Development Nerds with Candice Mitchell

Everyone says people leave bad managers.

But the truth?

People leave when they don’t see a future.

In this video, we unpack why lack of development and growth opportunities has become the #1 reason employees are quitting, and what Learning & Development can actually do about it.

📉 Braverly. Lattice. Gartner. Deloitte.

The data is loud: employees are craving growth, not more eLearning.

So if you work in L&D, HR, Talent, or People Ops, and you’re tired of feeling like you're patching leaks with training courses...

In this powerful episode, we dive into Desiree’s real, raw, and remarkably relatable story. From working in a nursing home at 15 to leading a dementia facility through the pandemic, from personal tragedy to launching a leadership company, Desiree’s path has been anything but smooth. And that’s exactly what makes it worth listening to.

We talk about:

Learning and Development isn’t just a support function—it’s a critical part of how HR delivers on its strategic goals. So why are L&D and HR still working in silos?

In this episode, we explore how learning and development in human resource management can become a true strategic partnership. We’ll unpack:

✅ Why L&D and HR often operate in parallel

✅ What high-impact partnership really looks like

✅ How integrated L&D–HR teams drive better business outcomes

✅ Where to start—even if you don’t have a seat at...

A Story of Strategic Self-Belief

What do a toy store, a dance dream, and cross-country running have in common with a career in data strategy?

Dr. Alaina Szlachta joins Candice Mitchell to unpack the incredible journey from juggling four jobs at 15 to becoming a data-obsessed entrepreneur, real estate investor, and advocate for building a life of intention. In this episode, Alaina reveals the powerful (and painful) lessons learned from early burnout, undercharging as a consultant, and being undervalued by clients — and how she used all of it to design a business and life that actually wo...

Learning and Development (L&D) and Human Resources (HR) aren’t two separate functions, they’re two sides of the same coin.

If you’ve ever felt like L&D is treated as an afterthought, just the training arm of HR or a line item on someone else’s to-do list—this video is for you. In this episode, we unpack what real partnership looks like between HR and L&D, and why that partnership is the key to unlocking better retention, performance, engagement, and business results.

We’ll explore:

✅ Why HR and L&D...

Shelby Kiernan’s story is a masterclass in reinvention — not the fluffy kind, but the real, raw, what-am-I-worth-now kind. After 12 years in a job she loved, Shelby was laid off and faced a new kind of challenge: rebuilding confidence in a world that quietly tells older women they're past their prime.

In this episode, we trace Shelby’s journey — from her teenage jobs in small-town Wyoming to leading teams in higher education, healthcare, and beyond. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, why being “good with people” is the job, and how she rebuilt her career through 65+ face-to-face c...

They’ve been calling L&D “order takers” since 1975... and it’s still happening.

In this eye-opening episode, we get real about what’s holding Learning and Development professionals back — and how to finally break the cycle.

Candice shares the exact practical framework she uses with corporate clients to align learning initiatives with real business KPIs (and no, it's not just about collecting smile sheets).

You’ll walk away with:

A story of discovering her calling the long way around

When Stacey dropped out of high school in her senior year, she didn’t have a plan — but she did have grit, curiosity, and a quiet belief that things would work out. In this deeply honest episode, Stacey Oliver-Knappe shares the real story behind her career in Learning & Development: from smelling like peanut oil while cleaning fryers at Chick-fil-A, to working at Walt Disney World, and eventually finding herself training teams in Paris (without speaking French).

We talk about mental health, workplace politics, growing up in c...

After the burnout, the misunderstandings, and the never-ending “can you just run a quick training?” requests, this episode is your reminder of why Learning & Development is still one of the most impactful, strategic, and fulfilling careers out there.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why L&D is the infrastructure behind business sustainability

✨ How AI is changing the game (and why L&D is future-proof if you stay strategic)

✨ What makes this work so meaningful, even when it’s hard

✨ The business skills every L&D pro needs to build long-term credibility

✨ And how t...

When Anna and her husband inherited the family business, they thought they’d have time. Time to learn. Time to be mentored by his grandfather—the man who built it. But just a few months after they took over, he passed away unexpectedly… and they were left holding the keys with no playbook.

In this episode, Anna shares what it really looked like to navigate that kind of loss—while keeping the business alive. We talk about what it’s like to run a legacy company for 30 years, the customer story that completely changed her business model, and how a...

