EF is celebrating 25 years of teaching online this year, pioneering digital learning by delivering the first-ever online language lesson way back in 1996. The world of EdTech and EF innovation has moved on hugely since then, so we took the opportunity to talk about the evolution of digital learning with one of our long-term partners. Orange is a global telecommunications company, with over 100,000 employees worldwide, of which 83,000 are based in France. Orange and EF have worked together for over 12 years to improve language and communication skills amongst their diverse workforce. We had the ..read more

In the past year, the realm of work has undoubtedly changed beyond recognition, whether that be in the short, medium, or long term. When it comes to leadership, we are asking ourselves these crucial questions: have the leadership skills needed to navigate this new COVID-19 world changed? What lessons leaders have taken from the past year, and what leadership skills do they feel are going to be needed in a post-COVID world? In this webinar Vicki Culpin, Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Hult Ashridge, based on her latest research Leadership in the 21st Century: Lessons from a Pandem ..read more

Have you ever watched a football match and wondered how players and referees from all over the world communicate with one another? How do referees explain decisions made to players that don’t share the same native language? With EURO 2020 finally here after a year’s delay, we wanted to find the answers. We had the opportunity to chat with Viktor Kassai, Head of Refereeing Department of the Russian Football Union, who shared the importance of communication for his team of referees and how they are supporting the next generation of referees through an EF language training program. As the biggest ..read more

In the past year, we have all seen the unprecedented shift to virtual working and digitization, bringing many new opportunities and technologies to stay in touch. And yet, we are witnessing a reduction in “ human connection” and a decline in employee motivation and innovation agility & adaptability – compound with an increase in loneliness, mental illnesses, and a sharp rise in employee burn-outs. Being able to “connect” at a human level, even in this new more virtual world, has never been more important – and being able to encourage and embrace diversity and inclusion of different “connec ..read more

In the past year, the realm of work has undoubtedly changed beyond recognition, whether that be in the short, medium, or long term. When it comes to leadership, we are asking ourselves these crucial questions: have the leadership skills needed to navigate this new COVID-19 world changed? What lessons leaders have taken from the past year, and what leadership skills do they feel are going to be needed in a post-COVID world? Don’t miss this webinar with Vicki Culpin, Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Hult Ashridge who based on her latest research Leadership in the 21st Century ..read more

Measuring success in a training program is hard. It is much more difficult than answering if it is raining outside. Imagine answering the question “is it raining outside?” by replying with the temperature in Kelvin or replying with the average rainfall in meters over the last two weeks in your town. Or by glancing out the window without stopping and looking far off in the distance. Or answering “yes, it is raining” because you saw one car earlier in the day with the windshield wipers on, or because your weather app told you it would rain today. If someone answered that way, one of the followin ..read more

How do you keep your team focused on the prize when they find themselves surrounded by uncontrollable change? Whether you are facing something like the coronavirus, an industry crisis, or financial or political instability you want your team to stay motivated and focused. Change has a way of derailing the attention of even the most focused and committed team members, thereby impacting their performance and the long-term success of the team. It is in times of unrest that leaders need to actively find ways of continuing to motivate and focus their teams. Cycling is a beautiful sport, but there h ..read more

As we enter a new decade filled with AI platforms, digital transformation and changes in the talent market, the challenges faced by Talent Management professionals today are much different from the past. To mark the 100th event of iVentiv– the global leader of Corporate Executive conferences – we spoke to David Watkins, Board member of iVentiv and Senior VP of Group Talent, Transformation & Engagement at Oerlikon. Based on 27 years of experience in business and leadership in over 30 countries, David shares the challenges and opportunities faced by talent management today. Talent Management ..read more

Let’s play two truths and a lie. “I want to be a good business partner and internal thought leader at my company.” “I need to make sure our training dollar is spent right.” “I guess I’ll need to have the participants in the program do a lengthy final assessment.” We’ll take each of these in turn. First, as a leader in corporate learning, human resources, training and development of human capital management or talent, you want to be a good business partner and a thought leader at your company. That is most certainly a truth, and your desire to be of service to your colleagues is a valuable one ..read more

How might a green recovery look, and what would it mean for your organization? Before Covid-19 we were already in the midst of multiple global ecological and human rights crises. While the world has been focused on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, business leaders and policymakers, along with trade unions and NGOs, have been developing plans for how to build back better, and accelerate the achievement of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals through the way we rebuild our businesses and economies. Detailed conversations have been taking place and plans developed about how public ..read more