Free Online Conference
|
May 29–30

iSPRING DAYS 2025

Redrawing the Learning Map: Connecting HR, L&D, and Business

Join a two-day conversation with experienced professionals to discover how strategic alignment across teams can turn learning into a true business driver.

The leading eLearning event for forward-thinking professionals

L&D and HR specialists
Business owners and decision-makers
Learning strategists and consultants
Instructional designers
Educators and trainers

iSPRING DAYS 2025 MAIN ROUTE

For years, HR, L&D, and leadership teams have worked in parallel, each driving strong initiatives, but often on separate tracks. At iSpring Days 2025, we’re redrawing the learning map — together.
No abstract “what-ifs” here — just proven solutions and honest stories to help you align your teams’ efforts toward shared business goals.
Business-driven learning
AI
Learning innovation
Mentorship
Peer learning
Training ROI
Scalable onboarding
Talent development
Executive buy-in
Learning strategy
HR + L&D alignment
Learning culture

The conference voices

James Gilchrist
Director of Lighthouse L&D Consulting and Lead Community Manager, iSpring Academy
Director of Lighthouse L&D Consulting
Holly Owens
Host of the EdUp L&D Podcast and Adjunct Instructor, Touro University
Tom McDowall
Chief Learning Geek at Evolve L&D
Matt Gjertsen
Founder of Better Every Day Studios
Alexander Salas
Instructional Design Manager at StyleLearn
Susi Miller
Founder and director of eLaHub
Anna Poli
Senior Instructional Designer at iSpring
Bobby Powers
Director of Learning & Development at Jitasa
Clark Quinn
Learning Experience Design Strategist, Consultant, Author, and Speaker
David Kelly
Former Chairman & CEO of the Learning Guild, Advisor, Speaker, and Writer
Mike Taylor
Learning Consultant at Nationwide
Jane Bozarth
Director of Research for the Learning Guild
Cecilia Gorman
Management Training Consultant at Creative Talent Partners
Robin Sargent
Instructional Designer, CLO at IDOL Courses Academy
Jessica Rivera
People & Organizational Development Lead at Wise
Lynne McNamee
President at Lone Armadillo Learning
Ben Mayhew
L&D Manager at Rhino Assembly Corporation
Maria Starling
Lead Program Manager at iSpring
Natalia Foster
Account Manager at iSpring
Elijah Chase
Account Executive at iSpring
Known for his “People First, Tools Second” approach, James has spent over 20 years creating performance-focused learning programs. As Director of Lighthouse L&D Consulting, he helps business leaders around the world implement training that solves real business challenges. He’s also been a dedicated iSpring user for more than 15 years.
With 18+ years in education and corporate settings, Holly has taught at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Touro University. Recognized as a Top 35 eLearning Expert, she shares insights with her 40K LinkedIn community and hosts the EdUp L&D Podcast, featuring 90+ EdTech leaders.
Tom leads Evolve L&D and the popular Instructional Design Tips channel. With over 10+ years of experience, he’s known for his no-nonsense style and focus on evidence-based, agile learning practices that deliver results. He’s passionate about helping L&D teams deliver real value through experimentation.
Founder and Chief Learning Officer at Better Every Day Studios, he began as an Air Force Instructor Pilot before leading Training & Development at SpaceX. Now, he helps organizations rethink Talent Development by creating training solutions that address real business needs.
A veteran eLearning strategist and AI solutions architect, he brings over 20 years of L&D experience to the table. Alexander Salas helps organizations scale learning through generative AI, GPT-powered tools, and chatbots — bridging creative media with business needs. He also shares practical AI insights on his YouTube channel, ADS AI.
An industry-leading expert in accessible and inclusive learning, Susi is the founder of eLaHub and author of Designing Accessible Learning Content. With 30+ years in L&D, her work has been recognized by the Learning Technologies Awards. She helps teams create truly inclusive digital learning experiences.
