Author Archives for Tessa Baker


April 12, 2013

Southwest Airlines and Enspire at the Corporate Learning Summit

Enspire CEO Bjorn Billhardt and Senior Manager of People Development at Southwest Airlines Bonnie Endicott will be speaking at this year’s Corporate Learning Summit in Chicago. The joint session, “Southwest Airlines: Developing Legendary Leaders, Southwest Style” will explore how Southwest Airlines has implemented Enspire’s simulation-based program Business Challenge to train leaders at America’s largest airline.

Southwest Airlines has a highly engaged workforce known for its sense of humor and teamwork. Its culture is fueled by significant investments in leadership development. This session explores how Southwest’s Developing Legendary Leaders program, an intensive boot camp for managers and directors, builds leadership, strategic thinking and business acumen skills. The session takes a close look at a competitive team-based simulation that allows Southwest’s rising leaders to hone their business acumen skills.

Get an inside view into Southwest’s successful leadership development program, and see the results of Southwest’s focus on developing leaders from within the organization.

In this interactive session, you will learn best practices for:

  • Building effective high potential leadership development programs
  • Leveraging experiential business simulations to provide practice and insights
  • Increasing business acumen and leadership skills among organizational leaders

To learn more about Enspire’s Business Challenge at Southwest, read our case study here.


March 21, 2013

Enspire Brings the Party to CLO Symposium 2013

Following on the heels of SXSW, the Enspire team headed over to the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort just outside of Austin for the CLO Symposium 2013. Enspire sponsored Monday evening’s festivities, starting off with a networking reception in the beautiful LBJ Pavillion. Conference attendees snacked on Texas staples like brisket sliders and nachos, and enjoyed the local brew: Shiner. We just can’t get enough in the “Live Music Capital of the World”, so Enspire was excited to sponsor the inaugural CLO concert following the reception! Nashville musician Drake White put on a quite a show for attendees, including a cover of 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” that brought down the house.


March 11, 2013

Looking for the Next Big Thing in Management Training?

Your search ends here! Every Tuesday and Thursday throughout March, we’ll be holding group demonstrations of our newest management training program, Management Challenge.

Management Challenge is a simulation-based management development program that lets managers practice communicating with employees, delegating projects, and managing employee engagement. Management Challenge uses a combination of team-based simulations, video-based workplace scenarios, and facilitated classroom discussions to build managers that are able to:

  • Navigate difficult conversations with direct reports on potentially uncomfortable topics
  • Facilitate effective coaching conversations based on identified needs and goals
  • Develop and deepen relationships through coaching
  • Engage and influence people with differing perspectives, preferences, and communication styles
  • Create collaborative solutions within a competitive environment

We also offer private demo sessions if you’d like a more personalized tour of Management Challenge.

Click here to reserve your spot and check out Management Challenge!


March 4, 2013

Enspire Honored for Outstanding Community Involvement

Last Thursday, the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas celebrated Texas Independence Day by recognizing member companies with outstanding community involvement programs. EF invited members to the Capital Factory’s beautiful space at the top of the Omni downtown for the celebration. Joshua Baer was presented the Community Leader of the Year Award for his contributions to Austin’s entrepreneurial eco system. When accepting his award, Baer remarked that different cities have different goals, such as the goal for denizens of New York City is to be rich, the goal for Washington D.C. is to be an insider, for Los Angeles, it’s to be famous. The goal for Austinites, as Baer so succinctly put it, is to “be yourself.”

Enspire is proud to be a part of Austin’s vibrant entrepreneurial community, a community that supports and encourages people to go forth and “be themselves.” Congratulations to our Enspirees, whose service hours and contributions to the Austin community earned us this distinction!


February 27, 2013

Enspire at Training 2013

Last week, part of the Enspire team traveled down to chilly Orlando for the Training 2013 Conference. Senior Instructional Designer Robert Bell spoke with Dave Koll, Global Learning Leader, Randy Esterling, Director of Enterprise Learning and Jennie Reid, Manager, Learning Solutions at ConAgra Foods about designing a talent management training simulation for ConAgra Foods’ managers.

