From Activity to Impact: Establishing Meaningful KPIs
2025-04-25 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
From Activity to Impact: Establishing Meaningful KPIs for L&D

“We completed 100 training sessions this quarter!” But did those sessions make a difference? Learning professionals struggle to demonstrate value beyond counting completions and satisfaction scores without meaningful KPIs and supporting data.
Many L&D teams find themselves caught in a cycle of activity metrics that fail to capture their true impact on business outcomes. This leaves your department vulnerable when budgets tighten and makes it difficult to secure resources for innovative learning initiatives.

That’s why this Coffee Chat is all about “From Activity to Impact: Establishing Meaningful KPIs for L&D.”
In this session, we’ll explore practical approaches to developing KPIs that matter to business leaders. We’ll discuss how to move beyond activity metrics to impact measures, align learning objectives with business goals, and collect meaningful data without overwhelming your team. Whether you’re looking to revamp your measurement strategy or just starting to think about KPIs, this chat will provide actionable insights to enhance your approach.
What you can expect:

Beyond Completions and Surveys: Identifying metrics that demonstrate true learning impact
Aligning with Business Outcomes: Connecting learning initiatives to organizational priorities
Practical Measurement: Simple approaches to gathering meaningful data without complex systems
Communicating Results: Presenting L&D metrics in ways that resonate with stakeholders

Join us on April 25, 2025, at 11am CST to share experiences and learn how to develop KPIs that showcase L&D’s true value!

Register now and start measuring what truly matters!

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Out of the Shadows: Increasing L&D Visibility
2025-05-09 11:00 - 12:00
Out of the Shadows: Increasing L&D Visibility in Your Organization

“What exactly does the learning department do?” If that question sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many L&D teams deliver exceptional work that remains largely invisible to the broader organization, limiting their influence and recognition.
In a competitive business environment, visibility isn’t just about recognition—it’s about securing resources, gaining leadership support, and ensuring learning initiatives align with strategic priorities. When L&D operates in the shadows, even the most impactful programs may go unnoticed by decision-makers.

This Coffee Chat is about “Out of the Shadows: Increasing L&D Visibility in Your Organization.”
In this session, together we’ll explore practical strategies to elevate your L&D department’s profile and influence. We’ll discuss approaches to showcasing your impact, building a recognizable learning brand, and communicating value in ways that resonate with different stakeholders. Whether you’re a department of one or leading a team, this chat will provide actionable ideas to increase your visibility and influence.
What you can expect:

Building Your L&D Brand: Creating a cohesive identity that makes your work recognizable
Strategic Communications: Tailoring your message for different audiences across the organization
Showcasing Success: Methods for highlighting wins without seeming self-promotional
Leveraging Champions: Identifying and engaging advocates to amplify your message

Join us on May 9, 2025, at 11am CST to share experiences and learn how to increase your L&D department’s visibility and influence!
Register now and start building the recognition your learning initiatives deserve!

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Design Hacks: An L&D Graphic Design Showcase!
2025-05-23 11:00 - 12:00
Design Hacks: L&D Graphic Design Showcase

Ever stared at a blank slide wondering how others make their learning materials look so professional (while you’re still using the same template from 2018)? You’re not alone! Creating visually appealing learning content doesn’t require an art degree—just some clever tricks from those who’ve been there.
Because Instructional Design is more than developing lesson outlines, many L&D professionals have their secret graphic design weapons: time-saving shortcuts, go-to tools, and design hacks that transform ordinary content into eye-catching materials. Now’s your chance to steal—er, borrow—these brilliant ideas!
That’s why this Coffee Chat is our first-ever “Design Hacks: An L&D Graphic Design Showcase!”
This isn’t our typical Coffee Chat—it’s a show-and-tell extravaganza! Bring your favorite design tip, tool, or template to share with the community. We’ll showcase real examples, trade quick wins, and collectively level up our design game. Whether you’re a PowerPoint wizard, Canva superhero, or just trying to make your job aids less cringe-worthy, this session promises practical tips you can use immediately.
What you can expect:

Quick-fire shares of favorite tools, templates, and resources
Before & After Gallery: See real transformations of learning materials
Time-Saving Tricks: Shortcuts that make you look like a design pro (even when you’re not!)
Color & Font Therapy: Simple principles to make your designs pop without overwhelming learners

Join us on May 23, 2025, at 11am CST with your best design tip ready to share! Don’t worry—we won’t judge your old clip art collections (much).
Register now and prepare to dazzle your colleagues with your newfound design superpowers!

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Champagne Learning Development on a Beer Budget
2025-06-06 11:00 - 12:00
L&D on a Budget: Creating High-Impact Learning with Limited Resources

“We need this training yesterday, and no, there’s no budget for it.” Sound familiar? Limited resources don’t have to mean limited impact when it comes to creating effective learning experiences.

