Podcast Summary: Building Personalized Learning Journeys
for Career Growth with Kim Troxell of AbbVie
Kim Troxell, Head of U.S. Commercial Learning and Development at AbbVie, brings nearly 30 years of industry experience and a global perspective to her role. In this episode of Learning Leader Spotlight, Kim shares how her passion for helping others grow led her to L&D, the global stops along her career path, and what she sees as the most important shifts in learning today and tomorrow.
From Global Sales Leader to L&D Advocate
Kim’s career began in pharmaceutical sales and marketing, where she led teams at every level including two international assignments in Ireland and Denmark. Those global roles were especially formative, giving her firsthand exposure to different learning cultures and leadership styles. She returned to the U.S. in 2018 and moved into L&D two years ago, drawn by the opportunity to scale her passion for people development across the enterprise.
Although she’s relatively new to a formal L&D role, Kim has always been a people-first leader. She talks about the pride she’s taken in helping team members build out career development plans, something she now gets to champion on a much larger scale.
Personalized Learning and Micro Moments
When asked about the biggest changes she’s seen in L&D, Kim doesn’t hesitate: everything is moving faster than ever before. But a few themes stand out:
- Personalized learning journeys are front and center. Kim notes that adult learners consume content in vastly different ways. Some want a whitepaper, others a podcast or a gamified module. “It’s about meeting people where they are,” she says.
- Microlearning has grown in importance. “We used to spend weeks in a hotel conference room,” Kim laughs, “but now people need what they need in the moment.” Delivering small, relevant learning moments when they’re needed most has become the new gold standard.
- Gamification, long a part of the L&D landscape, is now more relevant than ever. Social media and short-form content have conditioned learners to expect engagement, fun, and quick wins—and L&D has had to evolve to keep pace.
Video: Personalized Learning - Micro Moments
Looking Ahead: AI, Relevance, and Career-Aligned Learning
The future of learning, Kim believes, lies in hyper-personalization and artificial intelligence will help get us there. “Just like how online shopping platforms recommend the next item based on what’s in your cart,” she explains, “AI in learning can suggest new content based on what an employee has already done.”
She also foresees deeper alignment between learning journeys and career pathways. Instead of just checking boxes on soft skills, future L&D efforts will tie development directly to advancement goals. What does someone need to move from point A to point Z in their career? That’s where L&D can provide both clarity and momentum.
And the rate of change? Only accelerating. “The pace of change today,” Kim says, “is the slowest it will ever be again.” That’s why she believes staying adaptable is no longer optional, it’s the only way to stay relevant.
Video: Career Aligned Learning
The Most Critical Skill Today
If Kim could wave a magic wand and give every L&D professional one skill, it would be curiosity paired with a willingness to challenge the status quo. With so much transformation happening across technology, expectations, and business models, those who stay open and inquisitive will have a serious edge.
“We can’t cling to how we’ve always done things,” she says. “We have to constantly ask questions, stay open, and look for new possibilities even if it means stepping into discomfort.”
A Mentor Who Pushed Her
Kim credits one long-standing mentor for helping her grow in exactly that way. What made the relationship so impactful? Her mentor pushed her sometimes uncomfortably toward strategic thinking, rather than letting her stay in the weeds.
“She was the first person who really made me uncomfortable in a productive way,” Kim shares. That relationship has endured for over a decade, even across company lines, and Kim still calls her for everything from career advice to people issues.
The experience also shaped how Kim now mentors others knowing when to listen and when to push.
Books and Resources She Loves
For anyone looking to lead in L&D, Kim recommends two standout books:
- Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg – This classic inspired Kim to stop sitting on the sidelines (literally) and claim her seat at the table. “It taught me to show up even if I had to pull up a chair,” she says.
- How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith – A follow-up favorite that helped her show up more directly and confidently in leadership conversations.
And when it comes to staying up to date? Webinars and peer conversations top her list. Listening to how leaders in and outside her industry solve challenges keeps her learning fresh and her perspective sharp.
Kim Troxell’s story is a powerful reminder that the best L&D leaders aren’t just facilitators—they’re lifelong learners themselves. With curiosity as her compass and development as her mission, Kim’s career journey is both inspiring and instructive for anyone navigating today’s ever-changing learning landscape.
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