Getting to Know Roundtable: Steve Smole

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This week, we sat down with Roundtable’s Steve Smole to talk about his role, learning & development (L&D), and industry trends he finds interesting. 

 

What does your title mean? What do you do for Roundtable?

As an Account Executive, my goal is to build a long-lasting relationship with our clients by providing valuable insight into industry trends, introducing new and innovative learning solutions, and above all else, becoming a resource they can rely on.

 

How did you get into L&D?

To be honest, I never thought in a million years I would be involved in the L&D and training industry. Once I arrived at Roundtable, though, I realized how important the investment into training was for a company to grow and become more efficient.

 

What is a trend in L&D that’s exciting to you?

The trend that I’m most excited about is virtual reality (VR). Being able to immerse a learner in a virtual environment and allowing them to practice their job in a safe space is the future of learning.

 

What would you say is the most important part of building a training program?

In my eyes, identifying the correct modality to deliver the training is key. With there being a plethora of ways to deliver training, like AR, VR, eLearning, ILT, and VILT, choosing the correct modality is important to make sure the learner retains the information.

 

Finish the sentence. Learning is essential to an organization because…

… you’re investing in your employees and training them properly improves the bottom line.

 

What is something you have done in this role this year that you are proud of?

Being able to educate clients on the impact of AR and VR in learning is something I’m proud of. A few years ago, the idea of being able to use AR and VR in training may have sounded like a pipe dream, but it’s become more affordable and scalable now.

 

What are some interesting facts about you?

-I’ve worked in just about every industry. I went from landscaping to Michaels arts and crafts to a Hibachi restaurant to carpentry. Some consider me a jack of all trades. 

-During my freshman basketball season, I led the team in charges with 15.