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Bob Smith

Director of Learning

United StatesVerified Community Ambassador

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Do you think of modern IT as a service or a core business unit within the organization?

Strategy & Architecture Team & Organizational Design People & Leadership

A service

A core business unit

Other (comment below)

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3k views3 Comments

Where is your team currently working?

Team & Organizational Design Availability & Capacity Management Employee Engagement

We are fully remote.

At home but we are transitioning to a hybrid model.

At home but we are transitioning to full time in-office.

At home & in-office; we use a hybrid model.

In office full time.

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6.2k views

What major social media platform(s) do you use regularly for professional reasons? i.e. learning, finding new sources of educational content, networking, getting insights from peers

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Threads

TikTok

Quora

YouTube

Something else...

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42.7k views8 Upvotes10 Comments

Past initiatives at my company have failed because…

There was no clear vision of what the end state would achieve for the organization.

The initiative lacked context for employees on what it meant for their day-to-day tasks.

Employees were unwilling or unable to change to support the initiative.

Employees did not get the support they needed for as long as they needed to adapt.

There was no governance in place to drive the desired outcomes.

Employees were overloaded with the amount of change on top of daily work.

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9k views3 Upvotes1 Comment

Which is the most significant upskilling challenge your org is currently facing?

Talent Management & Performance Training & Certification

Not having a meaningful, comprehensive upskilling program

Securing budget approval for upskilling initiatives

Managing time constraints for staff to learn

Encouraging motivation and engagement in upskilling programs

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1.3k views

What is the second most important factor for you when considering joining a company, after pay and benefits?

Career Growth Opportunities

Company Culture and Values

Work-Life Balance

Job Security

Location and Commute

Opportunities for Skill Development

Company Reputation and Brand

Employee Recognition and Appreciation

WFH option

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3.7k views3 Upvotes

How many maximum interview rounds have you had to go through for a job?

1-2 rounds

3-4 rounds

5-7 rounds

8-11 rounds

11-14 rounds

> 15 rounds

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2.7k views1 Upvote1 Comment

What metrics do you use to determine the expected level of utilization for L&D trainers? Our trainers have a purely training role with varying levels of complexity based on the LOB supported. Each team specializes in specific business lines or topics. We are particularly interested in benchmarking trainer utilization, which refers to the percentage of their available time that is spent on actual training (excluding travel, preparation, projects, etc.). If you have established benchmarks for trainer utilization, how did you arrive at those metrics?

Feedback Training & Certification People & Leadership+1 more

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Bankinga month ago

I'm not leading a training team now, but previously I used a simple measure - percentage of days in training. If they trained 10 of 20 days a month, it'd be 50%. My concern at the time was too much downtime - i.e., when they ...read more

1 1 Reply

904 views2 Comments

We are looking for Six Sigma Training both online and programs. Anyone have any suggestions/recommendations?

Human Resources (HRIS)

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking4 months ago

Connect Grand Thorton team

366 views1 Comment

We need to purchase Harassment Training for employees in India. Does anyone have any provider that has accurate, good and engaging online training?

Human Resources (HRIS)Training & Certification

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking6 months ago

I've been using EVERfi Harassment Training for about 4 years now. We do use it globally. It is in compliance with US laws and regulations, so I don't know if it would meet the needs for India. The training is really well ...read more

1 1 Reply

352 views2 Comments

I am the director of Learning and I am attempting to measure and track facilitator/instructor metrics. The main metric for efficiency that I want to measure is "utilization". I know the calculation is Time Utilized divided by Net Time Available, but I am wanting peer feedback on: 1. What do you include in Time Utilized? 2. What do you subtract from Time Available? 3. What about project work - do you include in either numerator or denominator? 4. Same for travel time - do you include in either? 5. What is the target percentage range for time utilized? 6. Do you include utilization targets for employees that are not full-time facilitators? If so, what targets do you use? Thank you so much!

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking8 months ago

Measuring and tracking facilitator/instructor metrics, particularly "utilisation," involves considering various factors. Here are the key points to consider:

Time Utilised: This includes the time spent actively ...read more

44 views1 Comment

What metrics do you use to determine the expected level of utilization for L&D trainers? Our trainers have a purely training role with varying levels of complexity based on the LOB supported. Each team specializes in specific business lines or topics. We are particularly interested in benchmarking trainer utilization, which refers to the percentage of their available time that is spent on actual training (excluding travel, preparation, projects, etc.). If you have established benchmarks for trainer utilization, how did you arrive at those metrics?

Feedback Training & Certification People & Leadership+1 more

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Bankinga month ago

1 1 Reply

904 views2 Comments

We need to purchase Harassment Training for employees in India. Does anyone have any provider that has accurate, good and engaging online training?

Human Resources (HRIS)Training & Certification

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking6 months ago

1 1 Reply

352 views2 Comments

How has your approach to DE&I evolved in recent years, and what will be your key focus areas over the next 12 months?

Strategy & Architecture Process Management

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking7 months ago

Our approach to DE&I has changed significantly. It was standalone, it wasn't embedded, but we have now embedded it. We have moved away from a global council, and embedded it in our talent group and metrics. Our key ...read more

Read More Comments

133 views3 Comments

How do you ensure all aspects of diversity (i.e., race, gender, sexual orientation, & disability) are collectively considered within your DE&I initiatives?

