222: How One Lesson Turned a Dropout Into a CLO | Dr. Keith Keating

Update: 2025-09-30

Description

Winning isn’t just about what you know—it’s about the value you create and the lives you change.

In this thought-provoking episode, Damon Lembi sits down with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning Officer at BDO and bestselling author, to unpack how learning professionals can shift from being order takers to strategic value creators inside their organizations. Keith gets candid about his own journey from high school dropout to PhD and international L&D leader, sharing actionable ways anyone can maximize their personal growth—and show up as a business partner that leaders can’t live without. This episode is packed with strategies for navigating the transition from the knowledge economy to the value economy, practical tools for influencing even the toughest CFOs, and a framework for measuring the hidden value that L&D brings to business. If you want to boost your credibility, expand your influence, and future-proof your career (especially in the era of AI), this one’s for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why “not my job” are the three most dangerous words in any organization—and how to break out of the L&D box
How Keith’s own underdog background fuels his approach to helping others unlock potential through learning
The crucial shift from knowledge economy to value economy—and how to prove your impact with business language
Keith’s Value Creation Compass: a framework for aligning L&D with what the business (and CFOs) actually value
Why stories matter more to senior leaders than spreadsheets—and how to build powerful narratives
How to avoid burnout and find purpose as a learning professional, even when your value isn’t being recognized

Timestamps:

00:00 – The danger of “not my job” and why value creators stand out

01:32 – How learning changed Keith’s life

03:08 – The power of “teach backs” and learning by teaching

05:15 – Book clubs and underrated learning tools

07:08 – Embracing the underdog mentality for career resilience

08:35 – What inspired “Hidden Value” and why now is critical for L&D

11:17 – Why L&D is stuck as order takers and how to break the cycle

13:03 – Moving from defense to proactive value creation

16:42 – Key shift: stop speaking L&D, start speaking business

17:13 – Where to start: deep business and financial research

20:13 – Engaging the CFO: what they actually care about

21:44 – How (and why) to build relationships with Finance

24:35 – Using stories, not just data, to prove your impact

29:20 – Real-world story: How L&D drove business results at BDO

33:12 – The Value Creation Compass explained

37:44 – Organizational resilience and fostering a learning culture

39:39 – Overcoming fixed mindsets at every level

41:02 – How to build learning cultures even if senior leaders resist

43:17 – What Keith would change (or double down on) from his first book

44:29 – The future of L&D: evolving roles, relevance, and AI

48:01 – Never say “not my job”—become indispensable

About Dr. Keith Keating

Dr. Keith Keating is the Chief Learning Officer at BDO, keynote speaker, and author of The Trusted Learning Advisor and Hidden Value: Why Learning and Development Is the Key to Unlocking Human Potential. His journey from high school dropout to industry leader has fueled his mission to make learning an equalizer and a driver of transformation for individuals and organizations. Keith is passionate about helping L&D practitioners move from the sidelines to the boardroom, focusing on value creation, business partnership, and storytelling.

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