Podcast Summary: Learning Leader Spotlight with Teresa Zeller, Global Head of Learning Creation at Merck
Teresa’s Path to Learning & Development
In this episode, we’re joined by Teresa Zeller, Global Head of Learning Creation at Merck, a role that places her at the helm of learning strategy and development for more than 75,000 employees around the world. Teresa’s L&D journey began during her senior year of college, when a course called “Training in Business” sparked her interest in the power of learning to influence behavior and drive organizational change. With a background in industrial-organizational psychology and communications, she quickly discovered her passion for helping people grow through learning. That passion led her to graduate studies in organization development and laid the foundation for what would become a nearly 30-year career in corporate learning.
Over the years, Teresa has held roles in both commercial and manufacturing learning, giving her a unique perspective on how learning must adapt to different contexts. Her career has been defined by her commitment to tying learning solutions to business impact—an approach she first learned as a research assistant and has continued to refine as a strategic learning leader.
Biggest Changes to L&D
Reflecting on the past five years, Teresa shares that one of the biggest shifts in the field has been L&D’s integration into the larger talent and HR strategy. Where learning was once treated as a siloed function, it is now considered a strategic partner across the business. Learning teams are increasingly invited to the table earlier in planning conversations, whether for growth initiatives, digital transformations, or M&A integration.
She also highlights the rapid acceleration of digital learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which fast-tracked the adoption of learning platforms, virtual training, and technology-enabled experiences. These tools have allowed organizations to personalize learning at scale, creating richer, more relevant development paths for employees. Teresa emphasizes that this isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s a fundamental shift in how we think about engagement, scalability, and impact in the learning space.
The Future of L&D
Looking ahead, Teresa is excited about three major trends that are shaping the future of corporate learning. First, she believes L&D will become even more tightly aligned with business strategy. Learning leaders will need to understand the business just as deeply as any executive leader, diagnosing skill gaps and designing programs that drive measurable outcomes.
Second, she sees a growing demand for technological agility. It’s not just about having the right tools, it’s about integrating them into a seamless, responsive ecosystem that supports learning in real time. Teresa envisions a future where systems like skills platforms and talent management solutions are fully connected, giving organizations a clear view of capability development.
And third, she is passionate about the evolution of personalized, skills-based learning. As learning becomes embedded into the work itself, not just “in the flow of work” but as part of the work, employees will be able to demonstrate and validate skills in real-time. This evolution, Teresa says, will transform L&D into a high-impact, data-driven function that helps drive performance and retention at scale.
Key Skills for L&D Success
When it comes to hiring for her team, Teresa says the hardest and most important skill to find is performance consulting. It’s a critical, upstream capability that ensures learning initiatives are aligned with business objectives from the start. Without it, even beautifully designed programs can fall flat. Teresa underscores that true performance consultants engage early with stakeholders to understand challenges, clarify goals, and co-create solutions that matter.
She also emphasizes the need for business acumen. Learning leaders must understand the “why” behind the training and be able to speak the language of the business. This mindset has guided Teresa’s career and is something she actively looks for—and develops—in her team.
Book and Media Recommendations
Teresa’s top book recommendation for aspiring learning leaders is Taking Learning to Task by Jane Vella. She regularly shares it with interns and new team members because of its clear, practical guidance on designing impactful learning experiences. For staying current on industry trends, Teresa turns to peer sharing, benchmarking, and trusted research partners like Brandon Hall Group. She values the ability to ask tough questions and get expert insight, especially when exploring new approaches or solving complex problems.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to lead with impact, design learning that matters, and stay ahead of where the L&D field is going next.
Book and Media Recommendations
Teresa’s top book recommendation for aspiring learning leaders is Taking Learning to Task by Jane Vella. She regularly shares it with interns and new team members because of its clear, practical guidance on designing impactful learning experiences. For staying current on industry trends, Teresa turns to peer sharing, benchmarking, and trusted research partners like Brandon Hall Group. She values the ability to ask tough questions and get expert insight, especially when exploring new approaches or solving complex problems.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to lead with impact, design learning that matters, and stay ahead of where the L&D field is going next.
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