iVentiv Celebrates 250th Event at Visa University, California

From CEO & Founder Russell Butler’s garage in 2008, to an international series of events today, iVentiv has now been fostering interactive, collaborative spaces for L&D leaders for over 15 years. Our recent 250^th Executive Knowledge Exchange at Learning Futures California, held at the scenic Visa University in Foster City, was no exception.

A Rich History of Collaboration

Starting with its inaugural event in Germany in 2009, iVentiv’s uniquely global community has continued to grow. Since that first event, Heads of Learning, Talent, Executive Development, Procurement, and Legal functions have come together in cities around the world, from the United States to Europe, the UAE and Australia. The 100^th iVentiv event took place in Zürich in 2020 and, adapting to global changes during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, our 200^th event took place online in 2021.

This year's gathering in California was chaired by Theresa Cook of Sky and participants gave the event a 98% satisfaction score on average. The conversations brought together L&D leaders from top Californian companies to discuss pivotal issues such as skills, culture, and learning technology.

Eric Berger, Global Head of Learning, and his team at Visa, hosted proceedings at their Foster City offices, helping to ensure that the Heads of Learning who attended had a truly impactful experience over course of the two-day event.

Key Agenda Points Included:

The iVentiv Collaborative Café, with topics focused on the future of L&D such as generative AI, adapting to external change, learning culture, and employee thriving
An insightful session by Kristen Howe on strategies for retaining and advancing women leaders
Breakout discussions led by experts Shveta Miglani from Micron Technology, Selena Yuan from Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and Joel Constable from Intuit. These sessions highlighted the importance of skills, transformative learning, and cultivating a leadership development culture.
Andrew Connolly's talk about the critical role of curiosity in the ever-evolving corporate world.
Eric Berger's session, revealing the transformative journey of Visa University.
An interactive workshop on sustainability and strategic thinking conducted by Professor Shon Hiatt from USC Marshall School of Business.
Breakouts focused on the role of onboarding in the talent journey, maximising talent potential, and developing a leadership brand with Neha Singla (WW), Deep Mahajan (Juniper Networks) and Sharon Schwartz (Equinix)
Peer coaching sessions and the unique iVentiv Fishbowl experience, rounding-off with closing remarks.

Feedback: A Testament to iVentiv's Impact

Participants lauded the event for its unique structure, relevance, and the opportunity for genuine, meaningful conversations. Feedback highlighted the immersive and collaborative nature of the sessions, emphasizing the valuable networking opportunities and rich content delivered. Attendees praised the event's ability to connect peers in similar spaces, fostering connections and affirming their journeys in the L&D realm. Comments included:

“Great content and dynamic conversations. I particularly appreciate the diversity of the participants, speakers and wider topics!”

“Great knowledge, sharing and networking opportunity with peer learning leaders.”

“Two days of authentic, meaningful and inspiring conversations with fellow travellers on the road to human development.”

In essence, iVentiv's 250th event in Foster City underscored what this community has always been about: facilitating deep, impactful conversations among L&D professionals and forming real connections that last.

250? We’re just getting started.

See a photo gallery of iVentiv’s 250th event here.

More Insights

Solving Big Challenges in Learning and Development, with Charles Jennings, Medbase, Lindt & Sprüngli, and the L&D Challenges Podcast

This L&D Challenges Podcast from iVentiv’s Learning Futures Basel event in 2024 is a must-listen for C-suite executives aiming to transform Learning and Development into a strategic organisational advantage.

Adam Lacey, Co-Founder of Assemble You and Host of the L&D Challenges Podcast joined iVentiv's Learning Futures Basel at the Bovartis Campus for conversations that got to the heart of L&D's biggest challenges.

Featuring insights from industry leaders Charles Jennings, Co-Founder of the 70:20:10 Institute, Sina Melder, Head of Global Organisational Development at Lindt & Sprüngli, and Leon Jacob, Director of People Experience at Medbase, this episode delves into demonstrating L&D’s organisational value, fostering a unified learning culture, and leveraging AI beyond content creation.

Join us to discover how these strategies drive innovation, enhance employee engagement, and align global initiatives with local needs, equipping organisations to thrive in a competitive and ever-evolving business landscape.

The Power of Data and AI in Learning and Development with Roche, STMicroelectronics, HEC Paris and the L&D Challenges Podcast

Data-driven decision-making, personalisation, and measuring impact to enhance learner engagement were hot topics at iVentiv’s Learning Futures Basel event in October of this year.

Adam Lacey, Co-Founder of Assemble You and Host of the L&D Challenges Podcast took the time to join us for those discussions, and got into the thick it with key thought-leaders in his most recent podcast episode: How Roche and STMicroelectronics are Harnessing the Power of Data and AI in L&D.

Sam Zalcman, Global Head of Learning & Development at STMicroelectronics, Priyakumar Nair, Global Head of Learning Services at Roche, and Professor Peter Fisher, Associate Professor of Marketing & Academic Director of Creative Destruction Labs’ AI stream at HEC Paris made up this episode’s panel of distinguished leaders, and the discussions illuminated cutting-edge strategies in L&D and their implications for organisational transformation.

