The Hidden Value of Learning in an Increasingly Uncertain World

Welcome back, esteemed readers. This week, I’m thrilled to be joined by my fellow Penn alum and colleague, Dr. Keith Keating, who is a leading voice in the learning and development industry (L&D) and a go-to thought leader on Design Thinking and the Workforce of the Future. Let’s just get this out of the way: Keith is one of the most polished, thoughtful leaders I know. He’s not only a highly sought-after keynote speaker, but also serves as the Chief Learning and Development Officer at one of Canada’s largest accounting and advisory firms.

His new book Hidden Value: How to Reveal the Impact of Organizational Learning is a must-read. It’s the spark behind today’s conversation.

The Shared Experience: Doing Work That Matters… But Isn’t Seen

I have to say, reflecting on Keith’s book and writings brought me back to one of the core challenges I faced during our doctorate program: how not only to stay relevant, but actually be effective in an increasingly fast-paced and uncertain world. I remember hearing high-profile executive coaches talk about how, at best, they could get five minutes of their client’s time. And then came the horror stories of how learning and development is often the first to be cut during times of uncertainty. When push comes to shove, many leaders still see it as a nice-to-have, not a must-have.

As someone who wants their work to truly matter, I could never stomach that reality. That’s why I’ve sharpened my learning and development approach to tackle the core challenges organizations face. Keith arrived at a similar conclusion and is actively shaping a bold new paradigm for L&D professionals. While he gears his impeccable advice toward learning leaders, his insights cut across industries and professions.

The Wicked Challenge

Keith argues that learning has never been more essential, or more misunderstood. In today’s world of relentless change, every organization depends on its people’s ability to grow, adapt, and perform. That’s the role of L&D. Yet despite its strategic importance, L&D is still too often seen as a support function, not a value driver. Why? Because much of the value we create is hidden, intangible, slow-burn, or simply not connected to business outcomes in the ways leaders expect.

As we shift from a knowledge economy to a value economy, those in the L&D field face a pivotal moment: evolve or be overlooked. It’s no longer enough to deliver content, track completions, or respond to requests. Keith challenges us to reframe our purpose, not just as learning providers but as value creators.

Why Conventional Approaches Fall Short

For too long, L&D professionals have leaned on traditional training metrics: completion rates, attendance numbers, post-session satisfaction. These data points may reflect activity, but they rarely capture impact. More importantly, they don’t speak the language of executives.

Keith’s research highlights how we've boxed ourselves in by role. “I’m an instructional designer.” “I run compliance training.” “I manage the LMS.” But job titles don’t define our value. Outcomes do. Real value in L&D comes from building capabilities, solving business problems, and helping people thrive.

Here’s the hard truth: If we create value but fail to communicate it in terms the business understands, we remain invisible. And in a world where attention functions as currency, invisibility can be just as dangerous as irrelevance.

Three Ways to Uncover and Elevate Learning’s Hidden Value

In his new book, Keith distills his insights into three powerful actions:

Think Like a Value Creator, Not a Content Provider
Stop defaulting to training as the solution. Start with the problem. Ask, “Where is value being lost or missed in the organization, and how can we help recover or unlock it?” Look beyond your job description. The most impactful L&D leaders act as consultants, collaborators, and sense-makers.

Find, Create, and Translate Value
Use frameworks like the Value Creation Compass to identify where learning drives impact: on people, resilience, growth, and customers. Then tell that story. Don’t just report what was taught; explain what changed. Help others recognize the value you generate.

Market Your Impact
You’re not just an L&D professional. You’re also a marketer and a storyteller. If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, does it matter? The same goes for your work. If you run a powerful leadership program but no one links it to retention, promotion, or performance, it gets ignored. Measure what matters, and communicate it in ways that resonate.

Invitation to Reflect

Think about the last piece of work you or your team delivered that made a genuine difference. Who knows about it? How do they know? And most importantly, do they understand the value it created—in terms that matter to them?

Let’s keep the conversation going. How have you made hidden value visible in your own work? What strategies worked? What got overlooked? Share your stories so we can learn and adapt together.