Podcast Summary – Embracing Flexibility as the Core Skill for Growth with Kari Borroel of AstraZeneca
When you think about learning and development in highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, you might picture long procedures, endless documents, and the dreaded “check the box” approach. Kari Borroel, Head of Operations, Quality Learning and Development, GxP Learning at AstraZeneca, is working hard to flip that script. She leads a growing global learning team focused on transformation, change, and delivering real strategic value. In our conversation, she shared her journey into the field, the shifts she sees happening in L&D, and her belief that flexibility is the must-have skill for today’s professionals.
Falling into Learning and Never Looking Back
Like many in the L&D world, Kari didn’t set out to land here. During her undergrad years, she worked part-time at a bank in the credit card division. Her natural desire to help others quickly led her into informal coaching and then into training new hires. What started as a side responsibility became a passion.
From there, Kari built her career around helping people and organizations grow. She’s held training and development roles across industries and, for nearly the past decade, has been immersed in the pharmaceutical and life sciences space. The common thread? A love of learning itself. Kari believes that if you aren’t learning and growing every day, you risk becoming obsolete. For her, learning isn’t just a job; it’s a way of life.
Changes Shaping Learning Today
When asked about the biggest changes she’s seen in recent years, Kari didn’t hesitate: Artificial Intelligence. Like many leaders, she’s both amazed by its capabilities and cautious about how best to apply it. From speeding up content creation to automating administrative tasks, AI is already transforming how her team works.
But the other shift has been just as impactful: moving beyond static compliance training in pharma. For too long, employees were handed long documents and told to “sign off.” Today, Kari and her peers are introducing variety, better design, and more engaging learning experiences. The result? Employees are not only trained but actually prepared to perform. It’s a transformation she sees as essential in a space where both regulations and innovation move quickly.
The Future of L&D
Looking ahead, Kari predicts two major trends will dominate:
- More AI everywhere. From development to delivery, L&D teams will continue finding ways to work smarter and faster.
- Stronger ties to business strategy. Kari has noticed more senior leaders asking how learning supports organizational goals. That shift is exciting. It positions L&D not as a support function, but as a driver of transformation.
Her vision of the future is one where L&D isn’t an “extra” but a critical business advantage. The people pillar, as she calls it, becomes inseparable from the company’s ability to succeed.
Mentorship and Taking Risks
Kari credits much of her own growth to great mentors. One in particular, Stan from her time at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, encouraged her to take risks, explore new parts of the business, and push beyond her comfort zone. Years later, she still turns to him for advice. That kind of support shaped her approach as a leader: encouraging her team to stretch themselves and embrace change.
She also sees value in paying mentorship forward, often mentoring others and helping them find their place in the L&D world. For Kari, mentorship isn’t just guidance, it’s a way to build future leaders who will carry the field forward.
The Most Critical Skills Today
When asked about the single most important skill for professionals today, Kari was clear: flexibility.
The world, the workplace, and personal lives all shift constantly. Being able to adapt, lean into change, and stay open to new paths is essential. People who struggle with flexibility often find themselves stuck or frustrated. Those who embrace it, she says, open the door to growth and opportunity.
Trusted Resources
To stay sharp herself, Kari turns often to Josh Bersin’s research for L&D benchmarking and trends. She also values the Harvard Business Review for its broader business insights. Both, she says, help her keep a balanced view of the learning landscape and the larger organizational context.
A Book for Aspiring Leaders
Kari’s book recommendation is one many seasoned leaders share: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith. She appreciates how the book challenges readers to think differently about their skills, behaviors, and strategies as they move into new roles. It’s a reminder that success requires constant evolution, echoing her own belief that learning never stops.
Final Thoughts
Kari Borroel embodies the balance of pragmatism and passion that makes great L&D leaders. She’s grounded in the realities of compliance-heavy industries but driven to transform them into something better. Her belief in flexibility, her embracing of AI, and her commitment to mentorship highlight the traits that will shape the next generation of learning leaders.
At AstraZeneca, her work is not just about training, it’s about building the people and capabilities that drive the business forward. And in Kari’s world, that’s what true learning transformation looks like.
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