Many L&D professionals face the reality of delivering high-quality solutions with tightening budgets and growing expectations. The good news? Some of the most effective learning approaches don’t require expensive tools or outside vendors—just creativity and smart resource allocation.
That’s why this Coffee Chat is all about “Champagne Learning on a Beer Budget: L&D Solutions That Won’t Break the Bank.”
In this session, we’ll explore practical, low-cost approaches to designing, developing, and delivering impactful learning. We’ll share budget-friendly tools, creative repurposing strategies, and ways to maximize impact without maximizing spending. Whether you’re working with a shoestring budget or just looking to be more resourceful, this chat will provide actionable ideas you can implement immediately.
What you can expect:

Free and Low-Cost Tools: Discover alternatives to expensive authoring tools and platforms
Content Repurposing: Strategies for turning existing materials into multiple learning assets
In-House Expertise: How to tap internal talent instead of hiring consultants
Making the Case: Communicating the value of your budget-friendly approaches to stakeholders

Join us on June 6, 2025, at 11am CST to share your favorite budget-stretching strategies and learn new approaches from fellow L&D professionals!
Register now and discover how to create impressive learning experiences without the impressive price tag!

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Safe to Learn: Creating Psychologically Safe Learning Environments
2025-06-20 11:00 - 12:00
Creating Psychologically Safe Learning Environments

Have you ever watched a training participant hesitate to ask a question, avoid participation, or nod in agreement when they clearly don’t understand? These are signs of psychological insecurity in learning—and they’re blocking the very outcomes you’re working to achieve.
When learners don’t feel safe to take risks, make mistakes, or voice confusion, real learning stalls. Many L&D professionals focus on content and delivery while unintentionally overlooking the emotional environment that enables authentic learning to happen.
That’s why this Coffee Chat is all about “Safe to Learn: Creating Psychologically Safe Learning Environments.”
In this session, we’ll explore practical ways to establish psychological safety in both in-person and virtual learning settings. We’ll discuss techniques for fostering an environment where questions are welcomed, mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities, and all participants feel valued. Whether you’re facilitating workshops, designing e-learning, or managing a learning program, this chat will provide actionable strategies to enhance psychological safety in your learning initiatives.
What you can expect:

Setting the Foundation: How to establish safety from the first moments of a learning experience
Facilitation Techniques: Approaches that encourage participation without creating anxiety
Psychological Safety in Virtual Settings: Specific strategies for online learning environments
Handling Challenging Situations: Responding effectively when safety is compromised

Join us on June 20, 2025, at 11am CST to share experiences and learn how to create learning environments where participants feel secure enough to engage fully!
Register now and discover how psychological safety can transform your learning outcomes!

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Writing for Learning: Cut the Fluff, Keep the Impact
2025-07-18 11:00 - 12:00
Let’s be honest—most learning content is too long, too dry, and too forgettable. And you know what’s often to blame? The writing. We’ve taken the “human” out of writing!
Whether you’re crafting slides, job aids, emails, or eLearning scripts, your words matter. They set the tone, create connection, and either drive real behavior change—or make people check out before they finish the first sentence.
That’s why this Coffee Chat is all about sharpening our writing chops. Not to be the next Hemingway, but to create content that’s clear, intentional, and actually helps people learn.
We’ll Talk About:

How to write with a learner-first lens (and what that even means)

Where common L&D writing goes off the rails

Simple ways to be more human, less robotic in your content

Real examples from the group—we’ll break ‘em down, rebuild, and laugh a little too

This Coffee Chat is totally free and wide open—no gatekeeping here. Whether you’re new to writing for learning or have battle scars from years of getting terrible text from SME’s, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas and a few writing wins you can apply right away.
👉 Register now and save your spot—because better learning starts with better words.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Being a Workplace Anthropologist: Finding the Stories That Shape Learning
2025-08-01 11:00 - 12:00
Being a Workplace Anthropologist: Finding the Stories That Shape Learning
Let’s be real—sometimes the root of a performance issue isn’t in the data, the survey, or the SME interview. It’s in the culture. It’s in the unwritten rules, the watercooler conversations, the “that’s just how we do it” mindset.
In this Coffee Chat, we’ll dig into what it looks like to step into the role of a Workplace Anthropologist, someone who doesn’t just build learning programs but uncovers the stories, rituals, and behaviors that shape how people actually work.
Because if we want learning to stick, we have to go deeper than bullet points and surface-level analysis. We have to understand the environment in which it’s meant to live.

We’ll talk about:

How to read between the lines and spot patterns in behavior and language

The power of story in identifying barriers to learning

What L&D can learn from curiosity-driven observation

How to use what you discover to build training that fits the real world, not the ideal one

This isn’t about becoming a fly on the wall—it’s about becoming a better partner. Because when you really understand the environment you’re designing for, your learning solutions don’t just land…they stick.
And yep—this session is 100% free. Bring your curiosity, your stories, and your questions.
👉 Register now to save your seat and see your workplace with new eyes.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Presentation Skills Showcase: The Good, the Bad, and the Brilliant
2025-08-15 11:00 - 12:00
We’ve all sat through presentations that felt like root canals. And we’ve also been part of sessions that made time fly, sparked ideas, and left us energized. So… what’s the difference?
This Coffee Chat is your chance to share: the good, the bad, and the brilliantly unexpected.
Whether you’re leading virtual sessions, live workshops, or onboarding sessions – how you present matters. But you don’t need a full-blown seminar to sharpen your skills. You need peers who get it, tools that work in real life, and the space to test new ideas without judgment.
Whether you’re brand new to presenting or have hundreds of sessions under your belt, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas and renewed energy.

