Building Circles of Trust and Infusing Humanity into L&D with Elizabeth Villa

Welcome back to The Talent Development Hot Seat! In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth Villa, a dynamic people development leader and the global head of learning at Edenred, a leading French financial services firm. Elizabeth brings a truly international perspective growing up in Mexico, studying in the United States, and building her career in Paris with a background that’s both inspiring and practical for today’s global professionals.

Elizabeth is recognized for her transformative approach to corporate learning, especially her pioneering work on integrating emotional intelligence and humanity into traditional learning and development programs. Throughout the episode, she shares how she designs learning experiences that go far beyond the classroom focusing on building circles of trust, cultivating psychological safety, and inspiring genuine human connection among participants.

You’ll hear about her journey learning three languages, navigating different cultures, and crafting award-winning leadership programs that drive cultural change. Elizabeth also dives deep into the evolving intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and the future of HR and learning, exploring what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world.

Whether you’re an L&D leader, HR professional, or curious about the future of work, this conversation is packed with insights about creating meaningful development experiences, fostering career growth, and ensuring people stay at the heart of every organization even as robots and AI become more prevalent. Don’t miss Elizabeth’s practical tips, global perspective, and passion for the human side of talent development!

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