The Learning Culture Podcast

#110 - One-Size-Fits-All Development Is Killing Motivation: Elena Agaragimova on Why Generic Training Fails (and What to Do Instead)

Andrew Barry Season 4 Episode 9

What if your company’s biggest performance problem isn’t skill but disconnection?

In this episode, we follow Elena Agaragimova’s journey from global leadership coach to founder of ShiftWell.ai, a tool born out of deep frustration with the corporate training status quo. After years of running workshops across continents, Elena began asking a simple but radical question: What if the reason people aren’t engaged isn’t because they’re unmotivated, but because no one’s ever asked what they really need?

You’ll hear why middle managers are burning out, why most leadership training comes too late, and why companies keep throwing money at wellness perks that don’t work. Elena doesn’t just challenge the system—she’s building a smarter one.

This conversation is about more than performance. It’s about rethinking motivation, growth, and what people actually need to thrive on their terms. From personalized coaching to system-level culture change, Elena shares how to stop the burnout cycle and build something that lasts.

If you’re a manager, HR leader, or just someone tired of the same old solutions, this episode will change how you think about development.