What Does Innovation Mean in 2025? Here’s What the CLN Ad Board Had to Say.

The start of a new year brings a renewed passion for improvement, inspiring creative thinkers to identify new areas for innovation and begin a journey of positive change. The word “innovation” is popular in workplace vernacular, but it’s a concept that can mean different things to different people. To kick off 2025 on a forward-thinking note, CLN asked our insightful advisory board members to share what innovation means to them, and how they plan to incorporate it into their 2025 learning programs.

Innovation as a leap into the unknown was a key theme that emerged:

“Innovation, to me, is about creating something that has never been done before – a bold leap into uncharted territory rather than just refining or improving what already exists. It’s about harnessing curiosity, courage, and creativity to solve problems or address opportunities in ways that fundamentally shift paradigms. For 2025, I plan to bring innovation to life by fostering a culture where possibility drives our work rather than just process.” -Jay Fortuna, Senior Vice President of Talent and Operations, GoHealth

Innovation is also emphasizing human skills as you forge a new path:

“Stepping out of one’s comfort zone fosters growth and adaptability. Cultivating curiosity allows for continuous learning and exploration of new perspectives. Empathy enables us to connect with others on a deeper level and understand their experiences. This growth mindset is crucial for personal and professional development as we rethink our impact on purpose-driven outcomes.” -Nitika Rosa, HR Executive

 It means problem-solving with creativity:

“We often talk about innovation in our team. Over the years, we’ve talked about the “little i” and the “big I.” A big innovation is to seek out a new solution that may avoid a problem on the horizon. In simple terms for our most junior L&D team members, the little i innovations are creating a new dessert recipe to add to the table.” -Ashley Breedlove, Director, Learning and Performance for Aetna Clinical Solutions and Retail Customer Care, CVS Health

Innovation is taking steps to understand exactly what the customer is looking for: 

“Innovation, to me, is all about understanding your customer at a deeper level – listening for what isn’t being said and identifying the gaps in practices and products. It’s about taking those insights and turning to the people who are closest to the action – often the front line – to find the answers.” -Adam Hickman, Vice President, Organizational and Employee Development, The Walt Disney Company

To boldly innovate among L&D leaders and peers, attend the CLN Learning Conference in April. You’ll meet the greatest minds in learning, develop ideas in real time, and try out the most cutting-edge learning technology. Build your unique innovative path on April 14-16th in Los Angeles!