In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Cole Bastion, Senior Director of Learning and Culture at HOA Brands, where he's helped reduce management turnover by 10% and transformed L&D into a powerful driver of enterprise-wide change.

We dive deep into how Cole positions his team not as order-takers—but as change makers.

Key topics we cover:

• Why L&D must become the “epicenter of transformation” in the org
• The risks of staying in the traditional training lane
• How Cole earned the trust to facilitate annual strategy sessions with the executive team
• His process for evaluating new tech (and avoiding shiny object syndrome)
• Why visibility matters—and what it’s opened up for him as a leader

Cole’s story is packed with insight on what it really takes to lead learning with purpose, partnership, and influence.

🔗 Connect with Cole on LinkedIn: Cole Bastion, MSIOP

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• Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff
• Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com
• Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here!

David Grad was once leading creative teams at MTV. Now, he’s solving one of the toughest problems in learning and development: how to make live training actually stick.

In this episode of Catalysts, David shares the origin story behind elevator9, the learning tech company he co-founded to ensure live training drives measurable, lasting impact. Drawing from learning science, cognitive psychology, and real-world application, elevator9 has created a platform that transforms what happens after the workshop—so that insights aren’t lost the moment people return to work.

We also explore the mindset shifts L&D leaders must embrace to position learning as a strategic value driver—not a cost center—and how David’s journey from media to learning has shaped his passion for empowering people through evidence-based design.

We cover:

• Why most live training fails to deliver—and what to do instead
• The core learning science principles that drive behavior change
• How elevator9 uses AI to gather and analyze qualitative training data
• A step-by-step look at how companies implement the platform
• How L&D leaders can finally prove—and improve—their business impact
• Why learning is a revenue driver, not just an expense
• David’s advice for L&D professionals who want to grow their influence

Connect with David Grad:

• David on LinkedIn
• elevator9

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• Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff
• Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com
• Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here!

In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning & Development Officer at BDO Canada and author of Hidden Value: How to Reveal the Impact of Organizational Learning.

Keith is a powerhouse in the world of learning strategy—a practitioner-scholar who believes L&D shouldn’t just defend its worth, but amplify its impact. We dive into what it truly means to be a trusted learning advisor, why L&D needs to stop chasing surface metrics, and how to lead your team out of the “order-taker” trap and into strategic partnership.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why L&D’s real power lies in creating value—not just delivering content
• How to move from reactive defense mode to proactive business alignment
• Why metrics like butts-in-seats are holding us back
• The science of learning—and how to make stakeholders care about it
• How to build trust with both leaders and learners
• What most orgs get wrong about reskilling, equity, and inclusion
• The role of visibility, storytelling, and self-belief in shaping the future of L&D

Keith’s journey—from high school dropout to doctoral scholar—is a testament to the life-changing power of learning. And his message is clear: L&D isn’t a support function. It’s a strategic driver. But only if we choose to show up that way.

🎧 Tune in for a deeply human, sharply strategic conversation that will leave you thinking differently about what you do—and why it matters.

Connect with Dr. Keith Keating on LinkedIn »

Connect & Learn More

• Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff
• Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com
• Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here!