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The Strategic Pause

Author: Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish

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Welcome to The Strategic Pause- Mildly Unhinged Learning and Development pros Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish press pause on the endless to-do list to have the conversations that actually matter.


In aviation and healthcare, a strategic pause can save lives. In business? We skip right past it. But not here. We're taking that pause to dig into what it really means to be in L&D—the work we do, the work people think we do, and why half the organization assumes we're the ones "who do all those trainings everyone hates."


Katrina brings 26+ years training tens of thousands of learners and a recent book on making learning stick. Jill brings her experience as CEO/Founder of ThinkDev an organizational development consulting firm. Together, we're exploring everything from building real community in a virtual world to why we're all so bad at PowerPoint to what we actually do on "no real pants" days.


Expect thoughtful conversations that veer into delightful tangents. Expect us to talk about books, reflection, neurodiversity, imposter syndrome, and the ridiculous things people think we can fix in half a day. Expect laughter (it's literally in our KPIs).


This is for the L&D professionals, the CLOs, the trainers, the facilitators—the people who know that real learning happens in connection, not compliance modules. If you've ever had to explain what you do three times and still got it wrong, this podcast is for you.

5 Episodes
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The conversation explores what it truly means to build community — examining how contribution shapes belonging, and where gathering ends and real community begins. It touches on the unique dynamics of workplace community, the link between strong teams and genuine connection, and how the nature of work itself can either nurture or erode the bonds between people. From learning and development to social media, the discussion considers the many spaces where community takes root, the barriers that make it hard to find, and the quiet power of the right connection at the right time.TakeawaysCommunity is about shared values and purposeThe importance of contribution in building and sustaining a community
The conversation covers the preparation and impact of learning experiences, the PAFR strategy, the importance of strategic pauses, measuring impact, structuring learning experiences, creating outlines and guides, challenges in training, and the value of training. The conversation also touches on the need to elevate the training profession and concludes with a humorous sign-off.TakeawaysPreparation for learning experiences involves understanding the organizational objectives and strategic goals.The impact of training and learning experiences should be measurable and tied to specific outcomes.
What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading?

2026-02-1333:36

The conversation delves into childhood reading experiences, the impact of fiction on empathy, and the diverse book preferences and reading habits of the speakers.TakeawaysImpactful childhood booksDifferent reading preferences
The conversation delves into the challenges of defining the learning and development profession, the day-to-day activities, the meaning of work, the profession's impact on society, and a reflective conclusion on the nature of work and its significance.TakeawaysThe struggle to define the learning and development professionThe importance of the 'why' in what we do
The first episode of The Strategic Pause podcast kicks off with Katrina and Jill sharing the story of how they met and became friends. They discuss the importance of the strategic pause, share their KPIs for the podcast, and explore the meaning of the strategic pause in various contexts. Additionally, they define their professions and introduce the cast of characters in their lives.TakeawaysImportance of Strategic PauseConnection and Friendship
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