Teaching Outside the Classroom

Allison Bedient

Title

Senior Manager of L&D

Organization

Wynn Las Vegas

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/allison-bedient

Education

Bachelor's degree, elementary education and teaching (State University of New York at Fredonia); master's degree, education, curriculum, and instruction (Grand Canyon University)

Favorite Quote

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
—Maya Angelou

Allison Bedient always knew she wanted to work in education. As a teacher, she served on her school's instructional leadership team, helping other educators through training, classroom observations, and coaching. Looking for a new challenge, Bedient became a learning and performance specialist for a lifestyle and hospitality company in 2022. Then, last year, she accepted a role at Wynn Las Vegas, helping to create employee programs; she considers that one of the most rewarding parts of her career.

What leadership qualities do you believe earned you two promotions in 16 months?

I'm driven by the desire to make a positive impact in everything I do. When I see the opportunity to jump in and contribute, I do it. I am also constantly seeking out new information, which helps me think of new ideas or ways to improve efforts.

For me, true leadership is about showing up, caring about those around you, and doing what's good for the team. The difference people can make when they work together is greater than when we try alone. I have been fortunate enough to have the right people recognize my drive and passion, and they have allowed me to grow and take on more responsibilities along the way.

What is CLIMB, and what goes into managing it?

It is a high-potential leadership program for managers that we developed with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as an eight-month immersive experience to help participants prepare for higher-level roles. The program focuses on three key areas: personal leadership, people leadership, and organizational leadership. It blends education, experience, and exposure to shape leaders who are prepared, thoughtful, and ready to make an impact.

I'm involved in everything from scheduling to coordinating with internal and external facilitators to serving as a consistent resource for participants throughout the program. My goal is to engage, support, and empower them from start to finish.

Why is mentoring and sharing knowledge important to you?

I believe that helping others grow is in my DNA. The more people share, the more impact we make—not just within our own organizations but across the L&D field and beyond. Whether it's mentoring a colleague, supporting a transitioning educator, or sharing a resource, I never want to hoard knowledge. If I've learned something that can help someone else, I'll always pass it on.