed the way Jenny thought about her careerWhy her first business idea failed and what she learned from itWhat entrepreneurship really looks like beyond the overnight-success storiesWhy being willing to change and evolve is essential when building a businessThe importance of being careful about who you hire and where you investHow difficult experiences can sometimes become valuable skills laterWhy teachers have a unique opportunity to influence the trajectory of a young person's lifeWhat Jenny believes we should be teaching young people about careersWhy building a career you enjoy is possible, even if the path looks different from everyone else'sHow to think about joy, purpose, impact, and the kind of life you actually want to buildConnect with JennyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-zook-847807168/
- Aug 14, 202619 min
Hiring an L&D Person? Here's What Those Letters After Their Name Actually Mean
Need the full breakdown in writing along with the comparison matrix? Get the full comparison and download here.You're staring at a resume with three sets of initials after the name. You recognize one. The other two, you're guessing at. This episode fixes that.Candice Mitchell, founder of Talent Collective and a hiring manager who's built seven L&D functions from scratch, breaks down the six certifications you'll actually see on L&D and talent development resumes: APTD, CPTD, PHR, SHRM-CP, CPTM, and AIHR. What each one signals, what it doesn't, and where a certification should factor into your hiring decision at all.What are the main L&D and talent development certifications, and what do they actually mean for hiring? APTD and CPTD are exam-based talent development credentials. PHR and SHRM-CP are general HR credentials, not L&D-specific. CPTM is the only one built specifically around the training manager role, with a live practicum. AIHR is a broader HR program with specializations. None of them, on their own, prove someone can lead your function.In this episode:Why certifications tell you someone studied, not that they can buildThe incentive problem behind paid webinars and "expert" panels — and why it should change how you weigh a credentialA require, recognize, overlook framework for coordinator, manager, and director-level hiresThe five interview questions that separate someone who passed a test from someone who can run the functionReal stories from Candice's 20 years across 14 industries and 4 continents — including the 15-minute coaching session a 40-year HR veteran called the most valuable of his careerWant the printable version — all six credentials side by side, cost, format, and Candice's honest take on each, plus the five interview questions written out to pull up before your next candidate conversation? It's already included in The Capability Edge on Substack. Get the full comparison and download here.Keywords: L&D certifications, talent development certifications, APTD vs CPTD, CPTM certification, SHRM-CP for L&D, AIHR certification, hiring an L&D manager, talent development interview questions, how to evaluate HR credentials
- Aug 7, 202658 min
What it takes to build a successful business, and is it worth it? With David Jones
Some careers happen because everything goes according to plan.Most don't.David Jones grew up in a single-parent household, became the first person in his family to go to university, built a career in HR, started a business that was later acquired, and learned that some of the biggest career decisions come down to one thing: trusting your own judgement.David didn't wait for someone else to tell him where his career should go. He paid attention to what gave him energy, took calculated risks, and kept choosing the path that felt right, even when it wasn't the obvious one.We also talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, building a business with long-term value, and why freedom comes with responsibility.Whether you're leading an L&D team, building your own business, or simply wondering what your next career move should be, I think you'll find something in this conversation.What You'll Get From This Episode:Why trusting your own judgement is one of the most valuable career skills you'll ever build.What growing up in a single-parent household taught David about resilience and responsibility.How becoming the first person in his family to attend university shaped his career.The career decisions that led him from HR into entrepreneurship.What it really takes to build a business that creates long-term value.Why every entrepreneur needs clarity on what they're actually building.Lessons on leadership, ownership, and creating a career that reflects your values instead of someone else's.About David Jones:David B. Jones is a Partner at Mercer specializing in innovative talent assessment, human capital, and technology. With over 35 years of experience, including 27 years in the Middle East, he has advised policymakers and organizational leaders in more than 40 countries on talent, leadership, transformation, and workforce strategy.David combines expertise in labor market economics, psychometrics, and emerging technology to help organizations elevate their human capital. He has lectured at leading institutions, including the University of Cambridge, ESMT Berlin, and the University of Bradford.He is the author of several books, including The Future of Assessments, the bestselling Unlocking the Paradox of Plenty, and the award-winning Game Changers, and has contributed to multiple publications on workforce policy and economics.Connect with David Jones:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-barrie-jonesMeet your host, Candice MitchellCandice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies.Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentcollective.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_mscTalent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academyChoose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/Original music composed by: Paul DeHavenpauldehavenmusic.com
- Jul 31, 202624 min
AI-Proof Companies: Why the Winners Won't Be the Most Automated Runtime
Everyone is talking about how to AI-proof their career.I think we're asking the wrong question.The question I've been thinking about is this:What makes a company AI-proof?Because individual capability only takes us so far if the organization around us hasn't built the capability to adapt.In this episode, I unpack why the companies that will thrive through AI disruption won't necessarily be the most automated. They'll be the ones that build human capability before everyone else realizes it's the real competitive advantage.I walk through the five characteristics I believe every AI-proof company shares, why People teams are at the center of making them possible, and how I evaluate whether an organization is building for the future or simply reacting to it.In this episode, I cover:• What "AI-proof" actually means• The five characteristics of AI-proof companies• Why capability is infrastructure, not a nice-to-have• The human capabilities AI can't replace• Four questions I use to evaluate whether an organization is built for the future• Why the strongest competitive advantage isn't technology. It's people.I also share why a conversation with my brother, who leads AI integration at Google, completely reinforced something I've believed for years:The humans are the moat.Meet your host, Candice MitchellCandice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies.Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentcollective.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_mscTalent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academyChoose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/Original music composed by: Paul DeHavenpauldehavenmusic.com
- Jul 24, 202656 min
Nolan Hout: The Billable Hour Is Dying
Nolan Hout has spent 15 years at InfoPro Learning without ever doing the same job twice. In this episode we talk about the culture that made that possible, the shift happening right now in consulting as AI kills the billable hour model, and why chasing a job title might be the wrong move entirely. If you work in talent development, L&D, or any kind of people consulting, this one will change how you think about pricing your own value.Meet your host, Candice MitchellCandice Mitchell is a Talent Development Strategist, CEO of Talent Collective, and USA Today bestselling author of Choose You: For the People Who Refuse to Disappear. With nearly two decades of experience building and leading capability functions inside global and Fortune 500 organizations, she founded Talent Collective, a premium capability-building firm for L&D, HR, Change, and People leaders in high-growth companies.Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:Website: https://talentcollective.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candice_mitchell_msc/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candice_mitchell_mscTalent Development Academy: https://courses.talentcollective.org/bundles/talent-development-academyChoose You book: https://chooseyoubook.com/Original music composed by: Paul DeHavenpauldehavenmusic.com
About Development Nerds with Candice Mitchell
Honest conversations about career growth, resilience, and the messy middle of success. Hosted by Candice Mitchell, this podcast dives deep into what it really takes to build a career, and a Talent Development function, that makes an impact.Many solo episodes are tailored for high-level, strategic Talent Development professionals, offering the kind of depth you won’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s building and nurturing a Talent Development function, truly partnering with the business to become business critical, or navigating your own career growth, this podcast gives you the practical insights and unfiltered conversations you actually need.🎧 Listen in for:✔ Strategic insights for senior L&D professionals✔ Actionable career strategies you can actually use✔ Unfiltered conversations on leadership, growth, and business impact✔ Lessons from setbacks, pivots, and defining career momentsBecause career growth, and Talent Development itself, is never-ending and I love that for all of
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