Podcast Summary: How Modern Learning Evolves Through Microlearning and AI Coaching with Chrissy Medeck of Ascension
A Conversation With Chrissy Medeck of Ascension
Chrissy Medeck has spent her career helping people grow, not just by delivering learning programs, but by creating the conditions where skill, confidence, and capability can actually take root.
As Senior Director of Organizational Development at Ascension, Chrissy leads three interconnected teams focused on leadership development, on-demand learning, and enterprise learning delivery. Together, those teams support employees across a large, complex healthcare organization, helping them build skills for today while preparing for what comes next.
What stands out most in Chrissy’s perspective is not a fixation on platforms or trends. It is her steady focus on people. Learning, in her view, is not about content consumption. It is about helping individuals expand in their current roles while also developing the capabilities they need to step into future opportunities.
That belief did not emerge overnight.
From Teaching Aspirations to Adult Learning Advocacy
Chrissy originally imagined herself in a classroom. Growing up in the eighties and nineties, she wanted to be a teacher, but she quickly realized traditional classroom teaching was not the right fit. She pivoted into public relations and found herself working in enrollment at the University of Phoenix. That role became a turning point.
Every day, she spoke with adults returning to school, many for the first time in years. She listened to their doubts, their motivations, and their hopes for a different future. She watched people push through uncertainty, earn degrees, and cross graduation stages as the first in their families to do so.
That experience ignited what Chrissy describes as a passion for adult learning. She later taught as an adjunct faculty member, balancing night classes with her full-time role, which further clarified her path. She knew learning and development was where she wanted to be.
Like many professionals at career crossroads, she faced a familiar question: how do you bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to go? Chrissy’s answer was curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to ask for guidance. It is advice she now offers freely to others considering a similar pivot. Wanting something new does not mean you are behind. It means you are paying attention.
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How the Pandemic Reshaped Learning Expectations
Chrissy is quick to acknowledge that learning has always evolved, but the pandemic accelerated changes that were already underway. Before 2020, much of corporate learning still relied on formal, in-person classroom experiences. Almost overnight, organizations had to pivot to virtual delivery, on-demand content, and digital collaboration.
That shift permanently altered expectations.
Learners began to expect access to resources exactly when they needed them, not weeks later in a scheduled session. Learning in the flow of work moved from a concept to a requirement. Microlearning became essential, not because attention spans shrank, but because work realities demanded flexibility. Three- to seven-minute learning moments became far more realistic than multi-hour blocks.
The shift also exposed a critical truth. Virtual facilitation is not simply in-person facilitation delivered through a webcam. It requires a different skill set. Engagement, technology fluency, and intentional design became essential. New roles, like virtual classroom producers, moved from optional to indispensable.
For learning leaders, the last few years reinforced an important lesson. Learning strategy must adapt to how people actually work, not how organizations wish they worked.
Efficiency, Outcomes, and the Rise of AI Coaching
Looking ahead, Chrissy sees learning continuing to move toward greater efficiency and clearer outcomes. Learners want fast access to relevant support. Organizations want evidence that learning leads to behavior change.
A good learning experience alone is no longer enough. Chrissy is candid about that reality. Someone can enjoy a session, complete a course, and still return to old habits. The future of learning demands stronger accountability for application and impact.
This is where she sees artificial intelligence playing a meaningful role.
AI, in Chrissy’s view, is not about replacing learning professionals. It is about delivering learning differently. Smarter recommendations. More relevant content. Faster access to support.
But the most compelling application, in her experience, is AI coaching.
Creating Safe Space for Practice
Chrissy describes AI coaching as a way for learners to practice real conversations in a psychologically safe environment. Through an on-demand platform, an employee can role play a difficult conversation, receive feedback, and refine their approach before ever speaking with another person.
It might be preparing for a performance discussion, navigating conflict, or practicing a high-stakes conversation. The value lies in repetition without risk.
For many learners, this is transformative. It removes the fear of embarrassment, judgment, or getting it wrong in front of a peer or leader. Instead, individuals can build confidence privately and intentionally.
Even without a formal AI coaching tool, Chrissy notes that professionals are already using AI in similar ways. Asking a tool to help structure a conversation, test messaging, or define what “good” sounds like has become a common and practical habit.
The shift is subtle but powerful. Learning moves from passive intake to active practice. From knowing to doing.
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Leadership Growth, Mentorship, and Finding Your Boardroom
Chrissy credits much of her growth to mentors, both positive and challenging. She believes strong leaders shape your confidence, while difficult experiences clarify your values and boundaries.
One mentor helped her recognize her own value and move past imposter syndrome. Another guided her transition from tactical execution to strategic leadership, helping her learn to start with business needs rather than defaulting to new programs or classes.
One piece of advice stayed with her. Be intentional about who sits at your boardroom table. Not a literal table, but the people you trust to challenge you, support you, and offer perspective. Growth rarely happens in isolation.
Chrissy makes a point of naming that impact directly. She believes mentors often underestimate the difference they make unless someone tells them.
The Skill That Makes Everything Else Work
When asked about the most important skill in today’s workplace, Chrissy does not hesitate. Stakeholder management.
No matter the role or industry, the ability to identify who is impacted by your work, engage them early, communicate clearly, and build relationships determines whether good ideas succeed or stall.
Alongside that, she emphasizes communication as a non-negotiable skill. Technology will continue to evolve, but clarity, curiosity, and the willingness to engage in hard conversations remain foundational.
Avoiding disagreement rarely leads to insight. Some of the most valuable conversations come from leaning into different perspectives with respect and openness.
Staying Grounded While Staying Current
Chrissy stays informed through organizations like ATD, SHRM, Gartner, and Harvard Business Review, but she believes external research is only part of the equation. Learning leaders must also stay deeply connected to their own organizations.
Employees and leaders will tell you what they need if you create the space to listen. In a virtual environment, that listening has to be intentional. Hallway conversations no longer happen by accident. Connection must be designed.
When it comes to professional reading, Chrissy recommends The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. While not a traditional L&D book, it offers powerful insight into how people come together, why purpose matters, and how to create meaningful experiences. She also uses tools like Blinkist and getAbstract to explore ideas efficiently before committing to full reads.
Confidence in the Impact of Learning
Chrissy closes the conversation with a message that resonates deeply in today’s learning landscape. She hopes learning professionals continue their careers with confidence, grounded in the knowledge that their work matters.
The tools may change. The formats will evolve. But the heart of learning remains the same. Helping people build skills, navigate change, and show up more capable tomorrow than they were today.
Listen to the full interview here.
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