eLearnChat 246: Helen Blunden, Activate Learning Solutions

Today we chat with Helen Blunden, founder of Activate Learning Solutions, who is also one of Lesley Price's good friends!

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Here's some info on Helen:

Helen Blunden is the Founder of Activate Learning Solutions and has over 24 years of experience in learning and development across private, public and not-for-profit organisations.

With a speciality in performance consulting and networked learning, she believes that organisations need new skills to navigate through a complex world of constant change.

Helen has a passion for enabling people to learn beyond the traditional tools. She believes in the power of social networks and communities supported by technology that drives collaboration, meaning and engagement in the work.

Helen believes that learning can be extracted from our work because we now have the tools that connect with peers who inspire us with fresh new ideas to apply into our own personal or professional contexts.

With experience in all forms of learning, from facilitator-led instruction, online and blended, virtual and social, she practices what she preaches. She is an active user of social tools and emerging technologies and uses these with her clients to put the curiosity, exploration and reflection back into learning.

Helen presents at various conferences around Australia on how people can use social networks to build and create global community for their own personal and professional development.

Helen has also founded Third Place www.meetup.com/Third-Place a social community of Learning Professionals across Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane to meet, share and learn from each other.

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Some topics that Helen, Lesley, and Rick discuss in this episode:

How Helen & Lesley Price met on Twitter and then in person during a UK L&D meetup

Why speaking on video and having an alter-ego helped Helen overcome discomfort with public speaking

How Helen got into Learning & Development through her work in the Navy where her focus was improving performance, which often involved training. Later, she brought her experience and expertise into corporate training.

The chief importance of communication in Learning & Development and how marketing and L&D departments often have much to learn from one another.

Do L&D professionals shy away from the concept of "selling" and marketing pros tend to overlook "learning"?

Helen's exciting new project: Working for "Adopt & Embrace," a small company that helps businesses better utilize Microsoft 360 / Office products for more efficient workflow and communication.

The concept of "Change Management" and why it's traditionally been a weakness or underrated concern for many L&D departments.

How Helen doesn't identify as strictly an L&D person, but rather works dynamically between related fields such as marketing, PR, & L&D.

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Activate Learning Solutions official website:
http://activatelearning.com.au/

Activate Learning Solutions Facebook:
  / activatelearningsolutions  

Tweet to Helen @ActivateLearn:
  / activatelearn  

Connect with Helen on LinkedIn:
  / helenblunden  

Visit RELATE Corporation here:
http://www.relate.com

Visit RELATECasts here:
http://www.relatecasts.com

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