#117 - From Resistance to 6,000 Training Sessions: Rebecca Scales' Blueprint for AI Adoption

Is your team resisting AI adoption? Are they struggling to see how AI could actually help their work? Rebecca Scales discovered the real barrier isn't reluctance to learn - it's self-efficacy, people's belief that they can actually use these tools effectively. As Director of Capability Development at Procore Technologies, she watched initial AI training fail because pressing "enroll" meant admitting you don't know something, a psychological barrier especially high for engineers. But Rebecca cracked the code with an unconventional approach that turned resistance into remarkable engagement: 6,000 training sessions in just four months. In this episode, Rebecca reveals her data-driven methodology, the psychological gateway that made formal training feel less threatening, and why one engineer went from saying "no" to becoming her biggest champion.If you're leading an AI initiative and wondering why adoption is slower than expected, this episode will show you what you're missing.

Have you ever sat at your desk, physically present but mentally checked out, your stomach in knots, calling in "sick" when you're really just depleted, feeling like you're giving 110% while running on empty? Ryan Giordano knows that feeling intimately, and his journey from the breaking point of burnout to teaching emotional intelligence at Fleetio reveals a radical truth: we massively underestimate how much control we have over our own experience. Ryan shares why 50% of what happens to us is actually happening inside our heads, introduces the "window metaphor" that transforms how you see reality, and explains why reframing isn't just positive thinking - it's a practical tool that could save your career.Ryan shows how emotional intelligence becomes the antidote when you're always "on" but never okay. If work feels like it's happening TO you rather than WITH you, this conversation is for you.

What happens when your company faces multiple massive changes all at once? Allyson Carr knows exactly what that feels like. As Global HR Chief at Cyber Reason, navigating six months of hyper-change, she reveals why people understand change but struggle with the transition, and why there's a physical toll to transformation that most leaders completely miss. Allyson shares her battle-tested approach: why she hires for human skills over technical expertise at the executive level and why trying to make employees love "the company" is a losing game. In this episode, Allyson shares how to build trust when everything else is in flux. If you're leading through chaos and wondering why your team seems exhausted even when they understand the strategy, this conversation is for you.

What if your next dream job came from a LinkedIn DM instead of a job application? Rachel Bolton landed her role as Director of Global Enterprise Leadership Development at Stanley Black & Decker when a leader reached out after discovering her through her consistent LinkedIn presence. In this episode, Rachel explores the intersection of authentic personal branding and professional growth, revealing how she maintains a vibrant online presence while juggling a demanding L&D role and raising two young children. She shares her philosophy on converting passive profile views into meaningful connections, the importance of bringing your whole self to both digital content and facilitation, and why perfectionism is the enemy of progress when building your professional brand. Tune in to discover how consistency, authenticity, and strategic visibility can transform not just your LinkedIn presence but your entire career trajectory.

What if the best career move you ever make is the one you didn’t plan for?In this episode, we follow the unexpected journey of Bozena Pajak, who found her way to Duolingo, not through a clear-cut plan, but by following her curiosity. You’ll hear how an interdisciplinary background became her superpower, shaping how millions of people learn languages today. But this story goes beyond career twists; it’s about how we learn, why we stay engaged, and what actually makes learning stick.From the science of implicit learning to the art of balancing structure with exploration, this conversation unpacks the hidden forces behind Duolingo’s success. You’ll hear what it really takes to build something effective and addictive and how AI might just personalize learning in ways we’re only beginning to imagine.Whether you’re a designer, educator, team leader, or lifelong learner, this episode will leave you thinking differently about motivation, collaboration, and the future of learning itself.Tune in for a story that proves passion, feedback, and a little serendipity can take you further than any plan ever could.

What does a Hollywood screenwriter know about learning design? Turns out, quite a lot. In this episode, Andrew Barry sits down with Lindsey Caplan, founder of The Gathering Effect, whose background in organizational psychology and TV writing gives her a unique lens on how to craft transformative learning experiences. Lindsey unpacks her go-to framework centered on motivation, structure, and storytelling, reveals the biggest mistakes L&D teams make, and introduces her two-by-two matrix for creating content that’s not just informative, but engaging and scalable. This is a masterclass for anyone serious about designing learning that actually moves people.Listen now to transform the way you think about training.

What if the rise of AI isn’t making us less human - but demanding that we become more human?As AI accelerates productivity and automates expertise, a surprising truth is emerging: the most irreplaceable professionals aren't competing with machines; they're doubling down on what makes them human.Recorded live at the ATD International Conference & Expo in Washington, D.C., and playfully dubbed the podcast in the park, this special episode brings together powerful voices across L&D and leadership to explore why human skills are quickly becoming our most valuable asset.In a world where anyone can generate ideas and build solutions in minutes, your real advantage isn’t speed, it’s emotional intelligence. This episode is a front-row seat to a growing movement: one where influence, empathy, trust, and curiosity aren’t just soft skills, they’re power skills. If you’re navigating the intersection of AI and human connection, this conversation is your guide. Tune in to join the human skills renaissance.

What if your company’s biggest performance problem isn’t skill but disconnection?In this episode, we follow Elena Agaragimova’s journey from global leadership coach to founder of ShiftWell.ai, a tool born out of deep frustration with the corporate training status quo. After years of running workshops across continents, Elena began asking a simple but radical question: What if the reason people aren’t engaged isn’t because they’re unmotivated, but because no one’s ever asked what they really need?You’ll hear why middle managers are burning out, why most leadership training comes too late, and why companies keep throwing money at wellness perks that don’t work. Elena doesn’t just challenge the system—she’s building a smarter one.This conversation is about more than performance. It’s about rethinking motivation, growth, and what people actually need to thrive on their terms. From personalized coaching to system-level culture change, Elena shares how to stop the burnout cycle and build something that lasts.If you’re a manager, HR leader, or just someone tired of the same old solutions, this episode will change how you think about development.

In this special episode, Andrew Barry takes us to Workhuman Live in Denver, where he engaged with six forward-thinking leaders across HR, consulting, and academia. Together, they explore how AI is transforming not just the way we create, but also how we influence action.From first-draft generation and rapid prototyping to stress-testing ideas and influencing without authority, these leaders reveal how AI is collapsing the time from idea to execution. Yet, the real game-changer isn't speed - it's empathy, clarity, and the ability to make others care.Featuring insights from voices like Tracy Graff, KeyAnna Schmiedl, Fatema Rizwana, Jacob Morgan, Nicole Eisdorfer, and Candice Mitchell, this episode delivers a powerful message: AI may accelerate our work, but human judgment, storytelling, and influence are still what drive change.

Leah Caseley and Mark Turner never set out to rewrite the rules of leadership development - but that’s exactly what happened when they noticed a dangerous pattern.  At LinkedIn, they saw top performers getting promoted into management only to regret it, brilliant individual contributors struggling to lead, and organizations losing talent to poor fits.  So they flipped the script. Now, their emerging leaders don’t just train for management - they test it firsthand by guiding new hires, discovering through experience whether leadership truly suits them before the promotion becomes permanent.  Along the way, they’ve uncovered the surprising human skills that matter more than results, the delicate balance between AI and authentic connection, and why the best leaders aren’t born - they’re revealed through real challenges. This isn’t leadership theory. It’s a working blueprint for building managers who don’t just direct teams - who amplify them.