Join us as we listen in on a podcast that provides a wealth of insights for C-suite executives in multinational organisations, focusing on how L&D leaders are leveraging data, AI, and cultural shifts to address modern challenges.

The Future of Learning, Leadership, and AI: with HEC Paris, Akkodis, Reckitt and The Learning Hack Podcast

In a dynamic and transformative era, the Learning & Development sector is grappling with profound questions about innovation, technology, and leadership. The Learning Hack Podcast, hosted by John Helmer, offers rich insights into these themes through candid conversations with global leaders.

In a recent episode inspired by conversations at iVentiv’s Learning Futures Basel Executive Knowledge Exchange, three thought leaders — Anne-Valérie Corboz (Dean, HEC Paris), Jane Underwood (Global Head of Learning, Reckitt), and Sarah Otley (SVP, Global Head of Akkodis Academy) — came together to share their perspectives on navigating the future of L&D, with discussions covering the evolving nature of leadership, the role of generative AI in L&D, and the enduring challenges of aligning learning strategies with business goals.

The advent of generative AI has sparked widespread discussions across industries, but for Learning and Development, its potential remains a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, for many leaders, AI promises to revolutionise the way learning is designed and delivered. On the other, it risks reinforcing old habits and hindering meaningful change.

In a recent episode of The Learning Hack Podcast, hosted by John Helmer, guest Charles Jennings— iVentiv Advisory Board member, regular iVentiv Event Chair, pioneer in L&D transformation, and Co-Founder of the 70:20:10 framework—offered deep insights into these challenges.

This blog unpacks the key themes from their conversation and asks how can L&D leaders avoid complacency? How can they leverage AI responsibly? How can they refocus on performance improvement over outdated methodologies?

In an age of constant change, Zurich Insurance has embraced a skills-based approach as a core strategy to future-proof its workforce and drive business success.

In an interview with iVentiv, Adrian Stäubli, Group Head of Skills Development Solutions at Zurich Insurance, highlighted Zurich’s commitment to identifying, developing, and deploying skills across its global workforce.

This model isn’t just a tool— to Adrian it’s a "secret ingredient" that touches every aspect of employee development, from career progression to job design, setting Zurich apart as a truly agile and resilient organisation.

Watch our interview now to see how Adrian has embraced skills, and how it’s transforming Zurich’s employee experience.

The power of partnership: how iVentiv and HEC Paris drive Executive Development together

In the ever-evolving world of executive education and corporate learning, partnerships are key to success. iVentiv has nurtured a long-standing relationship with HEC Paris, a prestigious European business school that was founded in 1888, since 2010 and has become a leading institution in Executive Development. Through this collaboration, HEC Paris has not only elevated its presence within the corporate learning community but has also provided valuable insights and support to iVentiv’s events worldwide.

Join us as we dive into the partnership between iVentiv and HEC Paris, how it's bloomed over the years, and where it will go next.

What Makes an Effective Learning and Development Team Event?

In today’s complex global landscape, even the most experienced L&D executives face a persistent challenge: ensuring alignment and collaboration within large Learning & Development teams spread across geographies, business units, and time zones.

Too often, L&D functions in multinational companies operate in silos. Teams set objectives independently, repeat each other’s work unknowingly, or miss opportunities to scale successful initiatives. Despite good intentions, the lack of structured knowledge-sharing and alignment can hinder progress, dilute impact, and ultimately affect how well organisations respond to change.

So, how do you create an event designed to build a strong, connected L&D team that learns from each other and works towards a shared vision? Read on to find out.

10 Questions to Ask Before Planning an Internal Event

Whether you’re launching a new initiative, or planning a team-building day, internal corporate events need more than just good food and a decent venue. Without the right strategic groundwork, even the most beautifully executed event can fall flat.

Instead, before diving into logistics, you should pause and ask the foundational questions that shape a purposeful, effective experience.

This guide explores the key questions to ask before you start planning an internal event to help you clarify objectives, understand your audience, and align the event with your broader organisational goals. Read more.

Why Customer Education Matters

In today’s competitive, hyper-informed market, you can’t win customer loyalty with a strong product or slick branding alone. Instead, you need trust, relevance, and a consistent demonstration that you understand your customers' needs.

That’s where customer education events come in.

These aren’t just glorified sales pitches. They’re strategic opportunities to deliver value, deepen relationships, and build communities around your offering.
When done well, these events don’t just teach; they transform customers into advocates. They help your business stay front-of-mind while giving your clients the tools and insights to succeed with your product or service at the centre of their strategy.

Curious to learn more? Read now.

Planning Corporate Events For Small Groups: A Complete Guide

When done right, events designed for small groups (typically between 20 and 50 participants) can lead to deeper connections, richer conversations, and more meaningful outcomes. In a world full of overstimulated conferences and overcrowded rooms, intimate gatherings offer a refreshing opportunity to slow down and engage in real dialogue.

In this guide, you’ll find out how to plan powerful small-group events with intention, from designing sessions that spark genuine collaboration, to nailing the logistics that make all the difference. Read more here.