Beyond the Buzzwords: Personalization That Starts with Strategy

Most L&D teams actively contribute to their organization’s skills strategy, but few have a clear framework for shaping that strategy specifically for learning. While skills efforts often promise personalized learning as an outcome, the path from strategy to personalization is rarely well-defined.

In this session, we’ll introduce a practical framework for aligning the six foundational components of a skills strategy—scope and purpose, steering committee and stakeholders, culture, data, architecture, and technology—with the needs of the L&D function. We’ll explore how L&D leaders can use this framework to make the most of the skills work already happening in their organizations—and to create the conditions for more effective, personalized learning experiences.

We’ll also discuss how L&D can proactively influence skills strategy design, avoid common disconnects, and ensure the resulting data and systems truly serve learning goals.

Learning Outcomes / Key Takeaways 

• Reframing the six parts of a skills strategy through an L&D lens
• How to adapt your organization’s skills strategy to serve L&D goals
• What good looks like: Stories from L&D teams getting this right

Dani Johnson, Co-Founder of Redthread
Dani co-founded RedThread in 2018 with Stacia. Before that, Dani led the Learning and Career research practice at Bersin, Deloitte, and previously led research at the Ross School, University of Michigan. Dani holds an MBA and a MS and BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from BYU. Before Kid, her favorite vacations involved a backpack, a map, and Google Translate.

About Redthread
LaTonya Davis (she/iye) is an Autism parent and she delivers powerful talks that shift people from good intent to exceptional impact. She is a Presidential Scholar and HBCU graduate from Houston–the same high school as George Floyd. LaTonya has held past positions as a Board Member of Texas Autism Society, Global Head of DEI of Amazon Prime and has been a keynote speaker for Eikon, Boys and Girls Clubs C Valley, and Hong Kong Women’s Council. Jamil Ghani, VP of World Wide Prime stated, “The worldwide Prime organization has increased representation, deepened manager skillsets for creating high performing inclusive cultures, and invested in our diverse talent to accelerate their impact. We wouldn’t be pushing as successfully on all these fronts without LaTonya’s expertise and leadership.” She received the Outstanding Woman in Law Award from her alma mater. She hosts the Autism Moms Podcast.