Ever wonder how the minds behind world-class customer education programs construct the experiences that not only stick but also spur action? That’s exactly what we’re talking about in this episode with instructional design virtuoso Julie Dirksen. Julie, David, and Adam navigate the transformative power of digital customer training – with Julie’s insights, gleaned from her years of experience, and books including “Design for How People Learn” and “Talk to the Elephant.” The episode peels back the layers on why industry giants like Walmart and Freshworks are betting big on modern, engaging learning platforms to foster customer retention and engagement.
Julie provides a treasure trove of strategies for fostering behavior change within customer education. We delve into the COM-B model and how it dissects behavior into capability, opportunity, and motivation, shaping the design of customer education programs. We also highlight the significance of collaboration between UX and customer education in system efficiency, sharing firsthand experiences from financial applications to healthcare environments.
Gear up for an episode that promises to enrich your understanding of instructional design and arm you with techniques to enhance learning experiences across the board.
About the Show
CELab is the Customer Education Lab for Innovative Customer Success, Enablement, and Marketing Teams. Our mission is to explore how to build Customer Education programs, experiment with new approaches, and exterminate the myths and bad advice that stop growth dead in its tracks.
Listen in as we discuss:
Intro and background – Julie Dirksen
Julie’s new book “Talk to the Elephant”
Balancing compliance and autonomy in education
Overcoming assumptions, understanding user barriers – long pants in the gym
Have you ever considered how an overlooked design choice could shut out a swath of eager learners? Imagine excluding twenty-five percent of adults from your training programs. That’s the staggering possibility we tackle in Episode 124, as we welcome our friend Sharon Castillo to the show! Sharon is a Customer Engagement and Education Leader currently working as Sr. Director of content Strategy and Enablement at Okta.
Making training accessible is more than a box-ticking exercise; it’s a strategic imperative that opens the door to a diverse audience, ready to engage with your product. Our conversation not only sheds light on the barriers to learning but also equips content creators with the know-how to craft learning experiences that welcome everyone to the table. Accessibility is a topic we’ve perhaps only touched upon on the CELab podcast, so Sharon shares why accessibility – particularly good accessibility, is also good customer education. We discuss the kinds of platforms and tools you’ll want to include in your planning, even as a very early-phase program.
So join us as we ‘access accessibility’ for Customer Education!
About the Show
CELab is the Customer Education Lab for Innovative Customer Success, Enablement, and Marketing Teams. Our mission is to explore how to build Customer Education programs, experiment with new approaches, and exterminate the myths and bad advice that stop growth dead in its tracks.
Listen in as we discuss:
Importance of accessibility in training programs
Balancing content delivery speed with inclusive design
What can Clown Core teach us about Customer Education? Every year, Adam and Dave take some time to clown around and have a little fun.
So have you ever stumbled into a musical rabbit hole so deep, it turned into a blueprint for revolutionizing customer education? That’s exactly what we did in our latest auditory adventure, as we celebrate our annual fun episode by drawing parallels between the unorthodox methods of the enigmatic band, Clown Core, and the innovative strategies in customer training. The discussion pirouettes from the band’s chaotic yet captivating performances to how digital education platforms keep audiences both educated and entertained. Prepare for an electrifying conversation that dances between genres and redefines engagement in learning.
While our business is serious, we take inspiration from many different fields – including music. The band “Clown Core” blends genres from jazz, funk, electro, r&b, soul, and pop – metal too. What kinds of insights will come of this episode? Listen in and make sure you listen to the end to hear a special music session from Alan Koda and Dave. Happy New Year to everyone in our audience! We look forward to another amazing year.
About the Show
CELab is the Customer Education Lab for Innovative Customer Success, Enablement, and Marketing Teams. Our mission is to explore how to build Customer Education programs, experiment with new approaches, and exterminate the myths and bad advice that stop growth dead in its tracks.
Listen in as we discuss:
Clown Core’s chaos linked to customer education
Artistic authenticity vs. polished production
DIY ethos encourages personal, impactful content
Creative collaboration over perfection in education
Blending genres for engaging learning experiences
Game design principles applied to customer education
Audience participation and music by Alan Coda
Authenticity and immediacy in art/business
Innovative educational strategies from diverse inspirations
And – please – if you’ve found value in this podcast, share with your friends, your peers, and your network to help us “Find the Others”!