Anna is a senior instructional designer with over 8 years of experience creating courses for diverse audiences and training needs. She’s also a regular speaker and instructor at iSpring events, including webinars, intensive training sessions, the iSpring flagship video course for instructional designers, and certification programs
Director of L&D at Jitasa, he’s built onboarding and manager training programs from the ground up at multiple startups and SMBs, training hundreds of managers. Outside of work, he writes about leadership and personal development at BobbyPowers.com.
A learning experience strategist with decades of experience applying cognitive science to workplace learning. Through his firm Quinnovation, he helps organizations improve performance with evidence-based approaches. Clark is also the author of seven books and co-founder of the Learning & Development Accelerator and Elevator 9.
David Kelly is a respected voice at the intersection of learning and technology. With 20+ years in L&D leadership and consulting, he helps organizations reimagine learning strategy through a technology-first perspective. He’s also a frequent speaker, advisor, and the former Chairman & CEO of the Learning Guild.
Known for his practical take on learning design, Mike brings more than 20 years of experience to his work as a consultant at Nationwide and instructor at Franklin University. He’s an in-demand speaker with an MBA and a master’s in educational technology from San Diego State.
A veteran classroom trainer turned eLearning pioneer, she has led digital learning since the late ’90s. As head of North Carolina’s award-winning eLearning program, Dr. Bozarth is known for creating effective, low-cost online training solutions that deliver lasting results.
A veteran of the advertising industry, she’s the founder of Creative Talent Partners, a consultancy focused on developing rising managers and their teams. Through workshops, offsites, and her Manager Boot Camp course, she helps creatively-minded leaders grow, communicate better, and build stronger, more effective teams.
Dr. Robin Sargent is the founder of IDOL courses, a leading instructional design trade school. With 17 years of experience, she’s developed learning solutions for the CDC, Emory Law, BCG, and more. She holds a Ph.D. in instructional design, an MBA, and 11 industry certifications.
With two decades of L&D experience, Jessica has supported thousands through onboarding across industries. Now serving as People and Organizational Lead at Wise, she oversees global onboarding at a fintech company that’s grown by 186% during her tenure.
President of Lone Armadillo Learning, Lynne brings 20 years of marketing strategy and execution to her work with Fortune 50 clients. She’s also a published writer and frequent contributor to The Learning Guild, TD Magazine, and ATD conferences.
A former U.S. Army officer turned L&D leader in manufacturing, Ben is rebuilding learning infrastructure from the ground up. At Rhino Tool House, he’s using Learn to drive performance through scalable, business-focused training programs.
Maria leads educational initiatives at iSpring, helping L&D professionals grow through hands-on training programs. She’s also passionate about building learning communities like iSpring Knowledge Exchange on LinkedIn — a community she’s proud to help shape with passion and purpose.
As an Account Manager at iSpring, Natalia brings nearly five years of experience helping clients achieve their training and business goals with iSpring’s eLearning tools. She knows that robust, well-integrated technology accounts for half of every successful L&D initiative.
With more than 8 years in B2C and B2B sales, he’s helped organizations connect learning solutions with real business outcomes. At iSpring, he brings energy, curiosity, and a deep understanding of how training drives measurable impact for users and business.
iSpring Days 2025 agenda
iSpring Days 2025 agenda
iSpring Days 2025 agenda
iSpring Days 2025 agenda
iSpring Days 2025 agenda
iSpring Days 2025 agenda
iSpring Days 2025 agenda
iSpring Days 2025 agenda
What topics are you interested in?

