Catalysts spotlights bold leaders who are actively redefining how we learn, lead, and grow—inside the organizations shaping tomorrow’s workforce. Through candid, future-facing conversations, the series elevates executives, founders, and consultants who are not just reacting to change, but driving it.
This is the podcast where thought leaders in learning and development don’t just share strategies—they shape the next era of leadership, innovation, and organizational transformation.
Catalysts spotlights bold leaders who are actively redefining how we learn, lead, and grow—inside the organizations shaping tomorrow’s workforce. Through candid, future-facing conversations, the series elevates executives, founders, and consultants who are not just reacting to change, but driving it.
This is the podcast where thought leaders in learning and development don’t just share strategies—they shape the next era of leadership, innovation, and organizational transformation.

David Grad was once leading creative teams at MTV. Now, he’s solving one of the toughest problems in learning and development: how to make live training actually stick.
In this episode of Catalysts, David shares the origin story behind elevator9, the learning tech company he co-founded to ensure live training drives measurable, lasting impact. Drawing from learning science, cognitive psychology, and real-world application, elevator9 has created a platform that transforms what happens after the workshop—so that insights aren’t lost the moment people return to work.
We also explore the mindset shifts L&D leaders must embrace to position learning as a strategic value driver—not a cost center—and how David’s journey from media to learning has shaped his passion for empowering people through evidence-based design.
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