This isn’t a talent show – it’s a skills swap.
We’ll explore:

What really works when trying to keep learners engaged

Small changes that make a big difference in delivery

Go-to tools or activities that always land

Tips for handling nerves, tech fails, or low-energy audiences

No PowerPoint decks required. No polished scripts needed.
Just bring your favorite activity or a lesson you learned the hard way. You’ll walk away with new ideas, renewed confidence, and maybe even a few mic-drop moments of your own.
As always, this session is free, fun, and wide open to anyone in L&D – no matter your experience level.
👉 Register now to join the fun!

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Burnout Recovery: Rest as Strategy, Not Surrender
2025-08-29 11:00 - 12:00
Let’s talk about the thing we all feel but rarely say out loud: burnout.
In a profession where we’re constantly expected to be creative, strategic, and emotionally tuned in, exhaustion often hides in plain sight. And if we don’t make space to acknowledge it, burnout becomes just another part of the job instead of a signal to pause and reset.
This Coffee Chat is that space.
We’re taking time to talk honestly about what burnout looks like in our professional and personal lives – and how we can begin recovering in ways that work for real people with real responsibilities.
We’re joined by special guest Chris Coladonato, The Connection Catalyst, who brings a fresh, grounded perspective on well-being at work and the power of intentional rest as a strategy, not a reward.

This isn’t a fix-it session. It’s a reflection session.
Together, we’ll explore:

How burnout shows up specifically in L&D roles

The myths we believe about productivity, energy, and “being the go-to”

How to start noticing the signs – before the burnout spiral hits

Strategic rest and recovery practices that actually work

“Rest helps you show up differently—calmer, clearer, more connected. It’s not a sign of weakness… Rest isn’t lazy—it’s strategic.”— Chris Coladonato, The Connection Catalyst
This is your invitation to step away from the noise and connect with others who understand the unique pressures of learning and development work. We’re gathering not to solve burnout in one hour – but to talk honestly about what it looks like, how it affects us, and what recovery can truly mean.
You’re welcome to participate or just listen in. Bring your coffee, your questions, or simply your presence.This conversation is free, open, and judgment-free, because sometimes just showing up is the first step toward feeling whole again.
👉 Register now to join us. Let’s make space for recovery – together.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Injecting Curiosity into Learning Design
2025-09-12 11:00 - 12:00
What if the missing piece in your learning program isn’t more content – it’s more curiosity?

You know that moment when you’re facilitating a session and instead of the usual glazed eyes and phone-checking, your participants are leaning forward, asking follow-up questions, and connecting concepts to their own work? That’s what happens when you design for curiosity instead of just completion.
If you’re like most L&D professionals, you’ve found yourself trapped in a cycle of information delivery; cramming content into modules, racing through objectives, and measuring success by completion rates. You know something’s missing, but it’s not more content or fancier technology. It’s the fundamental human drive to explore and discover.
When you design learning without curiosity, you create experiences that feel like obligations rather than opportunities. Your learners become passive recipients instead of active explorers, and the transformative potential of learning gets buried under compliance requirements and checkbox thinking. You’re not alone in this struggle – it’s a challenge facing L&D professionals at every level.

That’s why this week’s Coffee Chat is all about “Sparking Wonder: Injecting Curiosity into Your Learning Design.”
This week, our Coffee Chat community discusses the secret behind those training sessions where participants actually beg for more time. You know the ones—where learners are scribbling notes, asking follow-up questions, and connecting dots you never expected them to see.
What separates these magnetic learning experiences from standard training where engagement feels polite but not passionate?
You’ll uncover the specific design techniques that transform reluctant participants into engaged explorers and discover why curiosity might be the most underutilized tool in your L&D toolkit.

👉 Register now to join us.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

The Bias We Don't See: Hidden Assumptions in Learning Design
2025-09-26 11:00 - 12:00
We like to think our learning designs are objective, fair, and grounded in evidence.
However, if we look closely and with fresh eyes, we might see that bias appears in our work – even when we don’t intend it to.

Here’s the tricky bit: we all operate from mental frameworks shaped by our own experiences, and those frameworks inevitably influence how we approach learning design. The research you prioritize, the examples that feel “obviously” relevant, the way you interpret feedback – all of it gets filtered through your particular lens on the world. This isn’t malicious or careless; it’s simply how human cognition works.
The challenge is that these mental patterns, while helping you work efficiently, can also create gaps between what you think you’re designing and what learners actually experience. Your particular perspective on how people learn, what motivates them, and what “effective” training looks like becomes the default template for your programs. When that template doesn’t match the reality of your learners, it can limit learning outcomes and exclude perspectives in ways you never intended.
That’s why this Coffee Chat is all about “The Bias We Don’t See: Hidden Assumptions in Learning Design.”
This isn’t about achieving perfect objectivity or feeling bad about being human. It’s about developing the awareness to recognize these patterns before they become embedded in your programs. We’ll discuss which assumptions show up most frequently in learning design and exchange practical approaches for spotting them in your own work. The conversation will focus on expanding perspectives, gathering more representative feedback, and designing with greater awareness of our blind spots.
What you can expect:

