Blending human-centered design with AI creates transformative learning experiences that are scalable, engaging, and deliver measurable behavior change

For 7 years our team has explored every facet of how to create innovative, high-impact blended learning solutions. This journey has taken us into deep relationships with thought-leading talent development firms, committed to creating a kinder, more collaborative world. These compassionate, driven individuals have taught us greatly through their commitment to empowering others with knowledge and expertise. What makes these organizations so remarkable and unique also leads to diverse approaches in running their programs, highlighting a wide array of needs for a learning product. This challenge has driven us to uncover what’s truly essential in crafting a seamless blend of online and offline learning with self-discovery—resulting in impactful experiences that lead to measurable behavior change. It’s been an exciting journey, and we’re confident we’ve cracked the code on creating a platform that delivers. 

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As a values-driven business, we’ve committed to bootstrapping our company to safeguard the quality of our product and service. While taking investment might accelerate growth, it risks compromising the principles we hold dear. For us, return on investment is a natural result of helping others unlock human potential. This approach has led us down the challenging but deeply rewarding path less traveled (yes, Robert Frost style) —a deliberate choice rooted in our belief that learning should empower people to feel supported, motivated, and safe. We’ve always envisioned learning and habit-building as a seamless part of everyday life, and this ambitious goal has taught us—and reaffirmed—some invaluable lessons along the way.

Breaking Down Barriers to Effective Learning

Our partnerships highlighted a wide range of approaches and priorities, emphasizing the need for flexibility and adaptability in learning design. Despite having a robust platform, clients often struggled to transform their ideas and expertise into fully developed experiential learning programs. This process required considerable time, effort, and resources, creating barriers for organizations aiming to deliver impactful training.

Another challenge was addressing the growing demand for scalable, consistent, and personalized coaching. Traditional methods were unable to keep pace, leaving learners without the tailored guidance necessary for growth. Compounding these issues was the over-reliance on knowledge transfer, the "10%" focus of the 70/20/10 learning model, while the vital social and experiential elements were often overlooked. Addressing these gaps became our driving purpose.

Insights That Redefined Our Approach

Tackling these challenges required rethinking the way learning is designed, delivered, and supported. Four essential insights shaped our approach:

• The Experience is the learning. This has netted a deep focus on all of the ways we can enable experiential and facilitated learning on our platform
• Content is just the beginning and it can often hold us back from learning if we over-vector towards it, which happens all too much. More about that in a bit…
• Learning can be isolating, if not tended to properly. People want to learn, but it’s hard to do when it’s boring, unengaging, or too passive, doing things ‘alone on an island’
• Finally, it takes a very thoughtful approach to support other humans on their learning journeys

*For more on these concepts with actionable insights, check out my article on Training Industry Magazine‍Unlocking the Full Potential of the 70/20/10 Model with AIThe Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) coined the 70/20/10 model in the 80s, and HBR and others have referenced the research ever since. This seminal  model provides a proven framework for effective learning: 10% for knowledge transfer, 20% for social engagement, and 70% for experiential learning. Yet, most technologies remain entrenched in the knowledge transfer phase, neglecting the social and experiential dimensions that foster true behavior change.Generative AI offered us an opportunity to further challenge this status quo. After a year of intense research, prototyping, and reflection, we uncovered ways AI can:

• Democratize learning design, making it intuitive and impactful for all users
• Deliver real-time, personalized coaching tailored to each learner’s needs
• Support sustained habit-building and drive measurable outcomes at scale

From Ideas to Impact: Simplifying the Learning JourneyAlthough our platform achieved impressive results, the process of transforming expertise and program materials into experiential learning journeys was resource-intensive. To address this, we created Saige™—an AI-powered learning design companion and coach. By combining human-centered design principles with AI’s transformative potential, Saige redefines modern learning. It streamlines program design by transforming ideas and expertise into dynamic, experiential learning programs in seconds, removing the complexity and time investment traditionally required. It scales personalized coaching by delivering just-in-time, adaptive guidance that challenges learners to think critically and apply their knowledge practically. Additionally, Saige enhances social and experiential learning by fostering collaboration and seamlessly embedding learning into real-world contexts, ensuring every experience is both engaging and impactful.Looking Ahead: The Evolution of Saige™As we continue to evolve, we’ll share more about our journey, including:

• "Stepping into the Future of Learning": A behind-the-scenes look at how Saige™ was designed to transform learning experiences
• "Solving the Problem of Inconsistent Coaching - A Case Study": The story of Saige Coach™ and its role in overcoming coaching gaps.
• "Finding Forward-Thinking Learning Partners": Lessons from private beta tests and experiments that have shaped Saige’s trajectory

Our vision is for Saige™ to re-imagine  learning design in the same way Canva transformed graphic design—by empowering individuals to effortlessly create impactful learning paths. Our mission is to democratize learning design, making coached learning accessible and intuitive for everyone. This is only the beginning, and we’re excited to bring you along as we continue this journey.Until next time, Think Bold. Always Learning.