If you've ever been asked to fix company culture in a two-hour workshop… or deliver “quick training” with zero context, you're not alone.

This episode dives deep into one of the biggest challenges facing Learning & Development professionals today: managing expectations.

We explore:

🎯 Why L&D expectations are so confusing (and where that history comes from)

📍 What you are actually responsible for (hint: it's not being the company therapist)

🚫 What you aren’t responsible for (say goodbye to being the catch-all solution)

🧠 How to reframe conversations and position yourself as...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not built for the corporate mold—or like the traditional career path just isn’t it, this conversation is your permission slip to do it your way.

In this vibrant, raw, and wickedly insightful episode, I sit down with Mark Gaisford, a video strategist who went from delivering pizzas and motorbike couriering around London to leading a recruitment firm, getting diagnosed with ADHD at 52, and eventually building a business that fits him (not the other way around).

We talk about:

If you work in Learning & Development, you already know, this job is a rollercoaster.

One day you’re facilitating transformation. The next? You’re being asked to “just make it an eLearning.” 🙃

In this episode, we’re talking about what it really feels like to work in L&D:

✅ The highs that make it all worth it

✅ The lows that leave you questioning everything

✅ The emotional whiplash of being essential and invisible

✅ And how to lead with confidence, without burning out

Whether you’re just starting...

This is a story of listening deeply, leading differently, and standing for what matters.

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Andrew Jacobs — independent learning strategist, podcaster, and longtime L&D disruptor — for one of the most honest, wide-ranging conversations we've had yet. From pricing soda cans in the '80s to reshaping L&D in the fire service and public sector, Andrew's story is full of unexpected turns, hard-won lessons, and a level of self-awareness that's rare in any field.

We talk about what it means to put work in i...

Forget the LinkedIn highlight reels—today we’re getting real about working in Learning & Development.

You’ve probably seen posts like:

👉 “Launched a leadership program!”

👉 “Facilitated onboarding for 80 new hires!”

👉 “So grateful to be in this role!”

But what about the real moments?

Like being asked to whip up a training by Friday.

Or being mistaken for the compliance person.

Or constantly explaining that, no, you don’t just make slides.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on w...

Lavinia Mehedințu: From Quiet Teen in a Romanian Village to L&D’s Loudest Cheerleader: A Story of Saying No, Leading Anyway, and Building What Didn’t Exist

She said no to people management. Dropped out of university. Burned out building Offbeat. And still? She built one of the boldest L&D communities on the planet.

She said no to people management. Dropped out of university. Burned out building Offbeat. And still? She built one of the boldest L&D communities on the planet.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lavinia Mehedin...

Ever struggle to explain what you actually do in L&D? You’re not alone.

If you’ve ever mumbled something like, “I create training” while knowing deep down that your role is so much more—this episode is for you.

👀 In this episode, I break down the REALITY of working in Learning & Development, and why it’s time to reframe our work as Talent Enablement. Because you don’t just build courses…

👉 You build capability.

👉 You grow leaders.

👉 You make strategy happen.

🎙 We’ll cover:

What do mowing lawns, being “too social,” and moving your family across the world have in common?

They’re all part of Andy Storch’s journey, from drifting through early career choices to building a purpose-driven life and business. In this episode, Andy and I swap stories on the underestimated power of journaling, why your "weakness" might actually be your greatest strength, and the reality of making trade-offs in your career and your life. He opens up about the conversation that crushed him—and the leader who built a new role around his true strengths. We talk cancer, mi...

Pull up a chair... this episode is a coffee chat with two brilliant minds in Learning and Development who followed wildly different paths to end up co-authoring a book that’s about to change the L&D game.

Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor didn’t plan to work together. In fact, they didn’t even meet in person until after their first joint workshop. But from different sides of the world and through radically different journeys—one with a laser focus on L&D from the start, the other with some unexpected detours through programming, consulting, and digital...

If you've ever felt stuck in a role that didn’t reflect your potential — this episode is your permission slip to dream bigger and move boldly.

In this powerful conversation, JB Ryan shares her career story — from waiting tables in Johannesburg and working as a bank teller, to leading a billion-dollar sales team in the U.S. and writing a book on confident public speaking.

We talk about career growth, learning and development, making the leap into new industries, and how grit (and a little exposure) can change everything. Whether you're in the thick of your o...

