Winning isn’t just about what you know—it’s about the value you create and the lives you change. In this thought-provoking episode, Damon Lembi sits down with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning Officer at BDO and bestselling author, to unpack how learning professionals can shift from being order takers to strategic value creators inside their organizations. Keith gets candid about his own journey from high school dropout to PhD and international L&D leader, sharing actionable ways anyone can maximize their personal growth—and show up as a business partner that leaders can’t live without. This episode is packed with strategies for navigating the transition from the knowledge economy to the value economy, practical tools for influencing even the toughest CFOs, and a framework for measuring the hidden value that L&D brings to business. If you want to boost your credibility, expand your influence, and future-proof your career (especially in the era of AI), this one’s for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “not my job” are the three most dangerous words in any organization—and how to break out of the L&D box How Keith’s own underdog background fuels his approach to helping others unlock potential through learning The crucial shift from knowledge economy to value economy—and how to prove your impact with business language Keith’s Value Creation Compass: a framework for aligning L&D with what the business (and CFOs) actually value Why stories matter more to senior leaders than spreadsheets—and how to build powerful narratives How to avoid burnout and find purpose as a learning professional, even when your value isn’t being recognized Timestamps: 00:00 – The danger of “not my job” and why value creators stand out 01:32 – How learning changed Keith’s life 03:08 – The power of “teach backs” and learning by teaching 05:15 – Book clubs and underrated learning tools 07:08 – Embracing the underdog mentality for career resilience 08:35 – What inspired “Hidden Value” and why now is critical for L&D 11:17 – Why L&D is stuck as order takers and how to break the cycle 13:03 – Moving from defense to proactive value creation 16:42 – Key shift: stop speaking L&D, start speaking business 17:13 – Where to start: deep business and financial research 20:13 – Engaging the CFO: what they actually care about 21:44 – How (and why) to build relationships with Finance 24:35 – Using stories, not just data, to prove your impact 29:20 – Real-world story: How L&D drove business results at BDO 33:12 – The Value Creation Compass explained 37:44 – Organizational resilience and fostering a learning culture 39:39 – Overcoming fixed mindsets at every level 41:02 – How to build learning cultures even if senior leaders resist 43:17 – What Keith would change (or double down on) from his first book 44:29 – The future of L&D: evolving roles, relevance, and AI 48:01 – Never say “not my job”—become indispensable About Dr. Keith Keating Dr. Keith Keating is the Chief Learning Officer at BDO, keynote speaker, and author of The Trusted Learning Advisor and Hidden Value: Why Learning and Development Is the Key to Unlocking Human Potential. His journey from high school dropout to industry leader has fueled his mission to make learning an equalizer and a driver of transformation for individuals and organizations. Keith is passionate about helping L&D practitioners move from the sidelines...
