Are you in the early stages of your L&D career and wishing you had a community of peers to learn, grow, and navigate this field with?
You’re not alone — and this group is for you.
Hi, I’m Shania — and this is why I’m relaunching this SIG
When I entered my first L&D role right out of college, I felt like I’d stumbled into a world that everyone else had discovered much later in their careers. I quickly noticed:
● Most people “find” L&D mid-career, which means early-career L&D professionals are rare.
● Many of us work on very small teams—sometimes a team of one. Mine is a team of three. Collaboration and idea-sharing can be limited.
Add to that the fact that AI is reshaping our field faster than ever, and it became clear:
Young L&D professionals need a space of our own — to learn, grow, and shape the future of L&D together.
This is where the ATD Young L&D Professionals SIG comes in.
Why This SIG Exists
This group is designed to help early-career Learning & Development professionals:
● Build community with peers who understand the challenges and opportunities of entering L&D early in one’s career
● Grow intentionally in a fast-changing industry
● Exchange ideas, tools, and career strategies
● Find support, inspiration, and collaboration
Whether you’re a team of one or part of a small but mighty L&D team, this SIG gives you a space to connect and belong.
What to Expect at Our Kickoff Meeting
During our kickoff session, you will:
● Learn about the mission and goals of the Young L&D Professionals SIG
● Reflect and discuss the current L&D landscape and the changes shaping our work
● Meet and connect with other early-career L&D professionals
● Share what you hope to gain from this community so we can co-create a meaningful experience
If you’re looking for a space that supports your growth, validates your experiences, and helps you build a purposeful career in L&D, I would love to see you at the kickoff.
About Your SIG Leader:
Shania Sharma is a Learning Experience Designer with four years of experience creating engaging and impactful learning programs. She started her career as a people skills training vendor building live training for organizations such as Subway, Calendly, and Asana. Currently, she works at a healthcare organization, training staff on topics such as patient-centered care, leadership, and clinical excellence. Shania is passionate about building communities that foster growth, belonging, and shared purpose, and practices this in her personal and professional life.
Earn Professional Professional Development Points
This program is worth 1 Professional Development point.
ATD Capability Model
Each ATD-OC Learning Event will be aligned to at least one Talent Development Capability, as identified by ATD National.
This program aligns with:
Building Personal Capability:
● Lifelong Learning
Developing Professional Capability:
● Career and Leadership Development
Impacting Organizational Capability:
● Future readiness
Disruption via technology will continue to be a reality for organizations and talent development functions. Talent development professionals must have the ability to identify, select, and implement the right learning and talent technologies that serve the best interests of the organization and its people. Practitioners should be able to identify opportunities to adapt and leverage the right technologies at the right time to meet organizational goals.
To find out more about the ATD Capability Model for the Training and Development Profession, visit http://tdcapability.org.
Photography and Video Waiver
By registering for this event, I do hereby give ATD Los Angeles and and its associates or assigns, or anyone acting under its authority or permission, the irrevocable and unrestricted right and permission to: capture the image, audio, and content via photograph, videotape, audiotape, transcription, or other means now available, copyright in its own name or otherwise, and use, reuse, publish, and republish any and all material of which I presented, or may have been included in presenting, in whole or in part. I consent to the use of all media now or hereafter known for illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising, trade, or any other purpose whatsoever. I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect or approve the finished product or products and the advertising copy or other matter that may be used in connection therewith or the use to which it may be applied. If I do not provide permission, I understand that I will not activate my web camera during virtual sessions.
REFUND/CANCELLATION: Please click here for cancellation and refund policies. We cannot guarantee that webinar/Zoom recordings will be available.
All ADA accommodations require a 21-day advanced notice by email to office@atdla.org (use Subject line: ADA Accommodations Request) so that we can reasonably search for and secure accommodations. ATD-LA cannot guarantee that accommodations can be reasonably secured with shorter notice. ATD-LA will cover costs for accommodations as required by law, for the published duration of the event only.