It’s the end of 2023! This year we experienced the continuation of the economic trends we saw in 2022, watched complex and troubling geopolitics unfold, experienced more tech layoffs and a difficult fundraising environment, and witnessed the continued rise of AI. It’s been a hectic year so we want to take this quiet moment to reflect on it and consider what’s ahead.
We cover a lot in this end-of-year extravaganza including:
Customer education and AI in the workplace
Leadership growth and team development
Leadership, customer education, and podcast milestones
Customer education trends and predictions for 2023
AI in customer education, ROI calculations, and live training
Customer education, digital success, and consolidation in the industry
And much, much more!
Stay tuned for our annual music episode – coming soon!
What’s the “State of Customer Education”? Each year Adam and Dave take time to review reports focused on education in B2B SaaS and pull forward the key themes and trends as reported by institutions and vendors that serve the market. Join us as we unpack customer education reports including the TSIA State of Education Services 2023 report and explore the current state of customer education. We underscore the need for companies to shift their focus from growth at all costs to improving free cash flow and profitability, making the monetization of education services more crucial than ever. In this ever-evolving business climate, we touch on the concept of change and the importance of adaptability. You’ll gain valuable insights into the trends shaping the education services industry and the vital role of staying agile in the face of change.
Lastly, we’ll explore the transformative power of video in customer education and success. We’ll examine various reports and studies that underscore the role of video in engaging and educating customers. You’ll also get to hear us debate on the potential of video in replacing other modalities in education and how it can be utilized strategically to meet customer learning needs. This episode promises an exciting journey through the evolving landscape of customer education and the role of video in shaping customer success.
What do we need to pay attention to? What can we safely ignore? This is a great time to think through your 2024 playbook and ensure you’re keeping pace with market changes.
About the Show
CELab is the Customer Education Lab for Innovative Customer Success, Enablement, and Marketing Teams. Our mission is to explore how to build Customer Education programs, experiment with new approaches, and exterminate the myths and bad advice that stop growth dead in its tracks.
Listen in as we discuss:
World Mental Health Day
Overview of the TSIA State of Education Services 2023 report
The role of mobile and customer engagement in education
Thinkific Digital Learning Trends 2023 report
Various reports and studies that highlight the role of video in engaging and educating customers
Potential of video in replacing other modalities in education and how it can be strategically used to meet customer learning needs
Delivering learning content on mobile devices and social media platforms
Using video as a tool for customer success, customer experience, and customer education
Video can increase engagement, reduce costs, and improve self-service options
Understanding how people prefer to learn and using video strategically to meet their needs.
And – please – if you’ve found value in this podcast, share with your friends, your peers, and your network to help us “Find the Others”!
Are you prepared to transform the way you perceive learning and interaction with technology? We’re thrilled to share fascinating insights from Barry Kelly, CEO of Thought Industries, on the future of customer education. Barry, with his remarkable understanding and vast experience, guides us through a diverse array of topics, including the astonishing potential of AI and natural language processing in the learning industry, as well as the concept of ‘headless technology.’
Barry is the co-founder and CEO of Thought Industries, a company dedicated to revolutionizing learning experiences through technology. He brings over a decade of experience in the field, starting his journey at Berkeley College of Music where he was part of building an online music school with a focus on external learning, Thought Industries empowers businesses to enhance their learning programs, offering capabilities such as content delivery, monetization, integration, and more. Barry’s passion for innovative learning solutions and his insights into AI, NLP (natural language processing), and headless technology positions him as a leader in the education technology sector.
About the Show
CELab is the Customer Education Lab for Innovative Customer Success, Enablement, and Marketing Teams. Our mission is to explore how to build Customer Education programs, experiment with new approaches, and exterminate the myths and bad advice that stop growth dead in its tracks.
