We couldn’t be more excited to welcome industry expert and internationally recognized speaker Debbie Richards to the Cognota team!
With over 30 years of experience, Debbie’s leadership and passion for Learning and Development will provide incredible value to our LearnOps community.
Debbie brings an unparalleled combination of deep technical expertise and passionate advocacy for L&D professionals. Her extensive background includes:
- AI and Technology Leadership: Designing and teaching AI accreditation programs for the Association for Talent Development (ATD), helping leaders translate complex technical concepts into actionable business strategies
- Strategic Consulting: Over three decades helping major organizations navigate large-scale technology and more recently AI adoption
- Industry Recognition: Named a “Guild Master” by the Learning Guild in 2022 for her significant contributions to the field
- Author and Thought Leader: Written multiple TD at Work guides, including “Seeing the Possibilities With Augmented Reality” and “Preparing Your Organization for New Technologies”
- Community Builder: Director at L&D Cares nonprofit, Past President of ATD Houston, and Partners Manager for Undesto.ai
Elevating the LearnOps Ecosystem
In her role as Chief Learning Advisor, Debbie will focus on two critical areas that directly impact L&D professionals:
Transforming the LearnOps Academy
Debbie will oversee the evolution of our LearnOps Academy, ensuring it delivers world-class content, exceptional user experience, and practical tools that L&D professionals can implement immediately. Her vision is to create the definitive resource for mastering LearnOps principles and driving measurable business impact.
Growing our Global L&D Community
The LearnOps Community will flourish under Debbie’s guidance, becoming a vibrant hub where learning professionals connect, collaborate, and share breakthrough insights. From continuous learning opportunities to global perspective exchanges and professional development events, the Community serves as an essential resource for career growth and innovation.
“I’m incredibly excited to bring my passion for supporting Learning and Development professionals to a larger scale at Cognota,” says Debbie. “We’re not just building tools – we’re creating an ecosystem that empowers L&D teams to operate with the same efficiency and strategic impact as other critical business functions.”
Debbie’s appointment aligns perfectly with Cognota’s mission to make learning and development more efficient and effective. Her deep understanding of the challenges L&D professionals face daily, combined with her track record of driving innovation and adoption, positions her to make an immediate and lasting impact.
Strengthening Our Commitment
Working closely with our VP of Customer Success and Education, Debbie will strengthen our Academy, Community, and relationships with Chief Learning Officers. This partnership approach ensures that every aspect of the Cognota experience is designed with L&D professionals’ success in mind.
Join the Movement
As Debbie settles into her new role, she’s eager to connect with L&D professionals and understand their current challenges and aspirations. Her open invitation to the community reflects Cognota’s collaborative approach to innovation: Building solutions that truly serve the needs of learning professionals.
The future of Learning and Development is bright, and with Debbie Richards championing L&D professionals at Cognota, we’re confident that the LearnOps movement will continue to transform how organizations approach talent development.
Connect with Debbie and explore how the LearnOps Academy and Community can accelerate your impact as an L&D professional.
