"Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world” (Freire 2000, p. 34).

Growing a military BRAT, I became accustomed to expecting change around every corner, change I had to quickly adapt to in order to survive. This culture of origin landed me an addiction to change, and an obsession with learning. Few things make me more nervous than staying in the status quo for too long. But, when I'm making a business case for learning, knowing the case for the status quo is essential.

I'm an idealist. I’ve always dreamed of organizations where employees grew happier and healthier because they go to work, and where communities prospered in an economy of peace. The development of the nation and of the wider community and business is intertwined. One cannot exist without the other (Hettiarachchi, R., Holdaway, L. and Gunduz, C., 2009, p.5).  I, like Smurtbwaite, believe “that business is not an end in itself but a means of promoting the good life of the citizens in the community” (2008, p.27). 

I didn’t know such organizations existed until the ATD Puget Sound Workplace Learning Conference. It was inspiring to hear that organizations are looking beyond a traditional financial view of ROI. 

This year, I had the pleasure of being the Program Chair for the 2015 Association for Talent Development Puget Sound Workplace Learning Conference. It is a joy of mine to develop learning events and work alongside some of the top practitioners and thought-leaders in the field. I select speakers who will inspire and challenge participants. In today's blog, I'm sharing the first of five ah-hah moments I had, and tips for how to improve your ability to make a business case for learning.

On April 29th, 102 of the region’s brightest minds in talent development filled Mercer Island Community Center to explore what it means to make a business case for learning. Together, we asked tough questions: What is the case for the status quo? What steps could you take to fail at making a business case for learning? 

We explored uncharted territory to expand our paradigm of Learning and Development. Participants learned what horses can teach us (since they’ve been the subject of our training techniques for centuries) about the long term impacts of training on