In today’s fast-paced digital world, it’s crucial for organizations to keep their employees up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends. We’ve gathered 20 unique approaches and programs from CEOs, founders, and other industry leaders to help you foster skill development in your organization. From implementing LMS and Duolingo competitions to creating technology sandboxes for hands-on learning, discover the innovative strategies these experts have put into practice.

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  • LMS and Duolingo Competitions
  • Tech Talks and Webinars
  • TechXchange Programs
  • Digital Literacy Courses
  • Gamification in Training
  • Job Rotation Programs
  • Learning Stipends
  • Mentoring and Industry Events
  • Hackathons and Innovation Challenges
  • Innovation Boot Camp Programs
  • Quarterly Presentations and Discussions
  • Innovation Sprints 
  • Collaborative Learning Pods
  • Sponsored Courses and Learning Sessions
  • Reverse Mentorship
  • Innovation Labs
  • External Speaker Series
  • E-Learn and Earn
  • Tech Buddy Programs
  • Technology Sandboxes 

LMS and Duolingo Competitions

We have implemented an LMS and offer our employees a wide range of online courses, including access to ones on sites such as SkillShare. As an incentive, completing a certain number of job-related courses means that you get a credit to do another course on any subject.

While our primary focus is on upskilling our employees, particularly in technological skills, we’ve found that this works best in a culture that celebrates learning as a whole. So to foster this environment, we have set up an office Duolingo competition. Each person chooses a language, and we have a leaderboard to see who earns the most XP each week.

While this may seem beside the point, this competitive spirit transfers into our more job-specific learning program. Employees compare scores on quizzes and tell each other about interesting courses they are looking into doing.

This shift has resulted in our employees enjoying learning and picking up more relevant skills faster (even when doing “unrelated” courses).

Faris Khatib, CEO, IdealTax

Tech Talks and Webinars

We offer frequent Tech Talks and webinars by industry leaders to enhance information sharing and awareness. 

These talks address a wide range of topics, such as breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other emerging technologies. Employees can ask questions, get insights, and broaden their awareness of the most recent developments. Furthermore, we record these sessions and make them available on our internal learning portal, allowing employees to access the content whenever they choose.

Bruce Mohr, Vice-president, Fair Credit

TechXchange Programs

To be competitive in the digital age, our business places a premium on skill development and keeping staff up-to-date on new technologies and trends. The TechXchange Program is one technique we’ve used. 

A TechXchange session is led monthly by an employee who shares information on upcoming technologies, digital trends, and innovative practices. Interactive exercises and group discussions encourage participation and knowledge exchange. The TechXchange Program fosters a collaborative learning atmosphere, encourages continual growth, and ensures that our employees are up-to-date on technological advances.

Ryan Faber, Founder and CEO, Copymatic

Digital Literacy Courses

We have been successfully leveraging digital literacy courses since after the 2020 pandemic to help our employees navigate in the real world through reading, writing, technical, analytical, and critical thinking skills, as well as to give them an impetus to stay updated about the changing world around us. 

The pandemic altered social, economic, and business norms, and everything has been in perpetual flux. Using insightful digital courses to help employees comprehend the changes in our industry and specialization has proven to be an effective strategy. Apart from the benefit of personalized self-paced learning, this strategy has piqued the interest of employees, who now frequently refer to such courses to satisfy their thirst for knowledge. 

Our organization has been a consistent supporter of applying this method by securing these digital courses through paid memberships and online subscriptions for all employees’ unfettered access.

Marc Hardgrove, CEO, TheHOTH

Gamification in Training

In the fast-paced digital age, our organization embraces a unique approach to foster skill development and keep employees updated with new technologies and trends: gamification. Research shows that gamified training programs can increase engagement by 60% and improve knowledge retention by 9% (TalentLMS, 2021).

We have developed an interactive learning platform that incorporates gamified elements such as quizzes, challenges, and leaderboards. Employees earn points, badges, and rewards as they progress, creating a sense of achievement and friendly competition.

