Training Industry Quarterly - Winter 2010 - 7

AT THE EDITOR’S DESK | IRISH KENNEDY SMOTHERS LEARNING IS WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF MY WORK CREATING A CULTURE OF LEARNING iven the budgetary atmosphere, many employees are concerned about their future. They value learning even more as they feel the need to equip themselves with the necessary competencies to compete in this environment. As a result, organizations and learning professionals must continue to explore different avenues to meet these learning and engagement needs, key ingredients to optimum performance for the entire human capital life cycle. Learning has been a huge part of my life. I’m currently the chief human capital officer with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) / Office of the Governor under Governor Haley Barbour, with Executive Director Les Range. This agency provides labor market information, jobs, unemployment insurance and training to the citizens and employers of Mississippi. My personal learning journey has been filled with a variety of experiences, interests and faith. When I began working in marketing, sales, employment, training and development more than 25 years ago, I realized early that in order to be effective, I would need to understand both culture and business. Learning, engagement and a passion to see people “fly” or excel, were strong motivators. This began a journey of self-development: reading, studying, traveling and receiving exposure to a myriad of cultural and business ideologies, which included attaining an MBA, with a specialization in Human Resource Management and becoming a Six Sigma Black Belt. My learning is woven into the fabric of my work every day. G This Month’s Guest Editor Irish Kennedy Smothers is chief human capital oﬃcer for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security/Oﬃce of the Governor. She formerly served as chief learning ofﬁcer for MDES and has been in the area of human capital for more than 25 years. Irish is a Six Sigma Black Belt and previously served as manager of organizational eﬀectiveness for Allstate Financial Insurance’s Corporate Oﬃce. Irish also led teams in online distance learning for Allstate. E-mail Irish at editor@trainingindustry.com. Know someone who’d make an outstanding guest editor? Interested in becoming one yourself? Contact us at editor@trainingindustry.com. Today’s workforce environment requires a culture that understands and applies a caring, strategic and systematic approach through each phase of the life cycle, communicating in words and deeds the appreciation, investment and accountability of each employee. When employees trust that their organization truly cares about them and their development, each transition of the human capital life cycle is one which can produce both an engaged, productive employee and effective and successful organizations. Organizations should examine their “now” needs and take a strategic look at where they are and determine if they’re where they want to be. Creating a culture of learning and engagement drives bottomand top-line results, more efficient processes, better teamwork, excellent customer service and strategic alignment, which are all essential to achieving the organization’s mission and vision. Training Industry Quarterly, Winter 2010 / A Training Industry, Inc. ezine / www.trainingindustry.com/TIQ

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Training Industry Quarterly - Winter 2010

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