Beyond the Smile Sheet: Launching the New Kirkpatrick Model for Business Impact (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Event Date:5/13/2026

Event Time: 12PM EST-1PM EST

Location: Virtual

Details: Zoom Link / Address

Title of the Event: Beyond the Smile Sheet, Launching the New Kirkpatrick Model for Business Impact

Event Description:

In today’s results-driven environment, measuring learning activity is no longer enough. Organizations must demonstrate contribution to performance, innovation, and strategic outcomes. Yet many talent development teams still operate with evaluation practices that were never designed to inform executive decision-making.

To celebrate the launch of Building a Culture of Evaluation: The New Kirkpatrick Model for Performance and Innovation, join us for an exclusive webinar that brings the book’s most important insights to life.

This session introduces the 2026 update to the Kirkpatrick Model and explores how it evolves from a training evaluation tool into a system for Enterprise Performance Intelligence. Drawing directly from the book, we will examine how organizations can embed evaluation into leadership routines, performance management systems, and innovation efforts so that impact is not measured at the end, but designed from the beginning.

You will learn how the Kirkpatrick Four Levels® function as a strategic framework for aligning human capital initiatives with enterprise goals. We will explore the cultural shifts required to move from reporting data to generating insight, from isolated measurement to cross-functional accountability, and from compliance-driven evaluation to innovation-driven performance.

Rather than adding complexity, the updated Model clarifies roles, strengthens executive partnerships, and creates a shared language for performance across the enterprise. Designed with small and mid-size talent development teams in mind, this webinar provides practical guidance you can implement immediately.

Drawing from key lessons in the book, participants will learn how to:

Apply the New Kirkpatrick Model as a foundation for building a culture of evaluation
Integrate evaluation into enterprise performance intelligence and innovation systems
Shift leaders and managers from passive sponsors to active drivers of behavior change
Identify and correct common misapplications that undermine credibility
Translate evaluation findings into executive-ready insights that influence strategy

Whether you are a learning leader, instructional designer, performance consultant, or executive sponsor, this launch event will equip you to move beyond measurement and into measurable performance and innovation.

Speaker #1:

Name: Vanessa Alzate

Title: President & CEO

Bio: Vanessa Alzate is the President and CEO of Kirkpatrick Partners. She is also the Founder and CEO of Anchored Training, a custom training development agency. She earned BAs in Communications and Political Science from Rutgers University and an MS in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Northeastern University.

For almost 15 years, Vanessa has consulted with organizations of every size across multiple industries, from government, to pharmaceutical sales, to high fashion. With her knowledge and expertise, she’s helped develop training strategies tailored to each organization, team, and learner.

Throughout her career, Vanessa has excelled in assisting companies and individuals expand their industry know-how through innovative eLearning and classroom curricula, while encouraging clients to find inspiration and develop strategies to better engage their learners. Vanessa also gives back to the learning community by sharing her insights as a speaker for the Association for Talent Development, Training Magazine, the Learning Guild, and more.

Vanessa considers it her mission to help everyone become the absolute best versions of themselves. She is a passionate supporter of the empowerment of women and a tireless advocate for diversity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace and beyond.

Member Mingle (Thursday, June 04, 2026)

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:45:00 GMT

Join us for great conversation and meaningful connections. No formal agenda, just community.

Registration (Required):

NEFL Members: Free

Non‑Members: $10

We can’t wait to see you there. Bring a colleague, make a connection, and come mingle!

ATD NEFL upcoming events

Beyond the Smile Sheet: Launching the New Kirkpatrick Model for Business Impact (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)

Member Mingle (Thursday, June 04, 2026)