Day 1 — May 29th

10:00 → 10:15 AM EDT
Opening
James Gilchrist will kick off the first day of iSpring Days 2025, welcome participants, and provide a brief overview of the day’s sessions.
James Gilchrist
10:15 → 10:45 AM EDT
The ROI Dilemma: Proving the Business Impact of L&D – iSpring Research Results
Maria will go beyond surface metrics, sharing new iSpring research on how L&D leaders are redefining ROI, challenging outdated evaluation models, and building credibility where it matters most — at the executive table.
Maria Starling
  • L&D and Business
10:50 → 11:25 AM EDT
The Future Is Accessible: Practical Ways to Innovate L&D for Real Inclusion
Susi argues that accessibility is a catalyst for smarter learning design and stronger business outcomes. She'll challenge outdated assumptions and explore what inclusive learning really looks like in 2025.
Susi Miller
  • Learning Design
  • Skill Development
11:30 AM → 12:00 PM EDT
Rethinking The Strategy: How Learner-Centered Design Drives Business Value
Holly will share how to go beyond surface-level engagement to drive skill development and align learning with business goals.
Holly Owens
  • Learning Design
  • Skill Development
  • L&D and Business
12:20 → 12:55 PM EDT
Putting the Behaviors of Learning Leadership into Practice
This session redefines leadership through a learning lens. David will show how shifting the focus from traits to trainable behaviors enables L&D leaders to build credibility, inspire teams, and scale leadership across the business.
David Kelly
  • Skill Development
  • L&D and Business
1:00 → 1:30 PM
5 Innovative Manager Training Ideas to Quickly Ramp Up Your Leaders
Despite strong demand, most manager training falls flat. Bobby will present five inventive, high-impact strategies that build real leadership capability, and show how tools like iSpring Learn can help scale them sustainably.
Bobby Powers
  • Skill Development
  • Scalable Learning
1:35 → 2:10 pm EDT
Inbound Learning: Transforming L&D Design for the Modern Learner
Lynne will explore how inbound marketing tactics, once reserved for sales, can reshape learning design. This session explores pull-based strategies that align with modern learner behavior, AI trends, and measurable KPIs.
Lynne McNamee
  • AI & Learning Technology
  • Learning Design
2:45 → 3:20 pm EDT
The SURE Formula: How Marketing Principles Impact Learning Engagement
Mike will share how the SURE model helps L&D teams design relevant, emotionally resonant learning that sticks and supports long-term performance.
Mike Taylor
  • Learning Design
3:25 → 3:55 pm EDT
Don't Let Knowledge Walk Out the Door: How to Preserve Expertise Within a Company
Natalia will address a problem that most teams have experienced — but few manage effectively: capturing and scaling company knowledge before it disappears. She’ll cover practical ways to document, structure, and share expertise across teams.
Natalia Foster
  • Skill Development
  • Scalable Learning
  • L&D and Business
4:15 → 4:50 pm EDT
Prove Your Worth — Quantifying the L&D Impact
Ben will explain how to build meaningful KPIs that tie learning to business outcomes. He’ll share a proven framework to identify high-impact focus areas, set baselines, and measure what truly matters — without overcomplicating the process.
Ben Mayhew
  • L&D and Business
4:55 → 5:25 pm EDT
The End of One-Off Training: Building Sustainable Learning Systems
Robin will discuss how to evolve beyond fragmented training and create scalable, automated learning ecosystems that support business agility, autonomy, and long-term strategic alignment.
Robin Sargent
  • Skill Development
  • Scalable Learning
  • L&D and Business
5:30 → 5:40 pm EDT
Closing Remarks
Maria will wrap up the day with key takeaways and a preview of what’s coming on Day 2.
Maria Starling

