Alyssa Huat
Title
People Development Manager
Organization
Live Nation
Location
East Brunswick, New Jersey
Education
Bachelor's degree in psychology (Temple University); master's degree in adult and organizational development (Temple University)
Favorite Quote
"And I knew exactly what to do. But, in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do." —Michael Scott (The Office)
Learning has always been a part of Alyssa Huat's life. After earning her degrees from Temple University, she worked in the university's admissions department and then in academic advising. At Live Nation in the media and sponsorship division, Huat and her colleagues are working to rebuild and re-establish L&D support for employees. In the first few months in her position, she jumped into performance management and employee development.
How can learning contribute to the success of a live entertainment company?
The pandemic has drastically shifted what it means to be in live entertainment. Colleagues have shared with me that the structure, roles, and competencies of positions have evolved and adapted to the needs of the industry. Right now, we have an opportunity to identify what new skills and knowledge are needed across many disciplines.
Within our division, there are a ton of ideas on how to engage employees in development opportunities, and I'm seeing that many of them prefer learning hands-on from leaders within the company and business altogether. Our division is in a space where relationship building is essential for success, so why not weave that social context into learning?
What resources do you see the company using to provide professional development for employees?
Microlearning and self-paced options for individual skill development. For industry-related skills, having our leaders and business partners share their experiences enriches live learning experiences that employees are passionate about.
How do you see L&D in live entertainment companies changing over the next few years?
As we see new roles emerge and digital experiences being comparable to live experiences, I wouldn't be surprised to see business-related learning take a front seat. There is also a general focus on employee well-being and work-life balance, so meaningful, self-paced, bite-size learning is going to be the name of the game.
What career advice do you have for up-and-coming L&D professionals?
L&D will look different at different companies. Our roles really adapt to the company's culture, structure, and needs. It's fun and challenging to reset your perspectives with each new role you step into. Make it a point to get connected with leadership throughout your organization. They're often going to be your stakeholders. It's never too early to learn how to be strategic and get into that mindset.
