Learning Leader Spotlight: Interviews with corporate L&D leaders · 2026-06-09 · 31 min
Phil Rhodes , Chief Learning Officer of Phillips 66 , joins us to discuss what it means to shift L&D from a deliverable function to an enablement function - covering leadership capability, business acumen, data-driven credibility and the test-and-learn mindset he has applied across his 30-year career. From his early days in the Peace Corps to leading enterprise L&D at an operating company, Phil brings a perspective rooted in behavioral science, experiential learning and the practical reality of driving change at scale. KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 Introduction. 02:30 How Phil's experience in the Peace Corps introduced him to experiential learning and shaped his entire L&D philosophy. 05:30 Why every tool rollout requires mindset, skill set and tool set - in that order. 06:45 Why leaders, not L&D, drive behavioral shift - and what that means for how we design enablement. 09:30 Why Phil believes L&D is at a pivotal moment and the three areas he sees as most critical for the future. 18:45 The four skills Phil says every L&D professional needs to build credibility with the business.
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