Common Blind Spots: Discussion of hidden assumptions that frequently surface in learning design and how they show up in our work
Spotting Your Patterns: Sharing techniques for recognizing the beliefs and frameworks that influence your design decisions
Broadening Perspectives: Exchanging strategies for gathering input from diverse viewpoints and expanding beyond your own experience
Creating Accountability: Building practices into your workflow that help catch assumptions before they limit your programs

👉 Register now to join us.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

What Happens When Success Doesn't Show Up in Your LMS?
2025-10-10 11:00 - 12:00
What Happens When Success Doesn’t Show Up in Your LMS?
What if your most impactful learning program can’t be measured by LMS data?
You know that moment when a participant emails you months later saying your session completely changed how they handle difficult conversations? Or when you notice someone applying a mindset shift in ways you never explicitly taught? That’s the kind of learning that changes everything – and it’s exactly what your LMS can’t measure.
If you’re like most L&D professionals, you’ve felt the pressure to justify every program with hard numbers. Completion rates, quiz scores, time-on-task – all important, but missing the real transformations happening with your learners. You know your programs work when you see behavioral changes and cultural shifts, but explaining that to stakeholders feels impossible.
When you only design for what’s measurable, you create learning that feels safe but forgettable. Your participants check the boxes but miss the transformation, and you’re left wondering if you’re actually making a difference.
That’s why this week’s Coffee Chat focuses on designing learning that creates real impact, even when traditional metrics fall short.

This week, our Coffee Chat community explores how to design and defend programs that address soft skills, mindset shifts, and complex problem-solving. We’ll also tackle the big question: How do we actually measure this type of learning? Let’s uncover practical strategies for capturing impact in ways that matter and communicating value when the results don’t fit in a spreadsheet.

👉 Register now to join us.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Scrappy Design & Smart Shortcuts
2025-10-24 11:00 - 12:00
Budget constraints. Tight deadlines. Limited tools. Time for some Scrappy Design!

Most L&D professionals face resource challenges, especially when you might be new to the field or working in smaller organizations. The good news? You don’t need expensive software or unlimited time to create learning that works.

This coffee chat takes a different angle than our previous “champagne learning” discussion.
Rather than focusing on budget strategies, we’re discussing the design process itself. How to work smarter, not harder. We’ll explore which design elements you can simplify or skip entirely, how to repurpose existing content effectively, and ways to make quick decisions that keep projects moving forward.
Together, we’ll discuss practical shortcuts that experienced designers use to speed up their workflow without cutting corners on effectiveness. We’ll discuss templates, reusable frameworks, and time-saving approaches that help you deliver quality learning experiences even when you’re juggling multiple projects.
Whether you’re building your first training program or looking for ways to work more efficiently, this conversation will give you actionable strategies you can use immediately. Bring your questions, share your challenges, and learn from other L&D professionals who understand what it’s like to do more with less.

Can’t Make the Coffee Chat In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

What We Wish Stakeholders Knew About Learning
2025-11-07 11:00 - 12:00
“Just turn the PowerPoint into an eLearning course.”

If only stakeholders knew…
If you’ve heard requests like these, you’re not alone. One of the biggest challenges in L&D isn’t the design work itself – it’s helping stakeholders understand what goes into creating learning that actually changes behavior and improves performance.

This coffee chat is your chance to discuss the disconnect between stakeholder expectations and the realities of instructional design. We’ll talk about the things we wish our stakeholders understood: why good learning takes time, how throwing content at people doesn’t equal training, and why aligning learning to business goals matters more than fancy interactions.
We’ll discuss strategies for educating stakeholders without sounding condescending, how to set realistic expectations early in a project, and ways to communicate the value of your work in terms they care about. You’ll also hear how other L&D professionals handle pushback and navigate tricky conversations about timelines, budgets, and design decisions.
Bring your most frustrating stakeholder stories and your best solutions. This is a safe space to vent, learn, and support each other through one of the most challenging parts of our work.

👉 Register now to join us.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

The Skills We Didn't Know We Needed In L&D
2025-11-21 11:00 - 12:00
Remember when being good at developing elearning felt like enough?

The L&D profession has changed significantly, and the skills that make you effective today might look very different from what you expected when you started.
As we reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026, this coffee chat focuses on the skills that have become essential in our field, and the ones that might be getting too much attention. We’ll discuss what surprised us most about the competencies we actually use day-to-day versus what we thought we’d need.

We’ll talk about the unexpected skills that have become critical: maybe it’s data interpretation, change management, or having difficult conversations with stakeholders. We’ll explore which technical skills are worth your time to develop and which ones you can safely skip or outsource. And we’ll address the skills that get hyped up but don’t necessarily translate to better learning outcomes.
This is also a chance to discuss where you should focus your professional development efforts in the coming year. What skills will help you grow in your career? What gaps do you need to fill? And what trendy skills can you ignore without falling behind?
Bring your perspective on what’s working, what’s overrated, and what you wish you’d learned sooner. We’ll learn from each other’s experiences and help you prioritize your skill-building efforts.

