Work The Problem in Learning & Development
Unthink pillar #3 - Work The Problem
Our ability to work the problem – to confront challenges with focus and intention – separates the people who move with purpose from those who remain treading water.
This isn’t sexy. It does not win standing ovations or viral hashtags. But it is transformative. It will not always be about being brilliant; sometimes it will be about having the grit to show up repeatedly until the problem cracks and solutions present themselves.
Work The Problem is the simplest of the five Unthink pillars. When facing a problem, an Unthinker will ask:
What can I take ownership of?
What can I control?
What can I do about it?
What is my first move?
And most importantly:
• What will it take?
And then they act.
On the 5th March, you're invited to hear how L&D teams from these companies are working their biggest problems...
#1 Driving Undeniable Engagement at Blue Light Card
Chris Lonsdale, Head of Development & Growth at BLC.
Blue Light Card is a PE-backed, rapidly growing tech company that provides discounts to their members - in the last year they've saved members over £500m. Hear from them on how they have Worked the Problem with engagement as they've hired fast to consistently post record sign-ups and savings.
#2 Navigating the UK's Largest Infrastructure Transformation
Onka Nestor, Finance Director at Southeastern Railway.
Divisional railway firms are about to embark on their transition into Great British Railway. What these leaders are about to go through is the largest infrastructure transformation in British history. Onka Nestor is one of those leaders, and has been part of an Unthink Learning Experience, equipping her to work this exact problem.
#3 How a 2-person team built a sustainable performance review process.
Thomas Forstner, VP of People & Talent at Juro.
Six-month reviews couldn’t keep up with Juro's pace of change, so they rebuilt performance management as a continuous AI-guided system that a two-person People team could sustain. Now 9 months in, Thomas is here to share how it's gone and what he'd do differently...
#4 Building confidence through business change
Ana Paceoaga, Head of People Performance & Development at HW3.
Following a PE takeover, HW3 have recently shifted their business model to one that requires trust and collaboration across continents. Ana and her team are tasked with driving engagement, upskilling teams and maintaining performance.
#5 Keeping hiring human in 2026
Ben Vanlint, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Expedia.
Have acquisition teams gone too far with relying on tech to hire and onboard new starters? What is the cost of digital first interview process when it comes to performance and engagement? Ben shares his take on hiring that puts humans at the centre.
The event:
Using Unthink’s award-winning Choose Your Own Adventure Learning Experience methodology, we invite you to join us and explore L&D's stickiest problems.
☕🥐 Coffee and breakfast on arrival
🚂Closest tube station: 5 mins walk from Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road
Unthink is redefining what modern leadership and development looks like.
We connect the dots between people, learning and experiences to make leaders feel something, think deeper and act differently.