Thursday May 14, 2026
219. Learning Cultures Create Better Business Outcomes (with Lori Benton)
219. Learning Cultures Create Better Business Outcomes (with Lori Benton)
In this episode of The Visibility Factor podcast, Susan sits down with Lori Benton, Senior Vice President of Learning, Culture & Engagement, leadership coach, and former Chief Academic Officer, for a powerful conversation about leadership development, culture strategy, coaching, and the human side of organizational growth. Lori shares her unique career journey from chemistry teacher and educational leader into corporate leadership and explains how her background in education shaped her philosophy around learning, engagement, psychological safety, and leadership development. Together, Susan and Lori explore why culture and business strategy cannot be separated, how organizations can better support high-potential leaders, and why coaching should be viewed as growth, not punishment.
Key Topics Discussed
- Why culture strategy and business strategy must align
- The difference between training and true learning
- Creating psychological safety for teams
- Why organizations lose talent when they fail to invest in people
- The role of coaching in leadership growth
- Building collaborative cultures instead of competitive ones
- Learning and culture are inseparable
- Training is not the same as learning
- Leadership growth starts with self-awareness
- Visibility is about impact, not self-promotion
- Coaching should be developmental, not punitive
- Great leaders focus on people, not just performance
Book Recommendation: Together Is Better by Simon Sinek
Connect with Lori: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-benton-8047a22b8/
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