👉 Register now to join us.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Gifts for the Person in My Life and Holiday Party
2025-12-05 11:00 - 12:00
It’s that time of year again and our annual Coffee Chat holiday party is back!
For the fifth year running, we’re gathering to celebrate the season, share gift ideas, and just enjoy each other’s company. This isn’t your typical professional development session. It’s a chance to relax, have fun, and connect with other L&D professionals in a casual, festive atmosphere.
We’ll collaborate on our famous gift list for the trainers and L&D people in your life (or anyone else you’re shopping for). Whether you’re looking for practical tools, clever resources, or just something fun, we’ll crowdsource ideas that actually make sense for people who do what we do.
Throughout the event, we’ll play games, share holiday stories, and have casual conversations about whatever’s on your mind. No agenda, no pressure – just good conversation and community spirit. It’s the perfect way to celebrate with people who understand the unique joys and challenges of working in learning and development.
Bring your gift ideas, your holiday cheer, and maybe a festive beverage of your choice. Let’s celebrate our community and the connections we’ve built throughout the year.

👉 Register now to join us.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

The Best Thing I Learned in 2025
2025-12-19 11:00 - 12:00
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on what we’ve learned – both professionally and personally.

Our last coffee chat of 2025 is all about sharing the insights, skills, and experiences that made a difference in your year. Maybe you finally cracked the code on stakeholder communication, discovered a tool that changed your workflow, or learned something completely outside of L&D that shifted your perspective. Whatever it was, we want to hear about it.

We’ll discuss the learning experiences that stuck with us, why they mattered, and how they’ve influenced the way we approach our work. This is also a chance to talk about what we’re curious about heading into 2026—the skills we want to develop, the topics we want to explore, and the questions we’re still trying to answer.
This session is as much about celebration as it is about learning. We’ll recognize the growth we’ve experienced, acknowledge the challenges we’ve overcome, and look ahead with fresh ideas and renewed energy. It’s a chance to close out the year with gratitude and excitement for what’s next.
Bring your wins, your “aha” moments, and your wish list for future learning. Let’s celebrate our growth and inspire each other as we head into a new year.

👉 Register now to join us.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Why SMART Goals Aren't Smart: Writing Goals that Matter
2026-01-16 11:00 - 12:00
Time for the Learning Rebels annual Coffee Chat: Why SMART Goals Aren’t Smart!

Every year at this coffee chat, we talk about how L&D professionals can be better partners, better designers, and stronger advocates for their businesses and learners. For the next few chats, we’re flipping the focus. We’re concentrating on YOU and helping you move the needle on your own goals. Starting with setting your BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOALS!
Most of us enter the new year thinking about what we want to change. But here’s the problem: only 10% of people follow through on their New Year’s resolutions beyond a few months. That’s not a motivation problem. It’s a framing problem. To help you get a jump start, download your copy of the BHAG worksheet.
Think about how we typically set goals:
“I need to stop procrastinating.” “I have to lose weight.” “I must get organized.” “I should communicate better.”
Notice the pattern? These are all framed in terms of what we’re doing wrong. We’re setting ourselves up to feel like failures before we even start.

It’s Time to Flip the Script
What if we created positive and purposeful intentions instead?
Instead of “I must lose weight,” try “Spend 5 minutes a day stretching.” Instead of “get organized,” try “keep the area around my keyboard tidy.”
Small, positive actions we can actually sustain.
Why SMART Goals Don’t Work
SMART goals are gospel in most organizations, but they don’t deliver results. A large-scale study published in 2020 found that people who used SMART goals had less success with their resolutions than those who didn’t.
The problem? “Achievable” and “Realistic” don’t push us to take action—they encourage us to play it safe and stick with the status quo.
Let’s Build Something Better
We’ll discuss how to create goals that are actionable, positive, and actually have a shot at success. Whether you’re working on personal development or helping your learners set meaningful objectives, this conversation will give you practical strategies.

👉 Register now to join us.
Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Show and Tell: Your Best L&D Resources
2026-01-30 11:00 - 12:00
Get ready for the L&D Resource Swap 2026!

This Coffee Chat is where your desire to learn something new meets the collective wisdom of the Learning Rebels community. Here, everyone will have a chance to share a story, book, or tool and how it opened a new window of opportunity for their professional development.
This isn’t just our normal chat; it’s an opportunity to broaden your professional horizons through shared resources. Whether you’re new to the L&D field or looking to refine your existing skills, this session is for you.
What you can expect:

Resource Sharing: Bring along a book, article, tool, or any resource that has significantly impacted your L&D journey. It could be something that helped you grasp a complex concept, a book that inspired new teaching methods, or a tool that revolutionized your training approach.
Robust Discussions: Engage in thoughtful discussions about how these resources have shaped your practices. Hear diverse perspectives and experiences from fellow L&D professionals.
Networking: Connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about L&D. Expand your professional network and discover potential collaborations.
Practical Takeaways: Leave the session with a list of recommended books and resources curated by your peers to fuel your ongoing professional growth.