Back at the booth, we were giving away Disney park passes and a signed copy of keynote speaker Ray Kurzweil’s new book How to Create a Mind: The Secret of Human Thought Revealed. To snag one of these great giveaways, we asked booth visitors to share “What is the biggest challenge that new managers face?” We got awesome responses! Click the pictures below to see some our booth visitors who played along.


February 25, 2013

Enspire Learning Named to Leadership Development Companies Watch List

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX – Feb. 25, 2013 – Enspire Learning, a premier provider of simulation-based leadership development programs, has been named to the 2013 Leadership Training Companies Watch List by TrainingIndustry.com.

“We are thrilled to be named as a top leadership development company,” said Bjorn Billhardt, CEO of Enspire Learning. “Our simulation-based programs were delivered in more than 20 countries in 2012, and we look forward to growing our global reach in 2013.”

TrainingIndustry.com compiles this list annually to help buyers of training services make informed decisions about learning providers. Selection to the 2013 Leadership Companies Watch List was based on the following criteria:

  • New and Innovative Service Offerings
  • Unique approach to Leadership Development Solutions
  • Commitment to Thought Leadership
  • Quality of Initial Clients

“The 2013 Leadership Training Companies Watch List recognizes a group of companies that focus on bringing new, innovative approaches to leadership training,” said Ken Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, TrainingIndustry.com. “Many of these companies are growing their presence in the market by offering a pioneering blend of thought leadership and training delivery techniques.”

“This year’s Watch List consists of a robust group of companies, each offering a unique approach to leadership training,” said Doug Harward, Chief Executive Officer, TrainingIndustry.com. “Most of these companies boast a growing list of established clients and an expanding industry reach – they should definitely be on the radar.”

Visit TrainingIndustry.com for more information on the 2013 Leadership Training Companies Watch List.


February 22, 2013

Demo Our Management Simulation All Month Long!

Every Tuesday and Thursday throughout March, we’ll be holding group demonstrations of our newest management training program, Management Challenge.

Management Challenge is a simulation-based management development program that lets managers practice communicating with employees, delegating projects, and managing employee engagement. Management Challenge uses a combination of team-based simulations, video-based workplace scenarios, and facilitated classroom discussions to build managers that are able to:

  • Navigate difficult conversations with direct reports on potentially uncomfortable topics
  • Facilitate effective coaching conversations based on identified needs and goals
  • Develop and deepen relationships through coaching
  • Engage and influence people with differing perspectives, preferences, and communication styles
  • Create collaborative solutions within a competitive environment

We also offer private demo sessions if you’d like a more personalized tour of Management Challenge.

Click here to reserve your spot and experience Management Challenge!


January 14, 2013

Free Management Development Workshop!

Enspire is offering new managers in the Austin area the chance to participate in Management Challenge, a brand new management development program, on Thursday, January 24 at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. There is no cost to attend!

Management Challenge is a simulation-based management development program that lets managers practice communicating with employees, delegating projects, and managing employee engagement. Management Challenge uses a combination of team-based simulations, video-based workplace scenarios, and facilitated classroom discussions to build managers that are able to:

  • Navigate difficult conversations with direct reports on potentially uncomfortable topics
  • Facilitate effective coaching conversations based on identified needs and goals
  • Develop and deepen relationships through coaching
  • Engage and influence people with differing perspectives, preferences, and communication styles
  • Create collaborative solutions within a competitive environment

Click here to reserve your spot and experience Management Challenge!


December 10, 2012

Employees Leave Managers, Not Jobs




Enspire Learning recently released Management Challenge, the newest addition to Enspire’s suite of simulation-based leadership and management development programs! Management Challenge uses a combination of team-based simulations, video-based role-plays, and facilitated discussions to help managers become better prepared to communicate with their employees and avoid turnover.

Please join us to learn more about Management Challenge and view a live demonstration led by Program Director Kate McLagan. The last group demo of 2012 is on Thu. Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. CST. Sign up for this group session, or schedule a private demonstration.

Click here to register for a group or private demonstration!

During the info session and demonstration, you’ll get an exclusive sneak peek of Management Challenge. Come see first-hand how this revolutionary new program will change the way you conduct manager training!