Listen in as we discuss:
International Stout Day
Barry’s intro and background
AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) in education
Headless technology and its benefits – security, scalability, and customization
Embedding learning directly into software platforms
Learning at the moment of need
Role of community in learning – peer-based communication and collaboration
How AI is revolutionizing the way we learn, create content, and understand proficiency
Natural language processing
Transformative potential of Helium’s headless technology
How AI and NLP can help in embedding learning experiences into software platforms
We’re always excited to talk with leaders about their platforms and roadmap – and this episode is no exception. You’ll want to join us to learn how Docebo is leading the way with AI-powered Customer Education and Enablement.
Meet Alessio Artuffo, a man with a fascinating journey from Italy to Athens, Georgia, who’s been instrumental in transforming Docebo, an open-source tech entity, into a full-fledged SaaS company. As the President and COO of Docebo, Alessio has unique insights to share about the challenges of building an international business and the specific strategies needed to make that trans-Atlantic leap. We explore the intersection of technology and education, focusing on the role of AI. We dive into the acquisition of Adugo, a ChatGPT-based platform that’s shaking up interaction models for customers and employees alike. If you’re interested in how AI is changing the face of learning, customer advocacy and partner training, strap in for a fascinating discussion.
About the Show
CELab is the Customer Education Lab for Innovative Customer Success, Enablement, and Marketing Teams. Our mission is to explore how to build Customer Education programs, experiment with new approaches, and exterminate the myths and bad advice that stop growth dead in its tracks.
Listen in as we discuss:
Alessio’s journey from Italy to Athens, Georgia and transforming Docebo
International Pirate Day and Butterscotch Pudding Day
Building a mature and stable product and transitioning to remote work
Challenges of building an international company and the growth of Docebo
Importance of customer education and learning in the technology space
Docebo acquisition of Adugo, a chatGPT-based platform
The role of AI in partner training and customer advocacy
Visiting the studio and the importance of collaboration
Importance of educational content sharing between different teams
The role of Docebo in customer education and partner training
Alessio’s view on being a generalist in the learning technology space
The future direction of Docebo in the field of customer education
Importance of community support in solving customer problems and inquiries
And – please – if you’ve found value in this podcast, share with your friends, your peers, and your network to help us “Find the Others”!
In this episode, Sourabh Bajaj, an expert in AI, explores the role of artificial intelligence in customer education. He discusses his background in AI, its early use in the postal service for handwriting detection, and its emergence in computational chemistry. Sourabh highlights how AI is revolutionizing jobs, enhancing creative tasks, and automating mundane tasks. He also discusses the complexity of AI from a customer education perspective, its implications on privacy, data security, and bias, and the need for guardrails in its usage. Practical uses of AI in customer education, its role in capturing and storing knowledge, and the evolution of customer education through AI are also discussed.
Sourabh Bajaj is the co-founder of Uplimit and a former AI researcher at Google. He has extensive experience in computational chemistry and molecular modeling, and has played a significant role in the evolution of AI, particularly in the field of customer education. His work has centered around the transformative powers of AI, exploring its capabilities in automating mundane tasks, enhancing creativity, and improving user journeys. Saurabh is particularly knowledgeable about ‘orchestrators’, a technology that simplifies tasks and aids in creative direction. His insights shed light on the complexities of AI and the need for proper guidelines in its application. His experiences and expertise have enabled him to offer valuable perspectives on the future of customer education, driven by the power of AI.
About the Show
CELab is the Customer Education Lab for Innovative Customer Success, Enablement, and Marketing Teams. Our mission is to explore how to build Customer Education programs, experiment with new approaches, and exterminate the myths and bad advice that stop growth dead in its tracks.
Listen in as we discuss:
Saurabh Ajaj’s background in AI and its role in customer education
Early use of AI in postal service for handwriting detection
Exploring the emergence of AI and computational chemistry
How AI is revolutionizing jobs and enhancing creative tasks
‘Orchestrators’ in AI helping automate mundane tasks for creativity
Impact of AI on customer education and user journeys
Complexity of AI from a customer education perspective
Discussing AI’s implications on privacy, data security and bias
The necessity for guardrails in AI usage for customer education
Practical uses of AI in customer education like task automation
Role of AI in capturing and storing knowledge efficiently
Evolution of customer education as a living organism through AI
Challenges in creating an engaging customer education experience
Exploring implications of AI in customer education and data security.
