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The McKinsey article explores how the role of the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) is changing as work and learning become inseparable parts of the employee experience. Traditional models that treat training as separate from daily tasks are no longer sufficient. Instead, CLOs are now expected to design work itself as a developmental environment where employees build skills while performing their roles. This shift is powered by modern technology, particularly AI, which can provide real-time guidance, microcoaching, and personalized learning within workflows.
Examples include AI tools in call centers that offer next-best actions during customer interactions and feedback prompts after calls, helping employees grow on the job. CLOs must lead beyond the learning function by collaborating across HR, technology, analytics, and business units to align skill building with strategic outcomes. They also need to use data to track real-time skill development rather than traditional metrics like course completions. By doing so, they can demonstrate how learning contributes to agility, innovation, and business performance. The article positions CLOs as architects of “merged work and learning,” making everyday work the engine of professional growth and organizational adaptation.