Process Management Strategy & Architecture

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking7 months ago

From our perspective, sometimes it's about addressing issues as they are identified. For instance, we recently realized that many of our online courses do not have audio, making them inaccessible for the visually impaired. ...read more

1 Reply

Read More Comments

135 views4 Comments

What are your approaches to diversifying leadership within your organization, and how do you ensure that leaders at all levels are equipped to foster DE&I?

People & Leadership Relationship Management

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking7 months ago

It’s important to focus on upskilling and reskilling underrepresented groups, particularly in IT. A statistic that struck me is that 60% of women in IT leave the field, often because they don't see anyone at the upper ...read more

1 Reply

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103 views4 Comments

How do you engage employees across all levels in your DE&I efforts, and what methods have you found successful in fostering a culture of inclusivity?

Relationship Management Strategy & Architecture Process Management

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking7 months ago

Senior buy-in is critical, and we've seen a shift in the last year with more executive involvement in our ERGs. This has driven our culture and allowed us to move forward on many different fronts. One challenge we face ...read more

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74 views3 Comments

How do you define DE&I at your organization, and what foundational principles guide your DE&I strategy?

Strategy & Architecture Relationship Management

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking7 months ago

We define DE&I as a commitment to creating a diverse workforce where each person is respected, seen, heard, and valued. We believe that different perspectives help us do our best work, achieve great outcomes, and make ...read more

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49 views3 Comments

Is your organization leveraging automation for the completion of EEO-1, or employing any other tech tools to ensure EEOC compliance?

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Banking8 months ago

I haven't seen automation leveraged, so to speak. Although perhaps that depends on how and to what extent we define "automation." Many HRIS platforms provide reporting capabilities which should trivialize EEO-1 ...read more

1 2 Replies

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811 views2 Upvotes4 Comments

What is the best work travel advice you’ve ever been given?

Feedback People & Leadership

Bob SmithDirector of Learning in Bankinga year ago

Work travel is a privilege. Embracing your experience to meet new people, and see the beauty of nature and culture wherever you go.

Bob Smith

Identified Expertise

Content Bob is Following

Do you think of modern IT as a service or a core business unit within the organization?

Where is your team currently working?

What major social media platform(s) do you use regularly for professional reasons? i.e. learning, finding new sources of educational content, networking, getting insights from peers

Past initiatives at my company have failed because…

Which is the most significant upskilling challenge your org is currently facing?

What is the second most important factor for you when considering joining a company, after pay and benefits?

How many maximum interview rounds have you had to go through for a job?

We are looking for Six Sigma Training both online and programs. Anyone have any suggestions/recommendations?

We need to purchase Harassment Training for employees in India. Does anyone have any provider that has accurate, good and engaging online training?

We need to purchase Harassment Training for employees in India. Does anyone have any provider that has accurate, good and engaging online training?

How has your approach to DE&I evolved in recent years, and what will be your key focus areas over the next 12 months?

How do you ensure all aspects of diversity (i.e., race, gender, sexual orientation, & disability) are collectively considered within your DE&I initiatives?

What are your approaches to diversifying leadership within your organization, and how do you ensure that leaders at all levels are equipped to foster DE&I?

How do you engage employees across all levels in your DE&I efforts, and what methods have you found successful in fostering a culture of inclusivity?

How do you define DE&I at your organization, and what foundational principles guide your DE&I strategy?

Is your organization leveraging automation for the completion of EEO-1, or employing any other tech tools to ensure EEOC compliance?

What is the best work travel advice you’ve ever been given?

Engagement Stats

Content Bob is Following

Do you think of modern IT as a service or a core business unit within the organization?

Where is your team currently working?

What major social media platform(s) do you use regularly for professional reasons? i.e. learning, finding new sources of educational content, networking, getting insights from peers

Past initiatives at my company have failed because…

Which is the most significant upskilling challenge your org is currently facing?

What is the second most important factor for you when considering joining a company, after pay and benefits?

How many maximum interview rounds have you had to go through for a job?

We are looking for Six Sigma Training both online and programs. Anyone have any suggestions/recommendations?

We need to purchase Harassment Training for employees in India. Does anyone have any provider that has accurate, good and engaging online training?

We need to purchase Harassment Training for employees in India. Does anyone have any provider that has accurate, good and engaging online training?

How has your approach to DE&I evolved in recent years, and what will be your key focus areas over the next 12 months?

How do you ensure all aspects of diversity (i.e., race, gender, sexual orientation, & disability) are collectively considered within your DE&I initiatives?

What are your approaches to diversifying leadership within your organization, and how do you ensure that leaders at all levels are equipped to foster DE&I?

How do you engage employees across all levels in your DE&I efforts, and what methods have you found successful in fostering a culture of inclusivity?

How do you define DE&I at your organization, and what foundational principles guide your DE&I strategy?

Is your organization leveraging automation for the completion of EEO-1, or employing any other tech tools to ensure EEOC compliance?

What is the best work travel advice you’ve ever been given?