For instance, we introduced a coding challenge called “CodeQuest” where employees solve coding puzzles and earn points for each successful solution. This not only enhances their programming skills but also encourages teamwork and boosts morale.

Himanshu Sharma, CEO and Founder, Academy of Digital Marketing

Job Rotation Programs

In our organization, we enhance skill development and help employees stay current with new technologies and trends through a structured Job Rotation Program. This innovative program allows our employees to switch roles within the company on a temporary basis, offering exposure to various departments and technologies.

By moving through different positions, our employees get hands-on experience with diverse tasks, techniques, and tools, significantly broadening their skill sets and understanding. This cross-functional exposure helps them remain flexible, adapt to changing technology trends, and contribute more effectively to our business’s overall success. 

This rotation not only fosters continuous learning but also instills a comprehensive understanding of the organization, improving collaboration and innovation.

Will Gill, Event Entertainer, DJ Will Gill

Learning Stipends

We offer learning stipends to encourage employees to seek self-paced learning and gain new skills. These stipends can be used to attend conferences, enroll in online courses, purchase educational materials, or participate in workshops on their subject of interest. 

Employees are empowered to take responsibility for their learning journey and participate in their professional growth through this program.

Gerrid Smith, Communications Manager, Property Tax Loan Pros

Mentoring and Industry Events

At our organization, we’re big on encouraging skill development and keeping our team up-to-date on all the latest technologies and trends. One thing we’ve found really effective is pairing experienced team members with those just starting out, as part of a mentoring program combined with industry events. 

Not only does this let our crew learn from each other, but it keeps everyone at the top of their game! We also make it a point to attend industry events, conferences, and workshops, where we can all grow our networks and get some key insights into the latest and greatest.

Loren Howard, Founder, Prime Plus Mortgages

Hackathons and Innovation Challenges

We believe in giving employees hands-on opportunities to learn. We host hackathons and innovation challenges in which teams work together to solve real-world problems with cutting-edge technologies. 

These activities promote creativity and critical thinking while also encouraging staff to experiment with new tools and techniques. Employees that participate not only acquire practical experience but also have the opportunity to present their unique solutions to the corporation.

Tom Miller, Director of Marketing, Fitness Volt

Innovation Boot Camp Programs

At our organization, we prioritize continuous learning and skill development in today’s digital age. Our unique approach includes the implementation of an Innovation Boot Camp program. This dedicated time allows employees to explore emerging technologies and innovative ideas through workshops, presentations, and hands-on training sessions conducted by industry experts. 

Employees also collaborate on innovation projects, fostering cross-functional teamwork and practical experience. Additionally, we provide online learning platforms, subscriptions to industry publications, and regular tech talks to ensure employees stay updated with new technologies and trends. This approach empowers our workforce, enhances our ability to innovate and remain competitive.

Mark Tipton, CEO, Aspire

Quarterly Presentations and Discussions

Four times in the work year, we hold a presentation that focuses on skill development, trends, and new, arising technologies in the field. 

We developed a simple presentation and discussion program to highlight some of the latest trends and technology that fosters employee skill development. Throughout the year, we have our L&D team track and analyze trends to prepare for this presentation and discussion, followed by individual work with each employee on this path. 

For example, we covered the latest trend in generative AI and tools like ChatGPT and showed our employees how to ethically and correctly utilize this technology to their own benefit and development. We live in a digital age where change happens quickly, and we truly believe true skill development requires a quarterly commitment from the company.

Cath Brands, Chief Marketing Officer, Flintfox

Innovation Sprints 

We hold timed “Innovation Sprints” to stimulate rapid skill improvement and inventive thinking. Employees establish cross-functional teams and work extensively on addressing complex challenges utilizing cutting-edge technologies throughout these sprints. 

This immersive training not only hones their talents but also introduces them to new trends and tools. These sprints frequently result in prototypes, proofs-of-concept, or research articles that contribute to both individual and organizational progress.

