Solving the Knowledge Silo in Global Learning Teams

Submitted by Kerry Summers on 20 October 2023 - 2:27pm

In global organisations, Learning & Development teams often look unified on paper—but behind the scenes, it’s a different story. Regional teams design their own programmes.

Departmental leads chase different metrics. Valuable insights stay locked in local drives or hidden in email threads.

Before long, what was meant to be a cohesive Learning strategy starts to fragment into isolated pockets of expertise.

These knowledge silos are more than just an inconvenience—they slow transformation, duplicate effort, and dilute impact. Every team is often tackling the same problems: how to scale learning, prove impact, or embed AI and skills-based learning. They just aren’t talking to each other.

The good news is that this problem can be solved. By creating intentional spaces for global L&D collaboration—through thoughtfully designed bespoke events like iVentiv’s—you can reconnect people, unlock best practices, and build a learning culture that truly operates across borders.

event participants

The Problem: Regional and Departmental Isolation in Global L&D

When your L&D operation spans multiple regions, countries, cultures, or business units, it’s easy for fragmentation to creep in:

Teams in different geographies rarely meet in person and may follow divergent processes, tools or learning philosophies.
Departmental walls (e.g. leadership development vs technical training vs onboarding) can deepen separation.
Lessons learned in one team (e.g. what works for leadership in Asia) don’t get communicated to others (e.g. leadership in Latin America).

The result: wasted effort, inconsistent learner experiences, and diminished ability to scale best practices globally.

For large Learning organisations, bridging this divide is not optional—it’s critical.

Without cross-regional visibility, you lose the potential multiplier effect of shared learning design, reuse of assets, and collective problem-solving.

That’s where the power of events and structured knowledge sharing comes in.

How Events Foster Cross-Regional Collaboration

Well-designed events act like knowledge highways; they create safe, intentional space for cross-regional interaction. Here’s how iVentiv does it:

They bring people together across geographies and functions

When you convene Learning practitioners from multiple regions and departments in one forum, you break the isolation barrier. People see each other face-to-face (or virtually) and realise they share common roles, challenges, and ambitions.

They highlight common challenges

Through breakout conversations and group discussions, you can surface recurring issues (e.g. measurement of learning impact, stakeholder engagement, technology integration). Once identified, participants recognise that their struggles are not unique—and that collective solutions may exist.

They create space to share solutions

In breakout sessions, participants can present what’s working, what failed, and lessons learned. The act of sharing itself helps to dismantle the mindset that “we’re the only ones dealing with this issue.” Instead, you build a culture of transparency and co-creation.

They plant the seed for ongoing collaboration

Beyond the event itself, connections made through collaborative discussions or informal networking often grow into ongoing peer cohorts, cross-regional working teams, or internal “coaching groups” that continue knowledge exchange long after the gathering ends.

In short: events are catalysts, not one-time fixes.

Virtual vs In-Person Knowledge Sharing: Pros & Trade-offs

A key decision is whether to run virtual, in-person, or hybrid knowledge sharing workshops or events. Each mode brings unique benefits—and constraints.

Virtual (online) events

Pros:

Lower travel cost and logistical overhead
Easier for more people to attend, especially across time zones
Opportunity to record sessions for asynchronous viewing
Can scale more flexibly (e.g. smaller regional hubs linked into a central program)

Cons:

Engagement fatigue (Zoom fatigue)
Harder to replicate serendipitous conversations
Time-zone constraints make scheduling awkward
Less intimacy and informal bonding

In-person (on-site) events

Pros:

Richer, higher-quality interaction and relationship building
Multiple simultaneous conversations
Stronger sense of occasion and buy-in
More immersive experiences (e.g. team exercises, live simulations)

Cons:

Cost, travel logistics, venue coordination
Potential for unequal attendance if some regions can’t travel
Harder to include remote participants

Hybrid / blended models

Many organisations adopt a hybrid approach: core in-person meeting, supplemented with virtual streams and asynchronous content. Or regionally held hubs synchronised with a central virtual backbone.

Tip: Choose the format that aligns best with your objectives, budget, and global footprint. If your goal is relationship building and deep collaboration, prioritise in-person. If your priority is broad reach and inclusivity, virtual or hybrid may be better.

How to Encourage Knowledge Sharing at an Event

Even the best event design won’t magically produce collaboration unless you build in the right mechanics. Here are six practical tactics:

1. Run smaller, well-aligned events

Smaller gatherings (e.g. 20–40 participants) ensure that attendees share common roles or challenges, improving relevance and peer connection. Too broad a gathering dilutes engagement.