Day 2 — May 30th

10:10 → 10:15 AM EDT
Opening
Maria will open day 2 of the conference and briefly outline the upcoming sessions.
Maria Diaz
10:15 → 10:50 AM EDT
Measure What Matters: Smarter Ways to Evaluate Learning
Most L&D metrics track what’s convenient, not what drives performance. Jane will challenge standard practices and explore more meaningful ways to measure learning — helping L&D speak the language of leadership.
Jane Bozart
  • L&D and Business
10:55 → 11:25 am EDT
How to Make Business Care About Learning
Getting leadership buy-in starts with changing the conversation. Matt will share how to move beyond “learning needs” and reposition L&D as a driver of performance, retention, and measurable business results.
Matt Gjertsen
  • L&D and Business
11:30 am → 12:00 pm EDT
Building Engaging Learning & Development Communities
James will share strategies for building vibrant L&D communities, both inside organizations and across industries to strengthen internal networks and long-term engagement.
James Gilchrist
  • Skill Development
  • Scalable Learning
12:20 → 12:55 pm EDT
Stop Guessing, Start Testing: Embedding Experimentation into Everyday L&D Practice
If you’re still relying on gut instinct to guide learning decisions, this session is for you. Tom will demonstrate how simple experiments can help you test ideas early, reduce wasted effort, and build effective learning without big budgets or guesswork.
Tom McDowall
  • AI & Learning Technology
  • Learning Design
  • Scalable Learning
1:00 → 1:30 pm EDT
From Empty Pockets to Empowered People: A Framework for Low-Cost Training That Delivers
Cecilia will present a practical framework and creative toolkit for building effective training on limited budgets — applying internal expertise, free tools, and peer learning to achieve strong results without compromising quality or engagement.
Cecilia Gorman
  • Scalable Learning
1:35 → 2:10 pm EDT
All Integrated (AI) Learning Universe
Alexander will share a smart, integrated approach to applying generative AI across the L&D lifecycle, highlighting where it adds real value and how to introduce it without overwhelming your team.
Alexander Salas
  • AI & Learning Technology
  • Scalable Learning
2:45 → 3:45 pm EDT
Aligning HR, L&D, and Business with How We Think, Work, and Learn
Grounded in cognitive science and organizational strategy, in this talk Clark will explore how to shift from delivering training to enabling real outcomes by aligning L&D, HR, and the business with how people actually think, work, and grow.
Clark Quinn
  • L&D and Business
  • Learning Design
3:55 → 4:30 pm EDT
Stop the Firehose: Onboarding with Flow (Using the I-OTRA Model)
Jessica will introduce a fresh approach to onboarding using the I-OTRA model. Learn how to shift from information overload to intentional flow, reduce new hire stress, and shorten time to full productivity.
Jessica Rivera
  • Scalable Learning
  • Skill Development
4:35 → 5:10 pm EDT
How to Onboard and Retain Top Talent with Development Plans
Elijah will show how to turn onboarding into a powerful retention tool. This session will explore how to align expectations, build clarity, support early wins, and accelerate performance using Development Plans in the iSpring Learn LMS.
Elijah Chase
  • Skill Development
  • Scalable Learning
  • L&D and Business
5:15 → 5:30 pm EDT
Closing Remarks and Giveaway Results
James will close out iSpring Days 2025. We’ll also announce the winner of our grand giveaway — a fully paid trip to a major L&D conference in Europe!
James Gilchrist

Win a ticket to one of Europe’s top learning conferences

Register for iSpring Days, share our LinkedIn post, and tag us for a chance to win a travel package to the conference of your choice. To learn more, please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
Includes a full event pass, round-trip airfare, and hotel stay during the event.
Food and visa costs are not covered.
World of Learning
Unleash World
Online Educa Berlin incorporating - learning technologies
UK, Birmingham
October 7-8, 2025
France, Paris
October 21-22, 2025
Berlin, Germany
December 3-5, 2025

JOIN US FOR
iSPRING DAYS 2025

Attending is free! Just fill out the form, and we'll email you the details and access links.
Two days of live sessions with experienced professionals
Instant access to the full iSpring Days 2024 pack — top session recordings and expert handouts
A chance to win a travel package to one of the top in-person eLearning conferences
Certificate of participation
A chance to join the iSpring Academy Summer Bootcamp
A Wheel of Fortune giveaway and special discounts for attendees
×
Chat with us
Book a meeting