TD Magazine Article
Member Benefit
Training Others With Storytelling
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Katja Zurcher developed exceptional storytelling skills through her childhood love of literature. A career twist led her to the talent development space where she discovered how storytelling and learning complement each other.
Katja Zurcher developed exceptional storytelling skills through her childhood love of literature. A career twist led her to the talent development space where she discovered how storytelling and learning complement each other.
Tue Jun 01 2021
Katja Zurcher
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Title
Title
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Global Talent Development Trainer
Global Talent Development Trainer
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Organization
Organization
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Rackspace Technology
Rackspace Technology
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Location
Location
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San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
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linkedin.com/in/katja-zurcher
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Education
Education
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Master's degree, fiction (Columbia University); bachelor's degree, English (Rhodes College).
Master's degree, fiction (Columbia University); bachelor's degree, English (Rhodes College).
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Favorite Quote
Favorite Quote
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"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?" —Marianne Williamson
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?" —Marianne Williamson
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Katja Zurcher developed exceptional storytelling skills through her childhood love of literature. She later sharpened those skills by earning a graduate degree in fiction. A career twist led her to the talent development space where she discovered how storytelling and learning complement each other. As Rackspace Technology's global talent development trainer, Zurcher enjoys putting her storytelling skills to use by developing, designing, and delivering creative training solutions to employees worldwide.
Katja Zurcher developed exceptional storytelling skills through her childhood love of literature. She later sharpened those skills by earning a graduate degree in fiction. A career twist led her to the talent development space where she discovered how storytelling and learning complement each other. As Rackspace Technology's global talent development trainer, Zurcher enjoys putting her storytelling skills to use by developing, designing, and delivering creative training solutions to employees worldwide.
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How has your academic training prepared you for your role, and what advice do you have for students today?
How has your academic training prepared you for your role, and what advice do you have for students today?
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My training and development career started when I was working on my master's degree in fiction. That's when I really learned how to tell a great story. Stories create emotional connections in people and ultimately can help people learn. My advice to students is to discover how to connect with people and how to connect ideas. Whether creating a class, speaking at a conference, or presenting a proposal to stakeholders, you have to be able to tell an intriguing story.
My training and development career started when I was working on my master's degree in fiction. That's when I really learned how to tell a great story. Stories create emotional connections in people and ultimately can help people learn. My advice to students is to discover how to connect with people and how to connect ideas. Whether creating a class, speaking at a conference, or presenting a proposal to stakeholders, you have to be able to tell an intriguing story.
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What aspect of talent development work do you enjoy the most and why?
What aspect of talent development work do you enjoy the most and why?
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The instructional design aspect of my role energizes me the most. When I create a class or develop a learning program, it's like I'm crafting a story for my learners. I focus on finding the value pieces that will resonate with learners the most, and then I fit them together in a compelling narrative. I also completed the coursework required to earn the Association for Talent Development's Instructional Design Certificate, and that helped provide more structure to my natural skill set.
The instructional design aspect of my role energizes me the most. When I create a class or develop a learning program, it's like I'm crafting a story for my learners. I focus on finding the value pieces that will resonate with learners the most, and then I fit them together in a compelling narrative. I also completed the coursework required to earn the Association for Talent Development's Instructional Design Certificate, and that helped provide more structure to my natural skill set.
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What do you see as some of the most exciting trends or tools for talent development professionals to cultivate learning in the tech industry?
What do you see as some of the most exciting trends or tools for talent development professionals to cultivate learning in the tech industry?
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With the increased globalization of companies and the rise of remote working, the most impactful tools are those focused on virtual collaboration. We're inundated with new tools and possibilities, and the learning function needs to ensure that business need is driving technology options as opposed to an attempt to have and use the latest and greatest thing. Additionally, the more talent development can continue to enable on-demand learning through self-service models, the more agile learners and businesses can be.
With the increased globalization of companies and the rise of remote working, the most impactful tools are those focused on virtual collaboration. We're inundated with new tools and possibilities, and the learning function needs to ensure that business need is driving technology options as opposed to an attempt to have and use the latest and greatest thing. Additionally, the more talent development can continue to enable on-demand learning through self-service models, the more agile learners and businesses can be.
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What project that you have been part of are you most proud of and why?
What project that you have been part of are you most proud of and why?
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Last year, I transformed Rackspace Technology's in-person, global onboarding into a virtual experience. Our virtual program now receives higher learner engagement scores than our in-person program, and 95 percent of employees say they have a higher opinion of the company after attending the program. During this project, I was challenged to stretch the limit of my program design skills.
Last year, I transformed Rackspace Technology's in-person, global onboarding into a virtual experience. Our virtual program now receives higher learner engagement scores than our in-person program, and 95 percent of employees say they have a higher opinion of the company after attending the program. During this project, I was challenged to stretch the limit of my program design skills.