If you’re tired of being seen as the “training person”… if you’re done waiting for a seat at the table… this is the episode where everything changes.

In Episode 4 of this series, we’re talking about what it really takes to go from order-taker to strategic partner—and finally be seen as a business-critical leader in Learning & Development.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why most L&D professionals are stuck in support mode—and how to shift out of it

✅ What business leaders actually care ab...

You’re in for a treat (and probably a few spit-take laughs) in this episode with Jo Watson – the copywriter hired by people with great taste in copywriters.

We go back in time to awkward teenage work placements, waitress tips from nuns, misogyny in football, and that moment Jo literally walked out of a toxic meeting — holiday booked, no job lined up, zero regrets. This is what it really looks like to build a business on integrity, humour, and no time for BS.

Jo and I talk about what no one’s saying e...

Let’s be real, most L&D measurement? It’s garbage.

Completion rates, smiley sheets, post-training quizzes… they might look good in a report, but they don’t prove business impact. And leadership knows it.

In this episode, I break down exactly why traditional L&D metrics fall short—and how to start tracking what actually matters. You’ll learn how to:

And I’ve g...

This is a story of quiet confidence and big impact. In this episode, I talk with nonprofit learning strategist Heather Burright about the real impact Learning & Development can have—beyond the slide deck.

We dive into how she accidentally fell in love with instructional design, the power of raising your hand for opportunities, and how to earn respect in a field where you’re often told to "just make it blue." She shares the behind-the-scenes of creating life-saving training for doulas and midwives, building boundaries in work-life, and navigating long-distance love (spoiler: it started in a bar).

Most L&D teams get this completely backward.

They lead with training instead of business strategy—and then wonder why nothing changes.

In this episode, we’re flipping the script.

I’ll walk you through the exact 5-step method I use—called the L&D Satellite View—to align learning with business priorities. This isn’t about running more workshops. It’s about positioning L&D as the function that drives performance, retention, and real business results.

You’ll learn:

Danny Del Vecchio: From Cabana Boy to Video Content King of LinkedIn — a story of grit, growth, and getting paid to be yourself online

What if your lowest moment was actually the beginning of your best chapter?

In this episode, I’m joined by Danny Del Vecchio, the video content strategist behind some of LinkedIn’s most recognizable creators. But before the consistent $30K months and shout-outs from big names, Danny was a cabana boy making tip money on the beach, a burned-out sales director caught in a corporate fraud scandal (yep, really), and a podcas...

In this kickoff episode of the Strategic L&D for Business Impact series, we’re getting straight to the heart of what it really means to be strategic in learning and development.

If you’re tired of being seen as a support function—if you’re done with L&D being the first to get cut when budgets shrink—this episode will challenge how you think, and change how you show up.

We’ll dig into:

Ever wonder how someone goes from grubbing weeds in New Zealand to running a global L&D software company? This episode of Development Nerds dives into the wildly unexpected career journey of Paul Matthews, mechanical engineer turned desert explorer turned learning strategy pioneer.

We talk gorilla encounters (yes, really), sheep logic, overland expeditions, and how Paul’s engineering brain sparked a revolution in how organizations approach training and performance. But more than that, Paul shares the reflective practices and personal philosophies that helped him build a career (and life) filled with meaning—and impact.

In this episode of Development Nerds, Candice Mitchell peels back the layers of the Talent Development Academy (TDA) to reveal why it's a game-changer for learning and development professionals. From exclusive frameworks and expert guidance to a supportive community that truly understands your challenges, TDA offers more than just another training course—it's your secret weapon for proactive leadership. Plus, stay tuned for a special bonus that promises to give your career a significant boost. If you're ready to rediscover your passion and lead with confidence, this episode is a must-listen!

Below are the key takeaways from th...

Ever had a job so random that it had nothing to do with where you ended up? Christopher Lind has had several.

From assembling anchors and selling Camel Cigarettes to building corporate learning programs that made more money than the company’s products, Christopher’s career has been anything but traditional. In this episode of Development Nerds, he shares:

🔥 The job that convinced him business transformation was his thing

🔥 The time he almost got fired (for pushing back on the CEO)

🔥 How he turned corporate learning into a profit center

🔥 The real...

You can have the best learning strategy in the world, but if you can’t execute, it doesn’t matter.

