How do you turn a skeptical organization into a believer in the power of Learning & Development? We interviewed Mitchel MacNair, Director of Talent Development and Learning at Crown Castle to find out. Mitchel takes us on a journey from his unconventional background in nuclear engineering and the Navy to leading transformational change in L&D. He tells us how he reshaped Crown Castle’s learning function by aligning it with business strategy, building credibility through data-driven results, and elevating its impact across the organization. 

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• How Mitchel’s background in the Navy prepared him for L&D leadership [4:35]
• Handling the loss of 50% of the L&D team within Mitchel’s first six months [6:20]
• How organizational chaos impacts strategic L&D changes at Crown Castle [9:29]
• Transforming L&D from "order takers" to strategic business partners [10:58]
• The role of the principal designer in Crown Castle’s L&D success [13:20]
• Collaborating with other functions to focus on outcomes [15:10]
• Why obtaining business performance data early is critical for L&D success [18:17]
• Demonstrating a 192% increase in services sold through L&D programs [23:00]
• How Crown Castle developed their AI policies [35:10]
• L&D’s role in Crown Castle's skills strategy and future talent planning [41:00]

Resources & People Mentioned

• Is Your Genius at Work by Dick Richards
• Nick Shackleton-Jones (LinkedIn Thought Leader)

Connect with Mitchel MacNair

• Mitchel MacNair on LinkedIn

Connect With Red Thread Research

• Website: Red Thread Research
• On LinkedIn
• On Facebook
• On Twitter

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