Commercial Excellence 
LTEN 2023 this year was held in Phoenix, AZ, and the WLH team attended the nation’s largest gathering of Life Sciences trainers and educators. It was a great experience for all and we learned a lot. Here is a quick recap from our Team!
Wendy L. Heckelman, Ph.D.
What was your overall experience at this year’s LTEN Event?
[Wendy] This was the most energized LTEN I have attended in over 10 years!!! Everyone was excited to be there connecting with old and new peers, learning from each other, viewing new technological advances, and looking for core skills training to change behavior and drive performance in commercial excellence!
Did you attend any of the workshops, live learning labs, or speaking engagements? If so, what was your favorite? [If no] What was one new / interesting thing you learned while at LTEN?
[Wendy] We were privileged to conduct a learning lab on Leading through Change and upskilling in Change Leadership which was packed. Almost every organization is going through some type of large-scale or iterative change. We offered tips to upskill leaders to guide through the change process. Our workshop on Account Management was standing room only and we offered lessons learned on creating an account management mindset, will set and skill set. Special thanks to our panelists Brian Giglio, Mercy Indyk, and Delfin Rubin.
The one key takeaway was hybrid learning is here to stay and we need to find ways for leaders to continue to coach and reinforce new skills to change behavior and drive performance.
How do you see the L&D industry changing and evolving in the years to come? What new trends, methods, and/or techniques do you see happening?
[Wendy] L&D will continue to evolve in utilizing new technologies to deliver hybrid learning. However, another trend is core skills development which is critical as commercial organizations are adapting to a changing healthcare marketplace where organized customers require new ways of working and mastering account management.
Sheryl Unger, M.I.L.R.
What was your overall experience at this year’s LTEN Event?
[Sheryl] This year’s LTEN was all about connecting with people. Everyone was excited to be there to learn, network, and focus on how L&D professionals can continue to bring value to their organizations, teams, and individuals.
Did you attend any of the workshops, live learning labs, or speaking engagements? If so, what was your favorite? [If no] What was one new / interesting thing you learned while at LTEN?
[Sheryl] As the lead for our Business Acumen and Account Management practice area, I wanted to soak up what’s new and different here. From a market evolution point, concern about pricing pressures will continue and there is a need for policy change updates. As for skill development, during our own panel on Elevating an Account Management Mindset, attendees were looking for how to create collaborative account teams. Although there is no secret sauce, we do have some worthwhile tips that resonated with attendees.
How do you see the L & D industry changing and evolving in the years to come? What new trends, methods, and / or techniques do you see happening?
[Sheryl] It’s easy to think the latest bells and whistles related to technology, gamification, simulations, and artificial intelligence is where everything is headed. However, if companies don’t upskill their leaders and employees to deal with change, then all of these advances won’t stick and there will be increased employee resistance. It never hurts to focus on the basics first when developing and coaching talent.
Tianna Tye, MAIO
What was your overall experience at this year’s LTEN Event?
[Tianna] This happened to be my first LTEN experience and the word I’d use to describe it is “connection.” There was an air of excitement and anticipation in everyone to catch up with old friends, build new relationships, and learn from one another!
Did you attend any of the workshops, live learning labs, or speaking engagements? If so, what was your favorite? [If no] What was one new / interesting thing you learned while at LTEN?
[Tianna] The 2023 Leadership Development Benchmark Report and Panel Discussion featured phenomenal names in the industry, including: Jeff Taylor (Sr Director, Learning & Development at Harmony Biosciences), Kristy Callahan (Sr. Director Commercial Training at Baxter Healthcare), Scott Tinkle (Director of Leader Development at Takeda), and Kevin Cruse (CEO of LeadX).
Jeff Taylor echoed WLH’s long-held belief that, “…even the greatest teams can’t overcome bad coaching.”
While it’s not a new concept, seeing that coaching remains the #1 priority focus area in leadership development reinforces our commitment at WLH to equip leaders with those mission-critical skills.
How do you see the L & D industry changing and evolving in the years to come? What new trends, methods, and / or techniques do you see happening?
[Tianna] Unsurprisingly, there was a heavy AI and technology influence at this year’s conference. Without getting into the technical details of what’s possible and what’s at risk… it’s safe to say that L&D professionals are starting to parse between what’s exciting and what’s impactful. The industry as a whole is focused on determining the technological advances that will truly make a difference in the learning experience of users. As for me? My money is on the customized coaching opportunities that AI software like ChatGPT have opened up.
