Afterthoughts: Recentering Learning and Yourself (May 14, 2026)

The evening opened with a warm sense of connection as our community gathered once again. With sparkling berry juice in hand, we caught up with familiar faces and welcomed new ones over a generous table of finger foods. Dr. Keith Keating welcomed us to the BDO space, graciously making himself available to sign copies of his books, Hidden Value and The Trusted Learning Advisor.

After a warm introduction from Caterina Ichkhanian, CCCE Program Manager, we settled in for an evening designed to stretch both our strategic thinking and our self awareness.

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Part 1 — EdBridge & The Learning Economy

Our first session featured a fireside chat with Gwen Mdinaradze, Founder of EdBridge and practitioner scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, and Alex Bodnar, CCCE Membership Director and Manager. We got a clear look at why learning systems often fall short and what it takes to build capability that truly moves performance.

What brought you to this? Gwen described a pattern she had seen across organizations: significant investment in learning with little measurable improvement in capability. The issue wasn’t effort. It was architecture. Her background in behavioral science and strategy led her to design EdBridge as a way to help organizations build integrated learning ecosystems rather than isolated programs.

She also spoke about the realities of entrepreneurship—risk, responsibility, and the discipline required to build something new. What drives her is long term impact and the desire to help people feel connected and capable. It was a reminder that learning work is fundamentally human work.

The Learning Economy: Gwen traced the concept of the learning economy to academic and policy research from the 1990s and 2000s, including the work of Bengt Åke Lundvall. As organizations began treating knowledge and capability as economic assets, learning shifted from a support function to a strategic lever. EdBridge applies this thinking by helping organizations treat capability as currency. Their model combines quantitative research, qualitative insight, and practical enablement to align learning with business performance and long term growth.

The Future: How does AI support learning? Gwen encouraged us to view AI as an intern that we can guide and shape. Adoption remains low, yet AI’s potential is significant, especially in analyzing themes and identifying root causes. Tools like Napkin AI, which convert text into diagrams and visual frameworks, are already influencing how we design and communicate.

How can L&D be included in strategic conversations?

Gwen posed a question that stayed with many of us: What was the learning mindset as the business grew? Learning often sits within HR, far from strategic decision making. Gwen emphasized the need for more CLOs, more integrated systems, and a deeper understanding of adult learning science. She encouraged us to ask sharper questions:

• What is the real challenge?

• How do we apply the solution today?

• How do we make it stick?

We closed the session with reflection questions, processing and connecting with ones sitting around us.

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Part 2 — Return to Centre: The Radical Art of Life ing for L&D Leaders

The second half of the evening brought us inward. Keka DasGupta, award winning brand strategist and TEDx speaker, walked us through The Radical Art of Life-ing for L&D Leaders.

A Powerhouse Brand: Keka challenged us to own the full scope of our roles. Growth Architect. Strategist. Facilitator. Designer. Change Partner. Data Interpreter. Culture Shaper. Sometimes Therapist. Her point was simple: stop minimizing the breadth of your craft.

She reframed the Human vs Tech conversation by noting that 2026 is a year of humanizing technology and techifying humans. Yet what organizations need most is leaders who can support learning in a context where overwhelm is constant.

Why are we so uncomfortable? A study showing that 63% of Canadians are not comfortable with themselves sparked meaningful reflection. We are exposed to thousands of messages each day. We disconnect. We go on autopilot. Our learners do the same. Keka encouraged us to examine the narratives we carry from childhood and to recognize the emotional load our learners bring with them.

Return to Center: The 3Rs — Reset, Reclaim, Reshare

Keka helped us explore these ideas in practice. The "layers of scarves" activity highlighted the weight of false narratives. The "three tee shirts" activity illustrated emotional currency and how rarely we direct it toward ourselves.

We learned this framework:

• Reset: Let go of what doesn’t belong to you

• Reclaim your inner magic

• Reshare your strengths with intention.

Keka closed with a reminder: Find what you love and do more of it. Joy is your strategic advantage.

We returned to our Reflection Questions cards and discussed the questions with our peers.

The session closed with thanks, reminders of upcoming events, and an invitation to stay, talk, support one another, and share what resonated. We left with a sharper strategic lens, a steadier sense of self, and a community committed to growing together.