Tim Allen, Director, Oberheiden P.C.

Collaborative Learning Pods

We have a new idea called “Learning Pods” where employees establish small groups with various interests and skill sets. These organizations meet on a regular basis to debate and investigate upcoming technology trends. Each pod chooses a single topic or technology to explore, research, and present to the larger team. 

This technique promotes collaborative learning, increases creativity, and keeps staff interested in remaining current.

Andrew Priobrazhenskyi, CEO and Director, Discount Reactor

Sponsored Courses and Learning Sessions

We at Mailmodo have implemented several initiatives to support the professional growth of our employees and ensure they stay abreast of the latest trends. We encourage employees to pursue sponsored courses in their respective fields. 

Additionally, we have established a dedicated Slack channel for individuals to engage in discussions, recommend courses, and share interesting reading materials. Furthermore, our in-house leaders conduct regular learning sessions on a wide range of topics, encompassing essential business fundamentals as well as emerging trends.

Aquibur Rahman, CEO, Mailmodo

Reverse Mentorship 

A reverse mentorship program has been created to bridge the generation gap and foster cross-generational learning. Younger employees train senior executives on the latest digital tools, technology, and social media trends in this initiative. 

This method not only keeps senior leaders up to speed but also allows younger employees to share their skills and views with top-level management.

Tiffany Hafler, Marketing Manager, FORTIS Medical Billing

Innovation Labs

In our organization, we foster skill development and keep employees updated with new technologies and trends through our “Innovation Lab” program. 

This program allows employees to dedicate time and resources to explore emerging technologies, collaborate on passion projects, and experiment with innovative ideas. It encourages cross-functional teams to come together and work on projects related to cutting-edge technologies such as AI and VR.

 By providing a platform for continuous learning and innovation, the program enables employees to stay updated with the latest trends while promoting a culture of creativity and collaboration within the team.

Josh Amishav, Founder and CEO, Breachsense

External Speaker Series

As part of our External Speaker Series, we often invite external experts, industry leaders, and noteworthy figures to offer talks and workshops. These courses educate staff about upcoming technology, industry trends, and best practices. 

They also provide the opportunity for networking and talks with industry thought leaders. We empower our staff to enhance their knowledge and keep current with technical breakthroughs by exposing them to new perspectives and experiences.

Cindi Keller, Communications Coordinator, The Criminal Defense Firm

E-Learn and Earn

Our organization has embraced the use of e-learning platforms to foster skill development. We have implemented an “E-Learn and Earn” program, where employees are incentivized to complete courses relevant to their roles on platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning. 

They earn points for each completed course, which can be redeemed for various rewards. This approach encourages continuous learning and keeps our team updated with new technologies and trends.

Burak Özdemir, Founder, Set Alarm Online

Tech Buddy Programs

In the current digital era, my organization uses a novel strategy called the “Tech Buddy” program to boost skill development and keep staff members abreast of new developments in technology. As a way to promote cooperation and information exchange, this program combines workers with different skill sets and degrees of competence. 

Each employee is paired with a “Tech Buddy” from a different team or department who is knowledgeable about a certain technology or trend. The pals get together frequently to discuss ideas, impart practical knowledge, and share information pertinent to their fields. 

With this strategy, the organization can build a culture of information sharing and innovation that not only promotes continual learning but also improves cross-departmental cooperation. By utilizing internal knowledge, employers can successfully keep staff members informed and encourage skill growth in the rapidly changing digital ecosystem.

Marco Andolfatto, Chief Underwriting Officer, Apollo Cover

Technology Sandboxes

We provide “Technology Sandboxes” where employees can experiment with and learn about new technologies in a safe and controlled setting. These sandboxes come with cutting-edge hardware, software, and development tools. Employees can use them to experiment with new frameworks, construct prototypes, and test new frameworks. 

This hands-on approach allows people to gain real experience, make mistakes, and learn from them without having to worry about affecting vital production processes.

Edward Mellett, Co-founder, TestHQ