The worldwide talent development community is diverse. Our members bring a wealth of experience and insight to their work. We're spotlighting their stories.

Christine Assaf has been a member of ATD since 2021. Here's her story in her own words.

Years in the Talent Development Field?

15+ years in HR and current master’s student in industrial and organizational psychology

Favorite or Most Used ATD Member Benefit?

• Webinars

• State of the Industry Report

• Templates and tools

Best Talent Development Advice?

Talent development stems from the ability to understand organizations’ needs. Most issues in organizations stem from an incomplete assessment of the talent development needs and therefore problematic solutions. My best advice for talent development professionals is to ensure a thorough analysis is conducted (which can be performed alongside development). But don’t rush into bright and shiny technologies without first truly doing some design-thinking. Slow down; do it right the first time.

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve gained or experienced during your membership with ATD?

I’ve been a local ATD member for years and found the community to be helpful and talented. Local chapters always do a great job of inviting new people in and integrating them into the group. ATD, at large, has an excellent amount of information, tools, and resources at my fingertips. This is my first time being a national member, and so far, I'm loving the webinars!

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