Creating a Learning Culture in a Biotech Setting: Matching Learning Methods to Learning Styles

 

Join senior learning executives from Serono Inc. and Wyeth BioPharma as they lead a discussion about the challenges of creating a Learning Culture with a diverse learning audience which ranges from scientists to sales representatives, each with a preferred learning style.

 

What is the best method of learning for a large, multicultural biotech/biopharma organization?

The answer is: "It depends..." ...on what must be learned and more importantly, on who is the learner?

The challenges of creating a Learning Culture start with a diverse learning audience which ranges from scientists to sales representatives, each with a preferred learning style. Mix in the need for a flexible curriculum, knowledge assessments and multi-lingual technology tools and the result is an approach to employee development that matches learning methods to learning styles.

 

Moderator:

 

Doug Foster: Doug Foster served as the Vice President of Services at Click2learn, inc. (now SumTotal Systems), and as Vice President of Operations for Content Services as well as Senior Learning Technology Consultant. Prior to Click2learn, Mr. Foster was Vice President of Operations and Chief Technology Officer at Oakes Interactive, an award winning technology-based training company in Needham, Massachusetts, which merged with Click2learn in 1997. Prior to that, he co-founded Adrenaline Research.

 

Mr. Foster is a frequent speaker on technology-based training, and has been invited to present at numerous venues, including ASTD, Online Learning, Training, Knowledge Management World, Documentation and Training, the ICD Corporate Portal Conference, several Universities, and the Massachusetts Interactive Media Council.

 

Speakers:

 

Mike Laffin:Director, Learning & Organizational Development Serono, Inc.

 

Mike Laffin has 15 years of experience in the health care industry including sales, sales management, sales training and organizational development. He has worked for companies ranging from a multi-billion dollar healthcare organization to a start up biotech company.

 

Mike joined Serono, the world's third largest biotech company, in January 2003 leading the sales training effort for the neurology therapeutic area. He currently holds the position of Director, Learning & Organizational Development where he is currently implementing an organizational learning curriculum as part of an effort to establish Serono as a best in class learning and development organization.

 

Kevin Kovalcik:Training Technologies Manager at Wyeth BioPharma.

 

Kevin is responsible for ensuring the harmonization of the site's training and technology strategic initiatives. Prior to Wyeth, Kevin was the Training and Implementation Manager at WebMD, where he helped the organization exceed targeted quarterly training revenues by 25%. He achieved this by creating an innovative training program that leveraged virtual classroom, instructor led and E-Learning delivery methods. At MEDITECH, a leading hospital based HCIS vendor, Kevin was responsible for the training design, delivery and support for various clinical applications for all United Kingdom and South Africa accounts.Kevin is a member of the Biopharmaceutical Education and Training Association.

 

This Evening Event will be at SHARE,Consulate of Switzerland 420 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02138

 

Speakers:

 

Doug Foster,Learning Consultant,

Mike Laffin,Director,Learning and Organization Development,Serono,Inc

Kevin Kovalcik,Training Technologies Manager

 

 

Agenda:

5:30 Registration

6:00-6:30PM Networking and Appetizers

6:30-7:30PM-Panel Discussion.

7:30-8:00PM-Q&A Session