This Coffee Chat isn’t just about sharing and growing together as a community. Every book, article, or tool you share opens a door to new knowledge and possibilities for someone else. And in return, you gain insights from the group’s collective wisdom.
So, mark your calendar and join us for a stimulating exchange of ideas and resources. Let’s learn, grow, and elevate our L&D practices together!

Can’t be there live? We’ve got your back!
Simply by registering to attend the coffee chat, you will receive the following:
✅ Follow-up email with resources and extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript and summary

Practice What We Preach: Building Your Learning Habit
2026-02-13 11:00 - 12:00
Building Your Learning Habit

Let’s be honest with each other – we’re L&D professionals who spend our days designing learning experiences and advocating for development. But when it comes to our own learning? It somehow always ends up at the bottom of the to-do list.
It’s not that we don’t care.
We’ve got the books saved on our reading list. The podcasts downloaded. The resources bookmarked. Maybe you even grabbed some great recommendations from our resource share chat. But between stakeholder meetings, project deadlines, and everything else demanding our attention, our own development keeps getting pushed to “later.”
The Irony Isn’t Lost on Us
We know learning matters. We champion it for everyone else. We can articulate exactly why continuous learning is critical for staying relevant in this field. But knowing and doing are two different things.
The real question isn’t why we should learn – it’s how we actually make it happen when we’re already stretched thin.
How do I carve out time that doesn’t exist? How do I start without adding more guilt to my plate? How do I turn intentions into habits that actually stick? How do I capture what I’m learning so it doesn’t just disappear?
Let’s Work Through This Together
We’ll talk about practical strategies that fit into real life. Share what’s actually working for people (and what’s crashed and burned). Tackle the barriers that keep tripping us up. And figure out how to prioritize our own growth without the guilt.

Can’t be there live? We’ve got your back!
When you register, you’ll receive:
✅ Follow-up email with resources and extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript

Getting Strategic About Growing Your Knowledge
2026-02-27 11:00 - 12:00
Here’s the trap we fall into as L&D professionals: we try to learn everything.

New authoring tool? Better learn it. Someone mentions personalized learning? Better research it. AI drops a new feature? Add it to the list. Meanwhile, we’re stretched thin across a dozen surface-level skills with no real depth in anything.
Are we mistaking exposure for expertise? Are we confuse being aware of something with actually knowing it? It’s no wonder we feel like we’re scrambling to keep up.
The Breadth Trap
The L&D field is massive. Instructional design, learning tech, adult learning theory, change management, project management, data analysis, facilitation, consulting skills – the list never ends. And every month, something new gets added.
When you try to learn it all, you end up:

Knowing a little about everything but not enough about anything
Feeling like an imposter because your knowledge is always surface-level
Unable to articulate what you’re actually good at
Overwhelmed by how much you still don’t know

Let’s Get Strategic
We’ll discuss how to choose what’s worth going deep on based on your goals and where you want your career to go. How to resist the pressure to learn everything. What depth actually looks like versus just scratching the surface. And how to build expertise that positions you for the next step.
You’ve built the habit of learning – now let’s make sure you’re focusing that habit on building depth in areas that actually matter to your career.

Can’t be there live? We’ve got your back!
Simply by registering to attend the coffee chat, you will receive the following:
✅ Follow-up email with resources and extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript and summary

Building Your Personal Brand as an L&D Professional
2026-03-13 11:00 - 12:00
We talk a lot about increasing L&D’s visibility within the business. But what about your own visibility? Your personal brand?

For many L&D professionals, this feels uncomfortable. Self-promotional. Maybe even gross. We got into this field to help others, not market ourselves. And there’s this question: should personal branding even be a priority?
The Tension
You can champion L&D as a function all day, but if nobody knows who you are or what you’re good at, your career options stay limited. When opportunities come up such as promotions, speaking gigs, or new roles – they go to people who are visible.
But visibility doesn’t mean being loud or constantly self-promoting (ICK). It means people know what you stand for and what you bring to the table.
What Does Personal Brand Even Mean?
Your personal brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room. The question is whether you’re shaping that intentionally or leaving it to chance.
You’ve gone deep on specific areas. You’ve built real expertise. Now what? Do you keep it to yourself, or do you let people know what you’re capable of?
Let’s Talk About It
We’ll discuss whether personal branding is worth the effort (spoiler: it depends on your goals). What it looks like in practice for L&D professionals. How to build visibility without feeling like you’re bragging. And how to position yourself for the opportunities you actually want.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Networking Like a Human!
2026-03-27 11:00 - 12:00
Building and Nurturing Your Professional Network
You’ve built your personal brand. People know what you stand for. Now comes the part that makes a lot of us cringe: actually connecting with people.
Let’s be honest—networking often feels transactional. Awkward. Like you’re using people to get ahead. You exchange LinkedIn connections and then… nothing. You’ve got a list of contacts but no actual relationships.
The Real Purpose of a Network
A professional network isn’t about how many people you know. It’s about having people you can learn from, collaborate with, and support when they need it. It’s reciprocal, not transactional.
The L&D professionals with strong networks didn’t build them through networking events alone. They built them by being helpful, showing up consistently, having real conversations about the work, and staying in touch even when they don’t need anything.
Let’s Figure This Out
Let’s share tips and ideas about building authentic relationships without feeling like you’re networking. How to stay connected without it being a chore. What to do when you need to reach out after months of silence. And how introverts can build meaningful networks without burning out.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
✅ Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
✅ Copy of the video recording
✅ Copy of the chatbox transcription
✅ Copy of the full session transcript & summary
✅ Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