L&D professionals are expected to drive learning across entire organizations, yet we rarely have direct authority over the people, budgets, or KPIs we need to influence. We have to lead without authority, gain buy-in from multiple stakeholders, and execute learning initiatives in environments where learning is often an afterthought.

In this episode, we’re breaking down:

✅ How to lead learning projects when you don’t have direct control.

✅ How to manage multi...

What happens when you go from squeegeeing a locker room floor for $3.85 an hour to leading Learning & Development strategy at a Fortune 500 company? Jess Almie knows firsthand. Her journey from babysitting her nine younger siblings to shaking up the L&D industry is nothing short of fascinating. In this episode, Jess gets real about the pivotal moments, career detours, and hard-won insights that took her from being an "order taker" to a true business partner. Whether you're feeling stuck in your career or looking to drive real impact in L&D, this conversation is a must-listen.

Key...

So, you want to be a leader in L&D, but you don’t have a big title, a team, or decision-making power? Here’s the truth: Leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about influence. And influence is something you can build, no matter your role.

Some of the most powerful people in organizations aren’t executives—they’re the trusted voices, the ones who shape conversations and drive action. And in Learning & Development, influence is our greatest asset.

In this episode, we’re breaking down how to build influence and establish yourself as a leader—even when...

How do you go from working at Disney to running your own leadership consulting firm? Yogi Mueller’s journey is one of reinvention, resilience, and relentless curiosity.

In this episode, we cover:

🔹 How he accidentally found his way into L&D (and never looked back)

🔹 The hardest year of his career & what it taught him about leadership

🔹 The power of mentorship—why every leader needs both a mentor & a mentee

🔹 How to navigate imposter syndrome (especially when stepping into something new)

🔹 The best career decision he ever made—one that chang...

Things will go wrong in L&D. Budgets get cut. Projects stall. Stakeholders resist. The real test of leadership isn’t if you face challenges, it’s how you respond to them.

In this episode, we’re breaking down:

🔹 Why leadership isn’t about avoiding challenges but navigating them

🔹 The three leadership mindsets that help you thrive under pressure

🔹 A step-by-step approach to handling difficult situations like budget cuts and resistance

🔹 How to turn challenges into opportunities that elevate your credibility

This is where true L&D leaders stand out. I...

What does it take to rewrite your story?

Dr. Keith Keating has lived it. From dropping out of high school and working in fast food to becoming a CLO, an academic advisor for an Ivy League university, and an author, his journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and sheer determination.

In this episode, Dr. Keith shares his unconventional career path, the power of learning, and how L&D professionals can shift from being order-takers to trusted advisors. His story will inspire you to take ownership of your career—because no one else will do it fo...

Are You Leading in L&D, Or Just Taking Orders? The Mindset Shift You Need

Too many Learning & Development (L&D) professionals are stuck in a support role, waiting for permission to lead. But here’s the truth: leadership isn’t about your title—it’s about your impact.

If you're tired of being brought in at the last minute to "execute training" instead of driving business strategy, this episode is for you. L&D isn't just a training function—it's a business-critical driver. And if we don’t step up, we risk being replaced, sidelined, o...

Burnout doesn’t just happen to people in toxic workplaces—it can happen even when you’re deeply passionate about your work. That was the case for Kelsea Warren, who, after years in mental health and therapy, found herself drained, exhausted, and questioning whether she could keep going. In this episode, Kelsea shares how she made the bold decision to pivot, aligning her career with her values to build something sustainable—not just for herself, but for the people and organizations she now helps every day.

Kelsea Warren is a coach, consultant, and speaker who specializes in burnout...

In this episode of Development Nerds, Candice Mitchell challenges the conventional wisdom in the L&D world by asking: Which truly carries more weight—real-world experience or certifications? Dive into a conversation that goes beyond credentials to explore how the right mindset and the ability to apply knowledge effectively can set you apart as a leader in learning and development. Discover practical insights that will help you transform training into impactful performance solutions, enabling both personal growth and business success.

Below are the key takeaways from this episode:

Join us in this episode of Development Nerds as David Gilbert shares his unconventional career journey— from working at a deli restaurant at age 14 to becoming a successful voice actor. Discover how he found his 'Emerald City' and learn actionable insights on pushing your own boulder up the right hill. This is one you won't want to miss!

David Gilbert is a seasoned voice actor with a compelling journey that began in the corporate world as an assistant buyer and evolved through various roles in sales and marketing. Transitioning from a career in buying and sales, David em...