Karie Willyerd

Karie Willyerd is the SVP and chief learning officer for Visa globally. Willyerd was formerly head of SAP’s global education business unit and was the workplace futurist at SuccessFactors, an SAP human capital software company. Prior to that she was the co-founder and CEO of Jambok, the industry’s first video-based informal social learning software platform, which was acquired by SuccessFactors in 2011. Willyerd served as the chief learning officer for Sun Microsystems, and in that role she was responsible for employee, customer, partner and Sun community learning. ATD named Sun the No. 1 best learning function in the world.

Willyerd is the co-author of the award-winning bestseller, “The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies Attract, Develop & Keep Tomorrow’s Employees Today.” She is a regular blogger for Harvard Business, co-authored a feature article, “Mentoring Millennials,” in Harvard Business Review and has authored dozens of other articles or publications.

In prior roles, she was a chief talent officer for Solectron (now Flextronics), led the people development function at Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems and ran executive development at H.J. Heinz. Willyerd holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University, a master’s degree in instructional and performance technology from Boise State University and a doctorate in management from Case Western Reserve University. She serves on the global leadership council for the business school at Colorado State University. Additionally she serves on the board of City Year, San Jose, supporting the young leaders who are making remarkable changes in high school dropout rates. Willyerd’s newest book is “Stretch: How to Future Proof Yourself for Tomorrow’s Workplace,” which was selected as an Amazon Editor’s Pick in Business and Leadership in 2016. ATD honored Willyerd with the Distinguished Contribution to Talent Development award in 2017.