Written By Cari Borden

Let’s talk about the elephant in the boardroom: corporate training programs. Companies are pumping money into them like it’s going to magically produce top-tier leaders, engaged employees, and a thriving succession pipeline.

Spoiler alert: It’s not.

The truth? Most employees aren’t learning a thing. Not really. Sure, they’re watching videos. Clicking through modules. Attending mandatory sessions. But ask them how to apply that knowledge in real-time situations, and you’ll be met with blank stares or “That’s not how we do it here.”

Why? Because there’s no application.
No demonstration.
No mentoring.

It’s all theory, no practice. And when someone does ask for guidance or mentorship, they’re handed a dusty succession plan or a vague “you’ve got potential” pat on the back. Let’s be honest, those succession plans? More like PR tactics than actual growth strategies. Boxes get checked. Budgets get spent. But people? People get left behind.

Here’s the kicker: growth today is a solo sport.

If you’re an employee genuinely looking to grow, personally, professionally, or emotionally, you’re likely doing it alone. You’re chasing the podcasts, joining the webinars, finding LinkedIn voices that feel like lifelines. Why? Because your company isn’t investing in your transformation. They’re investing in optics.

So what now?

For organizations:
It’s time to take a step back and ask, “Are we training for transformation or just ticking boxes?” Real learning doesn’t come from a slide deck, it comes from meaningful conversations, job shadowing, feedback loops, and leaders who lead by demonstrating. You don’t need more training. You need more mentoring. More human connection. More real-time application.

For employees:
Stop waiting. Find a mentor, not just any mentor, but someone whose skills you want to mirror. Maybe it’s their strategic thinking. Maybe it’s their resilience. Maybe it’s how they handle conflict with grace. Find that person. Learn from them. Invest in your growth, because if you’re relying solely on your company, you’ll be waiting a long time.

If you’re tired of the checkbox learning culture and ready to take your growth into your own hands, find a mentor who moves the way you want to move, whether that’s mentally, professionally, or emotionally. Growth isn’t given. It’s taken. Start taking.