Building Circles of Trust and Infusing Humanity into L&D with Elizabeth Villa

The Talent Development Hot Seat podcast recently welcomed Elizabeth Villa, Global Head of Learning at Edenred, for a rich conversation with host Elizabeth Villa. Elizabeth’s journey spans Mexico, the U.S., and France, and she brings a unique blend of global perspective, emotional intelligence, and pragmatism to her award-winning work in corporate learning and development. In their discussion, Elizabeth shares strategies for reshaping traditional training into transformative experiences, embracing technology, and building cultures of trust all while maintaining a people-centric approach.

Here are actionable takeaways and key lessons you can use to transform the learning culture in your organization.

Make Learning Intentional, Experiential, and Human

Elizabeth’s approach centers on moving beyond transactional training toward meaningful learning experiences. Her formula? Make every touchpoint from the first invitation email to post-session networking part of the learning journey. Elizabeth ensures participants are welcomed, informed, and inspired before ever stepping into a classroom. During live sessions, she’s intentional about facilitating exercises that create psychological safety and human connection because real learning requires trust and openness.

Create Circles of Trust

One of Elizabeth’s signature tactics is forming “circles of trust”—small groups of 6-8 participants who gather for open, vulnerable dialogue without distractions. Picture a group seated in a circle, no tables or screens, with the simple goal to look each other in the eye, speak from the heart, and share honestly about work and life. As Elizabeth notes, it’s in these safe spaces that the “magic happens” and the most profound professional and human insights emerge.

She points out that circles of trust also break down gender stereotypes, allowing men and women alike to share emotions and ideas that might otherwise stay hidden in corporate environments. These groups foster deep connection, accelerate learning, and help leaders apply new behaviors on the job.

Infuse Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Development

L&D at Edenred isn’t just about content—it’s about developing the full human. Elizabeth co-created Edenred’s “Dream Team Bootcamp,” a leadership experience designed to help managers understand when to lead, coach, or facilitate; how to deliver feedback; build objectives; and foster collaboration. She goes beyond theory, equipping leaders with practical stickers, workbooks, and visual tools they can use in the flow of work. This pragmatic approach ensures participants return to their teams ready to implement what they’ve learned.

Localize Solutions and Listen Globally

Elizabeth is a champion of listening. She leverages her global background to connect with teams from Argentina to Australia, Quebec to Sweden, learning what truly matters in each context. Instead of prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions, she customizes programs based on real conversations with stakeholders and local employees, making L&D both strategic and relevant. If you want buy-in and culture change, listen first and build with your people, not just for them.

Blend Internal and External Expertise for Richer Experiences

Program design at Edenred isn’t isolated. Elizabeth curates and co-creates with diverse partners internal teams, local managers, and external consultants striking the right balance between organizational knowledge and fresh, outside-in perspectives. She points to the “savoir-faire à la française” (the French way of doing things with attention to fine detail and experience) as an influence, but stresses that true innovation draws from the strengths of all cultures. The result is a holistic learning journey that feels both authentic and inspiring.

Prepare for the Future: Embrace Technology and AI Critically

Elizabeth urges L&D professionals to view technology and AI as both a challenge and an opportunity. With AI now woven into daily work, she recommends preparing employees to navigate the changing skills landscape. At the same time, L&D teams must curate truly high-quality content, applying critical thinking to weed out misinformation and elevate research-backed, relevant resources. The human role in learning is not disappearing—if anything, as tech accelerates, the need for empathy, emotional intelligence, and curation grows.

Empower Employees to Own Their Careers

Elizabeth’s philosophy on career development is clear: “You are the only person responsible for your own career development.” While L&D and HR can provide frameworks, tools, and opportunities, real growth requires employees to take ownership, practice learning agility, and remain intentional about their motivations. Foster environments where people know how to access resources and feel inspired to chart their own paths.

Champion Multigenerational and Cross-Cultural Engagement

With workforces more diverse than ever, Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of recognizing and integrating strengths from every culture and generation. Draw inspiration from local traditions, global best practices, and the unique makeup of your teams. Connection and belonging are at the heart of great learning cultures.

Key Takeaways for Modern Talent Development

• Prioritize psychological safety and human connection as core pillars for all L&D programs.
• Design leadership experiences that equip managers with emotional and practical skills and tools they’ll actually use.
• Listen deeply and build with global, local, and multigenerational input.
• Curate learning journeys by blending internal wisdom and external perspectives.
• Prepare your organization for the future by developing both digital and human capabilities.
• Empower people to own their career development and make learning agility a core value.

Fostering real learning and transformation doesn’t require an unlimited budget or team it takes empathy, creativity, and a willingness to meet people where they are. For Elizabeth Villa and Edenred, the result is a sustainable, people-centered culture where trust and innovation thrive.

Don’t miss the full episode with Elizabeth Villa on The Talent Development Hot Seat Podcast for even more insights and practical tips!

This episode is also sponsored by LearnIt, which is offering a FREE trial of their TeamPass membership for you and up to 20 team members of your team. Check it out here.**