You’ve got a slick leadership program, a big-name facilitator, and a bunch of “inspiring” slide decks—so why isn’t anything changing?
In this episode, I sit down with Victoria Feldman, a powerhouse in talent development and organizational design, to pull back the curtain on why leadership development often fails to stick—and what it actually takes to build leadership capability that drives results.
We’re talking about more than just training. We’re talking about systems. Culture. Accountability. We’re challenging the myth that a one-day workshop can turn managers into leaders, and exposing what really moves the needle: embedded learning, psychological safety, and strategic design that supports growth every damn day.
We cover:
– Why one-off workshops are a waste of time (and budget)
– How org design enables—or blocks—real leadership
– What it means to build leadership capacity at scale
– How to ditch happy-sheet feedback and measure real impact
– Why coaching beats content every time
– What L&D leaders need to shift if they want to stop being seen as a cost center
Why this episode matters:
You don’t build leaders in a workshop—you build them in the work. If you’re tired of performative programs and want to create something that actually changes behavior, this episode will fire you up (and probably ruffle a few feathers).
Guest Bio:
Victoria Feldman is an organizational development strategist and executive coach known for her no-nonsense approach to talent development. With years of experience helping companies embed leadership into the fabric of how they operate, she brings a systems-level mindset to everything from performance management to psychological safety. Victoria’s work challenges outdated assumptions, focusing on scalable solutions that actually drive behavior change. When she’s not helping leaders grow, she’s helping organizations get out of their own way.
Why she matters to you:
If you’ve ever launched a leadership program that fizzled out, this is your moment of truth. Victoria’s insights will help you rethink your approach, realign your systems, and finally build something that sticks.
Learn more about Victoria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriafeldman/
Connect with her work: https://www.feldmanvictoria.com/
Host Bio:
Kate Ball is an international talent strategist, bestselling author, and unapologetic Bullshit Exorcist on a mission to torch performative HR and take down corporate nonsense with a smile. With 20+ years spent shaking up culture, leadership, and talent strategy at giants like Amazon, Expedia, and Cision, she now runs Sparkle & Sass Consulting—helping brave companies and bolder leaders stop playing nice and start doing better.
On The Culture Chronicles, Kate calls it like it is: no jargon, no fluff, and definitely no beige. Just sharp minds, spicy takes, and real talk about what’s broken at work—and who’s bold enough to fix it.
This isn’t your HR department’s podcast. It’s the one they hope you never find.
Learn More About Kate: www.sparkleandsassconsulting.com
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateball1/
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_culturechronicles/
Explore The Culture Chronicles Book Series: https://www.amazon.com/author/kateball