2. Use breakout groups for in-depth conversations

Large plenary sessions often limit participation. Breakout groups (ideally 4–6 people) allow deeper discussion, safe sharing, and problem solving. Rotate participants across groups to foster cross-pollination.

3. Implement Chatham House Rules

Declare early that participants can speak freely about insights but not attribute comments to individuals or organisations . This encourages open, honest sharing without fear.

4. Create sharing spaces, not only presentations

Don’t rely solely on expert talks. Design something similar to iVentiv’s breakout conversations around flipcharts, peer coaching exercises, or fishbowl conversations. The goal is two-way exchange, not monologue.

5. Inject interactivity and co-creation

For iVentiv, interactivity and collaboration are the backbone of truly impactful events. Not only does it encourage honest, open sharing, it also allows genuine connections to be made.

6. Build follow-up momentum

Before the event ends, commit to follow-up: peer-led working groups, Teams/Slack/WhatsApp channels, and feedback. The event should be the spark, not the conclusion.

Key Roles & Responsibilities in Planning

To run a successful knowledge-sharing event, clarity on roles is essential. Here’s who typically needs to be in the mix—and what they deliver:

Events team

Venue, catering, room layouts, AV, registration, travel, accommodations
Ensuring on-the-day smoothness (timing, signage, materials)
Managing contingency plans

Delegate Relations team

Build excitement and encourage conversation ahead of the event
Handle invites, reminders
Keeping participants engaged pre-event (surveys, alignment calls)
Post-event follow-up communications

Content Manager

Setting objectives, themes, and desired outcomes
Defining session types (plenary, breakouts)
Sequencing sessions to build momentum
Engaging expert facilitators and Event Chairs

Event Chair

Guiding group conversations, ensuring all voices are heard
Keeping time, injecting energy, surfacing insights
Bridging between groups, encouraging collaboration
Managing group dynamics

Expert Facilitators

Bringing expertise or case studies
Stimulating and challenging the group
Committing to active co-discovery, not a one-way lecture

iVentiv + Microsoft: A Case Study in Global L&D Collaboration

When Microsoft Germany launched the AI Skilling Alliance, a community initiative aimed at uniting industry associations, start-ups, and leaders to accelerate AI adoption across the German economy, there was a clear need for something more than virtual connection.

As the alliance grew, it became evident that real progress would require face-to-face interaction – space to build trust, exchange ideas, and truly bond as a collective. Having previously experienced iVentiv’s peer-led format during her onboarding journey, Microsoft’s Area Learning Lead, Daniela Todorova , knew exactly who to partner with to bring this vision to life.

The resulting iVentiv Bespoke Event delivered not just a gathering, but a moment of momentum. Attendees—many of whom were meeting in person for the first time—connected openly and enthusiastically. The impact, she reflected, would be lasting: a stronger network, greater inspiration, and increased confidence across the Alliance.

What stood out most for Daniela was the sense of mutuality; the collaborative design, the shared objectives, and the feeling of being genuinely supported throughout. In her words, the experience wasn’t just well-organised—it was reliable, warm, and rooted in trust.

iVentiv CEO & Founder Russell Butler attended and ran a session which included:

iVentiv’s Collaborative Café
Expert input by external and internal contributors Charles Jennings (Director, Duntroon Consultants, and Co-Founder, 70:20:10 institute), Prof. Dr. Heiko von der Gracht (Futurist & Professor of Foresight & Digital Transformation, KPMG Deutschland), Bas Puts (Global Head of Learning & Skill Architecture, Siemens), Miriam Kugel (Director EMEA, People Science Advisory Microsoft), and Klaus Scheile (VP, Learning & Development, T-Systems International)
The iVentiv Fishbowl

Why did the iVentiv format work so well for Microsoft?

Peer-to-peer orientation

The format privileges exchange over formal lecture, helping senior leaders share and test ideas.

Limited size, high quality

A smaller group ensures depth and real connection rather than superficial networking.

Continuation beyond the event

Many participants maintain connections, work in cross-company cohorts, and drive longer-term collaboration.

iVentiv’s Call to Action for Global Heads

If your L&D organisation is struggling with knowledge silos, don’t resign yourself to isolation. Thoughtful events—virtual, in-person, or hybrid—can unlock the collective intelligence of your teams.

By designing for global L&D collaboration, embedding knowledge sharing activities and cross-collaboration, and bringing in external support, you can build a sustainable, connected learning organisation.

Partner with iVentiv to organise a bespoke event over one or two days or host a virtual global roundtable.

Whatever your path, your global learning teams will thank you—and your organisation will reap the benefits of shared learning, alignment, and innovation.

Ready to build collaboration via a bespoke L&D event? Let’s talk about designing yours.

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