Long before earning a doctorate in learning and organizational change, I was a grocery store employee who couldn’t tell a Fuji apple from a Braeburn.

That ordinary mistake became the beginning of a much bigger journey that led me to explore how people learn, what encourages self-direction, and why mission-driven organizations sometimes create conditions that unintentionally limit it.

Learning Unleashed brings together stories, research, practical insight, and an approachable framework to help frontline staff, supervisors, learning facilitators, and organizational leaders better understand what people need to grow, and how workplaces can move beyond compliance toward meaningful professional development.

Whether you’re learning on the job, supporting someone else’s growth, leading a team, or designing professional development, this book offers a practical way to think about relevance, support, trust, and curiosity in a way that lets self-direction flourish.