Celebrating Diane Elkins: The Newest Guild Master at DevLearn
The atmosphere was electric in the keynote room at DevLearn last November as the community erupted in cheers with the announcement of Diane Elkins as the latest Guild Master. As the owner of Artisan Learning, Diane was honored for her significant contributions to the field of learning and development (L&D).
After receiving the award, I had the pleasure of speaking with Diane about her journey, current initiatives, and her vision for the future of L&D.
A Change in Career Plans
Interestingly, Diane’s path to L&D wasn’t always clear-cut. With aspirations to work in advertising, she earned degrees in graphic design, English, and marketing. However, circumstances shifted her focus, leading her to a job writing resumes. This experience ultimately guided her to a role training others in effective job-search strategies.
Discovering Her Passion for Training
While she eventually found her footing in advertising, it lacked the fulfillment she discovered in training. “At the end of the day, my goal is to empower others to perform better in their jobs. When people excel at their work, everyone benefits, and that motivates me every day,” Diane reflected.
Diane’s Global Footprint
With her unwavering passion for education, Diane co-founded Artisan Learning, a bespoke learning design firm. What started as a venture with her business partner Desiree Pender has now flourished into a thriving company with 24 dedicated employees and an impressive client portfolio, including the American Red Cross.
“Knowing that the training materials I developed are being utilized by volunteers in shelters after a disaster is incredibly rewarding,” Diane shared.
Balancing Concerns About AI
Diane is currently navigating the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in L&D. “I have very mixed feelings about its implications,” she confessed.
On one hand, she celebrates AI’s ability to enhance visual presentations. On the other, she expresses caution regarding its writing capabilities, noting that AI-generated text can often be overly verbose.
Despite her concerns, Diane remains optimistic about AI’s potential to improve accessibility and accurately assess critical thinking—two long-standing challenges in eLearning.
“I’m excited about the improvements AI could bring, but I also worry about its possible downsides,” she warned.
Envisioning the Future of L&D
Looking ahead, Diane highlights the vast potential for L&D to further champion accessibility. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to improve at their job, and I truly mean everyone,” she emphasized.
She shared stories of individuals with rotator cuff injuries or visual impairments, underscoring the necessity for inclusive training solutions in today’s learning environments.
While Diane acknowledges the progress made in recent years, she believes there is still much ground to cover. “People are beginning to discuss it more, the tools are evolving, but there is still ample room for improvement,” she stated.
