Podcast Summary “Agility and AI in L&D with
Jessica Sieminski of Nationwide”
Jessica Sieminski brings a unique blend of business acumen and educational passion to her role as Director of Learning and Performance at Nationwide Financial. With a background in sales and a heart for teaching, Jessica has carved out a career that allows her to combine both: leading a team that designs engaging, business-impacting learning for sales associates. She describes her work as focused on “influencing behavior and improving business results,” and it’s clear she sees learning as a strategic lever.
Jessica’s team supports three pillars: onboarding, sales technology training, and sales skills development. Their toolkit? Everything from simple learning aids to high-end CBTs, complete with animation and professional video production, yes, even actors, makeup, and an in-house studio. It’s not your average training department
From Sales to L&D: Following the Passion to Teach
Although Jessica initially pursued a business degree and began her career in sales, she never lost her desire to help people learn. A pivotal moment came when she was training college professors on how to implement digital courseware. That “aha!” experience, realizing that she enjoyed the training aspect more than the actual sale, launched her into a full-time L&D role. It was her first real step into the field, and she hasn’t looked back since.
What’s particularly compelling about Jessica’s story is how naturally her L&D career emerged from solving real-world problems. She didn’t set out to be a learning leader, but when the opportunity came to align her skills with her passion, she leaned in
What’s Changing in L&D? Let’s Talk GenAI
Like many L&D professionals today, Jessica sees generative AI as the most transformative force in recent years. At first, she admits, she was cautious, hearing the buzz in late 2022 but not jumping in until mid-2023. Since then, she’s embraced the technology, spending time learning how to write better prompts and experimenting with tools like ChatGPT to create assessments, course outlines, FAQs, and even evaluation surveys.
At Nationwide, the guiding principle for AI use is “Human in the Lead”, a strong reminder that while AI can support the process, it’s still the designer’s insight and creativity that make the difference. The technology has been a “jumping off point” that boosts efficiency without compromising quality.
And Jessica sees this as just the beginning.
Looking Ahead: A Future of Personalized, AI-Augmented Learning
Looking five to ten years ahead, Jessica imagines a world where generative AI plays a core role not just in how training is designed, but how it’s experienced. She envisions AI-powered personal tutors that adapt to individual learners offering just the right level of challenge, pacing, and delivery style.
Imagine onboarding programs as unique as fingerprints, she says, where each learner’s journey is customized in real-time. But she’s quick to point out that this also means a shift in the nature of human work. As AI takes on more generative tasks, humans will need to step up with critical thinking and judgment skills.
That’s where L&D will need to double down developing the human strengths that machines can’t replicate.
The Most Critical Skill: Adaptability
When asked what skill she values most in talent today, Jessica doesn’t hesitate: Adaptability. With the rapid pace of digital change, L&D teams need people who can pivot fast, experiment fearlessly, and learn continuously. She emphasizes the importance of professional agility, being comfortable with ambiguity, and letting go of outdated assumptions about what “good training” looks like.
Her message is clear: the pace of change we’re experiencing now is the slowest it’s going to be. Teams that embrace this and stay curious will thrive.
Where Jessica Gets Her Insights
Jessica’s top resource? LinkedIn. Not only for news, but for idea-sharing, community, and staying on top of trends. She follows learning professionals, tech innovators, and financial services thought leaders. She’s also a fan of LinkedIn Learning, which she used to sharpen her GenAI prompting skills. For Jessica, staying relevant means staying plugged in and LinkedIn helps her do both.
Book Recommendation: The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
Jessica recommends this book to anyone in a leadership role, but especially those in L&D. Rubin’s framework classifies people into four “tendencies” based on how they respond to expectations: upholders, questioners, obligers, and rebels. Jessica has used these insights to tailor her coaching style and better understand how to motivate both her team and her learners.
And yes, she admits she’s a rebel herself. “You can even use it at home,” she laughs, referencing how it’s helped her navigate family dynamics.
Jessica Sieminski’s approach to L&D is a refreshing blend of practical innovation and human-centered leadership. She’s grounded in business results but never loses sight of the learner. Whether she’s championing AI or building training videos with professional actors, she’s pushing the boundaries of what corporate learning can be and she’s clearly having fun doing it.
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