See It Differently, Solve It Better: Creative Problem Solving
2026-04-10 11:00 - 12:00
See It Differently, Solve It Better: Creative Problem Solving

Same problem. Same team. Same stakeholder who wants “just a quick course.” And somehow, you’re expected to come up with something different than what you did last time.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing. It’s not that L&D professionals lack creativity. It’s that we get locked into the same problem-solving patterns without realizing it. We reach for what’s comfortable, what’s worked before, and what’s least likely to get pushed back on. And slowly, our solutions start looking identical.
Creative Problem Solving (CPS) is the reset button.
It’s not about brainstorming sessions that go nowhere or sticky notes on a whiteboard. CPS is about thinking beyond conventional boundaries and turning challenges into opportunities. Creating solutions that are more than just “tick a box,” tailored to fit the unique needs of the people in your organization.
What We Will Discuss

The real reasons L&D professionals get stuck in problem-solving ruts
Practical CPS techniques that are actually usable, not just theoretical
How to apply creative thinking when working with difficult stakeholders, stale programs, or head-scratching performance gaps

Come Ready to Contribute
This isn’t a presentation. It’s a conversation. Bring a problem you haven’t been able to crack, a technique that’s worked for you, or an honest story about a time your go-to solution completely missed the mark. The best ideas in this community come from the people in the room, and your experience is exactly what makes this discussion worth having.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
Copy of the video recording
Copy of the chatbox transcription
Copy of the full session transcript & summary
Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

What To Do When Training Isn't the Answer
2026-04-24 11:00 - 12:00
When Training Isn’t the Answer
The request lands in your inbox on a Tuesday. Sales numbers are down, customer complaints are up, and leadership has diagnosed the problem: the team needs training. Can you have something ready by the end of the month?
You could say yes. You probably have before. But somewhere between building the course and watching nothing change, a nagging thought creeps in. What if training was never actually the solution?
L&D professionals are not training vending machines. Yet that’s exactly how many organizations treat the function. A problem surfaces, someone pushes a button, and out pops a course. The most effective L&D professionals know that sometimes the right answer is proposing a solution that doesn’t start with training. Recommending coaching, job aids, process improvements, or performance support instead could be the smarter (and more productive) way to go.
The hardest part? Saying that out loud to a stakeholder who already has their mind made up.

What We Will Discuss

How to recognize when a performance problem isn’t a training problem
The real cost of saying yes when the answer should be “let’s look at this differently.”
How to redirect a stakeholder who has already decided they need a course

Come Ready to Contribute
Bring a real situation. One where you built the course and nothing changed, or one where you pushed back and it paid off. Better yet, bring your alternative solutions. The time you solved a process problem instead of building a course. The job aid that fixed in one page what a three-module eLearning couldn’t. The coaching conversation that actually moved the needle. The messier the story, the better the conversation.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
Copy of the video recording
Copy of the chatbox transcription
Copy of the full session transcript & summary
Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

When Your Subject Matter Expert Drives You BANANAS
2026-05-08 11:00 - 12:00
When Your Subject Matter Expert Drives You BANANAS
They know everything about their topic. Everything. And they want to put it all in your course.
Working with subject matter experts is one of those skills nobody really prepares you for in L&D. One day you’re trying to convince a reluctant SME to give you thirty minutes of their time. The next, you’re in a review meeting where they’ve rewritten your entire script because “that’s not exactly how it works.” Either way, the project is officially off the rails.
The tactics you use to build and preserve your relationship with an SME can mean the difference between elegant content simplicity or your learning initiative crashing into a ball of flames. And yet no two SMEs are alike. Every project brings a different personality, a different agenda, and a different set of priorities that have nothing to do with yours. Learning to read the room and adjust accordingly is the real skill nobody talks about.
The good news? There are strategies that actually work. And this community has the battle scars to prove it.
What We Will Discuss

The most common SME barriers and how to address them before they derail your project
How to manage the SME who wants to include every single thing they know
What to do when your SME ghosts you, pushes back hard, or thinks they know more about learning design than you do
Practical strategies for setting expectations, maintaining momentum, and keeping the relationship intact

Come Ready to Contribute
Bring your SME horror stories and your wins. What’s worked, what’s backfired, and what you wish you’d known before your first SME relationship went sideways. The more specific, the better.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
Copy of the video recording
Copy of the chatbox transcription
Copy of the full session transcript & summary
Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Credit Where Credit Is Due: Recognizing Informal Learning
2026-05-22 11:00 - 12:00
Credit Where Credit Is Due: Recognizing Informal Learning
Nobody learned how to do their job from a course alone.
Think about it. The workaround a colleague showed you over coffee. The LinkedIn post that reframed how you think about stakeholder relationships. The podcast you listened to on your commute that gave you the exact language you needed for a difficult conversation. That’s all learning, and none of it showed up in your LMS.
Informal learning makes up the majority of how people actually develop on the job. And yet most organizations have no system for acknowledging it, supporting it, or connecting it to business outcomes. The real challenge for L&D isn’t just recognizing that informal learning exists – it’s figuring out how to surface it, give it the credit it deserves, and make a compelling case for its value to the business.
Because if you can’t connect it to outcomes, it stays invisible.
L&D is often so focused on what can be measured in a completion report that the learning doing the heaviest lifting goes completely unnoticed. That’s a problem worth talking about.

