If you were at ATD24 in New Orleans, you know it was an unforgettable experience. Bringing together passionate professionals from around the globe, all eager to share ideas, learn new strategies, and connect with peers, really generates some fantastic energy, and it was so motivating for all of us from OpenSesame who attended. Here are a few of the thoughts still lingering in our minds a week after this great event.
The power of care and collaboration
One of the most heartwarming aspects of ATD24 was the genuine sense of care and collaboration among attendees. It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces at our booth, with customers stopping by to chat about goals and successes, or strategize about where to go next.
Hearing about their positive experiences really drove home how important exceptional customer care is, and our commitment to delivering on that front is even stronger because of it. In an industry where negative experiences with clunky software are all too common, it’s clear that a dedication to providing frictionless experiences truly makes a difference.
The OpenSesame team ready and waiting for ATD24 to begin.
The collaborative spirit extended beyond just our booth. We loved working closely with our partners, chatting with visitors at their booths and hosting them at ours. It was a great reminder that we’re all in this together, working towards the same goal of advancing learning and development for organizations of all shapes and sizes.
And whew, did we have fun at our Soulful Soirée! It was a hopping evening to say the least, and we can’t say enough about how good it felt to connect with everyone in the wonderful setting that is the Parish at House of Blues.
Securing buy-In for training initiatives
Even with all the feel-good vibes, there were a few challenges we heard come up again and again in conversation. One was how tricky it can be for L&D professionals to get leadership buy-in for training initiatives. There were lots of questions about proving impact and convincing higher ups to prioritize training among the many different initiatives on their radars.
Our conversations highlighted the need to equip L&D champions with the tools and stories necessary to build a strong business case for training. One strategy for achieving this is to directly link training initiatives to skill development and career progression. Encouragingly, as we previewed our soon-to-be-widely-released career exploration platform, we heard repeatedly that this is a potential game-changer for this challenge. By helping our customers tell a compelling story, we can make it easier for them to secure the buy-in they need. More on this to come soon, so stay tuned.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Soulful Soirée!
The AI conundrum
Artificial intelligence was another hot topic in NOLA, but many in the L&D field are still figuring out how to effectively integrate AI into their work. The term “AI” was on everyone’s lips, but there was a noticeable lack of agreement on its practical applications and definitions within the L&D context. This confusion suggests that while there’s a lot of interest in AI, there’s also a significant need for clear guidance and resources to help professionals understand and leverage AI technologies.
At OpenSesame, we see this as an opportunity to lead the way. We’re committed to working with our customers, partners, and publishers to demystify AI for L&D professionals, providing clear, actionable insights and examples. If we can empower L&D pros to harness the potential of this technology in meaningful and impactful ways, we’ll be that much closer to helping create the world’s most productive and admired workforces—more to come on this, too.
It was great connecting with everyone who stopped by our booth.
Looking ahead
As a vibrant and enlightening event, ATD strongly reaffirmed our commitment to supporting our customers in their L&D journeys. The energy, collaboration, and insightful discussions we experienced will shape our strategies and initiatives moving forward, and we are so excited about where we’re heading together.
Thank you to everyone who visited our booth, shared their experiences, attended our customer panel, and engaged in meaningful conversations. Together, we’re shaping the future of learning and development—it doesn’t get much better than that.