Podcast Summary: Intentional L&D for Modern Teams with Melissa Davis of Pfizer
Melissa Davis didn’t set out to work in learning and development but like many of us, she found her calling once she got a taste of the field. Her journey began as an HR systems trainer, standing in front of a room full of professionals teaching them how to use PeopleSoft. That early experience lit a fire that has never gone out.
Since then, Melissa has built a remarkable career across five industries and six companies, including a decade leading leadership development at T-Mobile. Today, she serves as the VP of People Experience and Organization Development for Pfizer’s Research and Development group. Her focus has shifted from strictly leadership development to broader organization development, working with executive teams and enabling HR partners to meet the fast-changing needs of a large, global R&D function.
And through it all? She’s been developing humans both in the office and at home, where she’s raised four now-adult children.
Intentional Learning Is the Name of the Game
When asked about the biggest changes she’s seen in L&D, Melissa pointed to intentionality. Once upon a time, it was all in-person learning she recalls loading up suitcases with printed participant guides and projectors to deliver leadership workshops. Then the pandemic hit, and everything swung hard in the other direction: fully virtual, fully remote.
Now, the pendulum has settled somewhere in the middle, and Melissa sees that as a major win. L&D teams today have the freedom to choose the right delivery method for the audience, the content, and the business need. Want deep networking and collaboration? Bring folks together in person. Need to scale learning quickly and efficiently? Virtual training can do the trick.
That freedom of choice and the ability to be deliberate about how and when we use different methods is something she sees as a defining advancement in the field.
Where L&D Is Headed: AI, Soft Skills, and Psychological Safety
Looking ahead, Melissa sees a continued march toward personalized and adaptive learning powered by AI, machine learning, and immersive technologies. But she’s quick to balance that with a reminder: technology alone isn’t enough.
Interpersonal and soft skills especially the ability to navigate team dynamics in global, remote environments, are more essential than ever. At Pfizer, travel is limited, but the need for team connection, inclusion, and psychological safety hasn’t changed. It’s just the “how” that’s evolving.
Melissa also lit up when discussing simulated experiences: AI avatars, VR tools, and virtual coaching that allow people to practice conversations, sales pitches, or feedback sessions at their own desk, without judgment or pressure. Unlike traditional “fishbowl” role plays, these tools make learning more accessible, less embarrassing, and way more scalable.
And bonus? The feedback learners receive is often more consistent and objective than peer feedback during a classroom exercise. Less awkward, more actionable.
A Mentor Who Made a Difference
Melissa credits a former VP at T-Mobile as one of her most influential mentors—the person who gave her a shot at leading a team for the first time. She went from no direct reports to leading a 20-person team with multiple levels. A true two-box move.
What made that mentor stand out was his support when fear got in the way. He’d remind her that if she wasn’t a little scared in her role, she probably wasn’t growing. He also modeled how to lead through someone else giving Melissa the space to be the leader her team needed while still being present as her own leader.
She still connects with him regularly. Once you find a mentor like that, she says, you don’t let them go.
The Skill That Matters Most? Focus on What You Can Control
When asked what skill is most important in talent today, Melissa offered something deeply human: the ability to stay focused on what’s within your control.
In large, constantly evolving organizations like Pfizer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by change. But Melissa makes a conscious effort to focus on her mindset, her time, her relationships, and her responses. She often reflects on Stephen Covey’s “Circle of Control” model and it’s something she uses both with her team and in her personal life (especially during the early days of the pandemic with teenagers at home!).
It’s a reminder we all need: we can’t control everything, but we can control how we show up.
Real Talk on Career Transitions
With six companies and multiple industry shifts under her belt, Melissa has plenty of insight into navigating career transitions. Her advice?
- Stay persistent, but balanced. Push forward, but know when to take a break and recharge.
- Be adaptable. Sometimes a left turn, like contract work, can open new doors.
- Invest in your network. Even when you’re not job searching, nurture those connections.
- Reflect and apply what you learn. Treat the transition as a learning experience in itself.
She recently watched a friend take these steps and land a great role after nine months of searching and she knows how crucial mindset and momentum can be.
Final Thoughts
Melissa Davis brings wisdom, humility, and heart to the field of L&D. Her path from training PeopleSoft to shaping the future of organizational development at Pfizer shows the power of continuous growth, intentional learning, and human connection.
Her advice? Develop people. Invest in relationships. And when things get uncertain, focus on what you can control.
What Skills Do Learning Leaders Value Most in 2025?
Ready to Work with Us?
Does your L&D team have more projects than people? TrainingPros has been named a Top 20 Staffing Company internationally by Training Industry, and recognized as a Smartchoice® Preferred Provider by Brandon Hall Group for 2025. We’re also proud to be named a Champion of Learning by the Association for Talent Development (ATD)—an international honor that reflects our dedication to excellence in corporate learning. These accolades underscore TrainingPros’ unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, tailored training solutions.
If your projects need instructional design consultants, eLearning developers, or other L&D consultants for your custom content projects, reach out to one of our industry-expert relationship managers today.
When you have more projects than people™, let TrainingPros find the right consultant to start your project with confidence. Schedule a consultation today.