What We Will Discuss

What informal learning actually looks like in today’s workplace and why it matters more than ever
How to surface and support learning that happens outside of formal programs
How to make the case for informal learning to stakeholders who only trust what the LMS tracks
Creative ways to recognize and reward informal learning without turning it into another program

Come Ready to Contribute
Bring your ideas, your experiments, and your frustrations. Have you found a way to recognize informal learning that actually stuck? Or tried something that completely flopped? Either way, this community wants to hear it.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
Copy of the video recording
Copy of the chatbox transcription
Copy of the full session transcript & summary
Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Building Feedback to Change Behavior
2026-06-05 11:00 - 12:00
Most feedback in learning programs is an afterthought. A quiz at the end of a module. A “great point!” from the facilitator. A smile sheet that nobody reads after the session closes.
That’s not feedback. That’s the appearance of feedback.
Real feedback, the kind that actually shifts behavior and helps people grow, doesn’t happen by accident. It has to be intentionally designed into the learning experience from the start, not bolted on at the end. And the approach looks different depending on whether you’re standing in a classroom, facilitating a virtual session, or building an eLearning module that has to do the heavy lifting without you in the room.
Most L&D professionals know feedback matters. Fewer have a clear strategy for making it work across all three formats, and that gap shows up in programs where learners finish without really knowing whether they got it right, got it wrong, or why it matters either way.
What We Will Discuss

What effective feedback actually looks like when it’s built into the design
How feedback strategies differ across classroom, VILT, and eLearning environments
The difference between feedback that informs and feedback that changes behavior
Common feedback mistakes and how to fix them before they become habits

Come Ready to Contribute
Bring your best feedback techniques and your design experiments. How do you build feedback into your programs in a way that actually sticks? This community wants to know.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
Copy of the video recording
Copy of the chatbox transcription
Copy of the full session transcript & summary
Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

Wake Up the Room: Energizers That Actually Work
2026-06-19 11:00 - 12:00
Wake Up the Room: Energizers That Actually Work

You’re forty-five minutes into your session. The energy that was there at the start has quietly left the building. In person, people are checking their phones. Virtually, the cameras are off and the chat is a ghost town.
Sound familiar?
Every facilitator hits that wall. The question is what you do when you get there. A well-timed energizer isn’t a gimmick. It’s about reaching not only the mind but the heart of your audience. The right activity at the right moment can shift the entire dynamic of a room, virtual or otherwise. The wrong one can make an already disengaged group feel like they’re being managed.
There’s also something worth acknowledging: energizers only work when people feel safe enough to participate. Quiet rooms aren’t always safe rooms. They’re often scared rooms. The best facilitators know the difference and design accordingly.

What We Will Discuss

Energizer techniques that actually work — for in-person, VILT, and hybrid environments
How to read the room and choose the right activity at the right moment
What makes an energizer land versus fall flat
How to create an environment where people actually want to participate

Come Ready to Contribute
This one is all about sharing. Bring your go-to energizer, your most creative activity, or the one that bombed spectacularly. We want the full picture — what worked, what didn’t, and what you’d never do again.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
Copy of the video recording
Copy of the chatbox transcription
Copy of the full session transcript & summary
Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts

What We're Actually Reading: L&D Picks for Summer
2026-07-03 11:00 - 12:00
Summer time at the beach with a great reading list!
Summer is the perfect time to step back from the day-to-day and feed the brain with something that isn’t a project deadline. Whether you’ve got a stack of books you’ve been meaning to get to, a podcast you can’t stop recommending, or a blog that consistently makes you think differently about your work, this is the session where we share all of it. No formal agenda, no slides, just the L&D community swapping the resources that are actually worth your time.
Come ready to give and get a few good recommendations before the summer gets away from you.
What We Will Discuss

The books, blogs, and podcasts L&D professionals are actually reading and listening to right now
Hidden gems that don’t always show up on the usual “top 10” lists
Resources that work for both newer practitioners and experienced pros
How to build a sustainable reading and learning habit when work gets busy

Come Ready to Contribute
Bring at least one recommendation: a book, a podcast episode, a blog, or even a single article that stuck with you. Bonus points for telling us why it made your list.

Can’t Make It In Person? No Worries, We’ve Got Your Back! Register And Receive The Following:
Access to the Learning Rebels resource page with all the extra goodies
Copy of the video recording
Copy of the chatbox transcription
Copy of the full session transcript & summary
Additional resources such as books, articles, and handouts
