Performance Matters Podcast

Award Winning Podcast

Listen to business leaders, performance improvement practitioners, and learning and development professionals discuss their work alongside new trends and best practices.

Performance Matters, GP Strategies’ award winning podcast, analyzes emerging strategies, technologies, and their applications for employee development.

Subscribe today and never miss an episode.

Three consecutive awards for the Performance Matters podcast for industry focused podcast.

Featured Episode

Strategic Enterprise Skilling | Best Practices and Insights

Be an advocate for all stakeholders of your skilling strategy, it’s L&D, HR, but also the employee.
Peggy Durbin

In this episode of the Performance Matters podcast, host Michael Thiel dives into the concept of strategic enterprise skilling with industry experts Peggy Durbin, Chris Davis, and Matt Donovan. Listen as they discuss how organizations can future-proof their workforce by adopting a comprehensive skilling strategy. The experts share insights on the importance of aligning skilling initiatives with organizational goals, the benefits of a shared vocabulary, and the need for a flexible approach that accommodates both global coordination and local needs. They also highlight the critical role of HR and learning and development (L&D) in creating a cohesive talent lifecycle that supports career mobility and employee retention.


Recent Episodes

Upskilling, Reskilling, and Talent Management’s Role in Organizational Design

Dr. Cheryl Jackson joins the show to explore the rapidly evolving skills landscape, driven by automation and AI, and the necessity for organizations to continuously upskill and reskill their workforce. Listen as Dr. Jackson provides insightful distinctions between upskilling and reskilling, shares practical examples, and discusses the challenges and strategies for effective talent management.


Inclusion | The New Leadership Essential

Join DEI expert Nic Girvan as she explores the current political climate surrounding DEI programs, the critical role of inclusive leadership, and practical strategies for leaders to foster an inclusive culture.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the future of leadership and the tangible benefits of prioritizing DEI in their organization.


Coaching: A Key Strategy for Developing Dynamic Leaders

Co-Founder, President, and Chief Coaching Officer Lori Mazan from Sounding Board joins the show to discuss the transformative power of leadership coaching. Lori shares her unique journey from social work to becoming one of the early certified coaches, highlighting the evolution of coaching from a remedial tool for “derailed executives” to a developmental strategy for leaders at all levels.


The Collision of Artificial Intelligence and Coaching

In this episode of the Performance Matters podcast, host Michael Thiel discusses AI’s potential to complement coaching rather than replace it with leadership experts Kevin Wilde and Leah Clark.


Top 5 Data Management Challenges: From Problem to Solution

Lindsay Pineda and Ashlyn Elick, two seasoned performance consultants from GP Strategies, join the podcast to tackle the most pressing issues businesses face with data. From overcoming data paralysis to bridging organizational silos, this episode offers actionable strategies to turn data chaos into clarity. Learn how implementing governance frameworks, centralizing systems, and aligning data definitions can drive better decision-making and transform raw information into impactful stories that boost performance.



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Award Winning Episode

In this episode of the podcast, Tom Pizer joins the show to discuss how the Metaverse is changing the way organizations will interface with their learners. Watch and experience what VR has to offer, from interacting with the simulated environment to showcasing various opportunities to deliver learning.

Virtual reality and the Metaverse can be effective with hard skills development, to develop skills in a safe and effective way. However, it can also be used for developing very important soft skills.”

Tom Pizer

Meet the Host

Michael Thiel

With nearly two decades of thought leadership in corporate L&D, Michael Thiel has a passion for developing experiential learning that “sticks”. Working on the agency side, Michael has directed award-winning content for some of the most admired brands in the world, including: Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Toyota, Honda, Acura, BMW, Kia, and Sub-Zero Group.

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