371: From Generic Training to AI-Personalized Learning at Work with Kimberly Williams, Absorb Software CEO

Kimberly Williams is CEO of Absorb Software, where she helps over 3,000 organizations deliver smarter learning experiences to 34 million employees. She brings decades of leadership in enterprise tech and now sits at the center of how AI is changing the way people grow at work. In this episode, Kimberly shares how learning becomes more powerful when it’s personalized, embedded in daily workflows, and led by curious teams who treat culture as a competitive advantage.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How AI is shifting corporate learning from generic training programs to personalized, in-the-flow development tailored to each employee’s needs.
• Why in-context learning matters more than traditional courses, and how AI coaching inside tools like Slack, Salesforce, or ServiceNow changes how people actually learn at work.
• What it means to turn L&D teams into AI model trainers who encode company culture, values, and knowledge into coaching experiences.
• How Absorb Software tracks AI usage across teams and uses dashboards and leaderboards to drive internal adoption.
• The role of outcome data in modern learning systems, and how tying learning directly to performance metrics changes what training gets delivered.
• The advice Kimberly gives early-career talent, especially women, about finding roles where their contributions are measurable and their growth is supported by culture, not just credentials.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter
• Connect with Kimberly on LinkedIn
• AI fun fact article
• On how Robert Plotkin addresses LLM regulation and legal advice for entrepreneurs
• Other episodes mentioned on the show:
  • AI as a Liberating Technology: Josh Bersin on Turning Routine Tasks into Superworkers Driving Trust, Creativity, and Growth
  • Dr. John Boudreau, future of work pioneer and former Cornell professor, discusses the new definition of work