And – please – if you’ve found value in this podcast, share with your friends, your peers, and your network to help us “Find the Others”!
Instructor-led training has always been a core part of the customer education program. With COVID hitting in 2020 there was a strong shift to VILT (Virtual Instructor-Led Training), companies started using whatever tools were at hand to deliver remote training, accepting lower engagement and effectiveness as a given. But it shouldn’t be like this. In a world where every problem has software built to solve it, remote customer training is no different. In this episode, we want to introduce a new approach to the challenge of VILT customer education. A solution built solely for the purpose of live product training.
Nevo Peretz from Strigo and Dan Braithwaite from Mediaocean join the conversation to discuss the future of remote training, specifically exploring Strigo’s revolutionary Virtual Classroom platform. They delve into the resurgence of instructor-led training, the transition to virtual classrooms, the financial and customer perception challenges of remote training, and the limitations of previous platforms. The discussion also focuses on the importance of seamless customer education and how Strigo’s platform is changing the game for software companies, IT training companies, consulting firms, and LND teams involved in digital transformation processes. Nevo and Dan also share personal experiences, including how Mediaocean leveraged Strigo to address their training needs.
About the Show
CELab is the Customer Education Lab for Innovative Customer Success, Enablement, and Marketing Teams. Our mission is to explore how to build Customer Education programs, experiment with new approaches, and exterminate the myths and bad advice that stop growth dead in its tracks.
Listen in as we discuss:
National Corned Beef Day
Intro and background – Nevo Peretz from Strigo and Dan Braithwaite from Mediaocean
The resurgence of instructor-led training and its advantages
The transition from traditional training to virtual classrooms
Financial and customer perception challenges of this shift
Importance of seamless customer education for customer life cycle
Strigo’s platform – used by leading software and IT companies
Strigo – active, engaging, and hands-on learning experience
How Mediocean used Strigo for training needs
The secure, private environment and instructor control offered by Strigo
Strigo’s impact on business through customer comfort and trust explored
Virtual classroom – the potential of remote training
Chat features and closed captions to reach more learners
Exciting upcoming news and a call to action
And – please – if you’ve found value in this podcast, share with your friends, your peers, and your network to help us “Find the Others”!
What is a Mutant Learner? In this episode of the CELab podcast, we welcome #1 International Best Selling Author Treion Muller to the show to talk about his recent book, “The Rise of the Mutant Learner”. At the core of his book may be some deeply valuable approaches to the challenge posed to all of us as Customer Education leaders. Specifically, how to learn and lead effectively in the digital age.
You’ll hear about the evolution of education, the rise of mutant learning, and the role of AI in this evolution. Muller shares his experience of breaking free from corporate learning silos and leading digital transformation in education. The discussion includes insights on the importance of agile thinking, customer education, and embracing diverse learning styles. Muller also introduces his new venture, Spark, designed to empower individuals to share their unique stories and ideas.
About the Show
CELab is the Customer Education Lab for Innovative Customer Success, Enablement, and Marketing Teams. Our mission is to explore how to build Customer Education programs, experiment with new approaches, and exterminate the myths and bad advice that stop growth dead in its tracks.
Listen in as we discuss:
National Hot Dog Day and Cellphone Courtesy Month
Treion’s journey from corporate learning to education
The siloing phenomenon and its limitations on business growth
Gainsight acquisition of an LMS platform
The importance of customer education in breaking free from silos
Stephen Covey’s Franklin Covey work
A shift towards digital training and AI
Agile thinking, iterative processes, and ‘mutant learning’
Treion’s new venture, Spark, aimed at empowering individuals
The necessity of having experts in the field
Comparing products and tools in the tech stack
Automaticity and its impact on learning
TV, media, AI, machine learning
Treion introduces his book, The Rise of the Mutant Learner
And – please – if you’ve found value in this podcast, share with your friends, your peers, and your network to help us “Find the Others”!
