12: The Power of Storytelling in Building an Engaged Workplace Culture | Mary Alice Coker

Winning workplaces don’t just train—they listen, adapt, and spark growth at every level.

In this energizing episode, host Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD, is joined by Mary Alice Coker, Director of People and Culture at BigID. Together, they get tactical and real about how Learning & Development (L&D) teams move the needle on employee engagement and retention. Mary Alice unpacks why L&D must align with business strategy, how to transform information overload into applied learning, and the crucial role of storytelling in building trust and culture. The conversation covers AI’s growing power in personalized learning, the pitfalls of one-size-fits-all training, and the myth that every talented employee must become a manager. Whether you lead HR or simply want to make your team “stickier to the organization,” this episode is loaded with actionable strategies and fresh insights.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why tying L&D programs directly to business strategy creates lasting impact—not just check-the-box training
• How to shift from “information overload” to applied, experiential learning (and why it matters for retention)
• The surprising power of storytelling for reinforcing culture and making learning stick
• Practical ways to personalize development—not just for managers, but across the org chart
• How AI is democratizing learning and enabling more nimble, career-driving development plans
• The uncomfortable truth about leadership tracks (and how BigID empowers both managers and individual contributors to grow)

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro to Mary Alice Coker and the power of L&D

02:17 – How to make L&D a true business driver

05:00 – The power of storytelling in L&D and culture

10:59 – Common pitfalls: Information overload and passive learning

12:40 – Experiential & applied learning in practice

14:22 – Why one-size-fits-all L&D falls flat

16:41 – How continuous learning shapes employee loyalty and retention

19:38 – AI’s impact on personalized career paths and scaling L&D

21:30 – The “democratization” of learning through technology

22:34 – Mary Alice’s leadership lessons: Assume good intent

23:49 – The myth of universal management ambition and dual career paths

27:19 – Action steps for building a thriving learning culture

28:25 – Where to find and connect with Mary Alice

About Mary Alice Coker

Mary Alice Coker is the Director of People and Culture at BigID, where she guides the development of inclusive workplaces, scales company culture, and ensures employees have the tools they need to thrive. With over a decade of experience spanning recruiting, learning and development, employee relations, compliance, and benefits, Mary Alice brings a people-first perspective and a knack for executing strategy in dynamic, fast-paced environments. Her leadership centers on aligning L&D to business goals, advocating for experiential learning, and fostering environments where every employee—whether an aspiring manager or a technical expert—can grow and excel.

Resources & Mentions

• Mary Alice Coker on LinkedIn
• BigID website
• Learnit
• Connect with host Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD.

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: www.learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.