Building Strategic Growth Through Learning and Development

Who are the more than 5,000 talent development professionals who have earned the APTD or CPTD credential? Get to know the talented and diverse community:

Rustam Mammadov is a Strategic Capability Development Lead. He earned the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD®) credential in 2023.

Why did you pursue the APTD/CPTD?
I pursued the CPTD because I wanted to grow not only as an L&D professional, but also as a strategic contributor to the organizations I support. Over the years, I had been working across many areas of talent development—from designing programs to building learning cultures—and I felt the need to benchmark my knowledge and deepen it in a structured, meaningful way.

How have you benefited from the credential—professionally and/or personally?
Professionally, the CPTD has given me a broader perspective on talent development. It connected the dots between the work I was already doing and the strategic thinking behind it. I feel more confident in conversations, especially when discussing the business value of learning. It also helped me structure some of the more complex initiatives I lead.

Personally, it was a great moment of reflection and growth. Preparing for the exam made me realize how much I had already learned through experience—and how much more there is to discover.

What advice would you share with others considering certification?
Go for it—but give yourself the space to truly learn from the process. The CPTD isn’t just a credential to check off your list; it’s a journey that helps you reflect on your practice, see things differently, and grow.

It might seem too complex at first. Don’t worry if you don’t know everything right away. Focus on understanding the bigger picture of talent development and how each part connects to the whole. Use real examples from your own work—it will make the preparation more meaningful and less overwhelming.

If you’ve been doing this work with passion and purpose, you already have a strong foundation. The certification just gives you the language and structure to take it further.

How do you think certification helps the talent development field?
Certification brings structure, shared language, and credibility to a field that is incredibly diverse and often misunderstood. It helps show that talent development is not just about delivering workshops—it’s about strategy, impact, and enabling people and organizations to grow.

How did your employer support your pursuit of the credential?
My employer was very supportive throughout the process. They gave me the space and flexibility I needed to study, and more importantly, they valued the learning journey itself—not just the end result.

I was encouraged to apply what I was learning to real projects, which made the process much more relevant and impactful. Knowing that my growth was seen as an investment in the organization’s development as well made a big difference. It felt like a shared goal, not just a personal one.

What does having your credential mean to you?
Becoming a CPTD is both a milestone and a reminder. A milestone because it represents years of hands-on experience, learning, experimenting, and growing in the talent development field. And a reminder that this work truly matters—helping people grow, building better workplaces, and making learning a strategic force in organizations.

How did you get into the talent development field?
I’ve always been interested in both business and education—two areas that, at first, seemed completely separate. I loved the structure and impact of business, but I was also drawn to how people learn, grow, and change. When I discovered that there’s a field that connects the two—talent development—it just clicked.

It felt natural to step into a role where I could help people grow while also contributing to the bigger goals of an organization. Over time, I realized that talent development is exactly where I’m meant to be—where strategy meets people, and learning becomes a driver of real change.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received was: “Legacy is not the things you implemented—it’s what you did for people.”

It completely shifted how I see my work. It’s easy to focus on programs, processes, or frameworks we build, but in the end, what really matters is how we’ve helped people grow, feel seen, and become better versions of themselves. That’s what lasts.

This perspective keeps me grounded in purpose, especially in a field like talent development, where the impact is often felt in quiet, powerful ways over time.

What is a great book you’ve read recently?
Kurt Vonnegut – Cat’s Cradle

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
Gaming

What is the most unusual job you’ve had?
Selling videotapes

Have you earned the APTD or CPTD? Share your story with the community.