Discussing The 2018 Corporate eLearning Movers And Shakers' List
Even the judges—especially their chairman, Bob Little—readily agree that the judging criteria remain subjective and fallible because they're entirely human-based. He says, "While this year’s judges—again drawn from around the world—have continued the tradition of trying to be honest and objective in their opinions, doubtless not everyone who reads this list will agree entirely with the judges’ decision—but that’s the beauty of lists such as this one: it gives ample scope for thought, discussion and debate". And he adds, "Furthermore, even industry specialists trying to do their best can be wrong from time to time".
Vibrant, Volatile, And Youthful
As ever, the list attempts to represent a "snapshot" of this vibrant, volatile, and still relatively youthful industry sector industry. In this case, the list aims to reflect the industry as it was in February 2018.
Compared with the 2017's list, this year’s list shows some significant movement in individual placings. The highest "New Entry" is at number 59 (Nick Shackleton-Jones), and only one person (Rachel Earhard in the 66th place) retains the position they occupied in the 2017 list.
While, overall, men still comprise the majority of the list (71%), in "The Elite" section the gender split is 64 to 36%. In the "Platinum" section, it’s 68 to 32%. In the "Gold" section, the gender split is 72 to 28% and, in the "Silver" section, 80 to 20%.
Odd Coincidence
However, by odd coincidence, for the first time, women head each of the sections on the list, including the "Bubbling Under" section. In the 2017's list, all the sections except "Silver" were headed by men.
While there are no new entries into the list in "The Elite" or "Platinum" sections—a "nod", maybe, to the industry’s growing maturity—there are 13 new entries (52%) in the "Silver" section of the list.
Moreover, 6 people have moved into "The Elite" from the "Platinum" section and 3 from the "Gold" section of the list. The "Gold" section saw some movement, with 7 people moving there from "The Elite" and 6 people from the "Platinum" section.
This left room for 9 people to move from "Silver" to "Gold", 2 people to move from "Platinum" to "Gold", with the remaining 2 spaces being taken by new entries. Unsurprisingly, the "Silver" section welcomed the largest number of new entries to the list—with 13 people making their debuts on the list.
Excluding "new entries", the biggest risers up the list are:
- 42 places: Arun Pradhan (61 to 19)
- 31 places: An Coppens (53 to 22)
- 31 places: Michelle Ockers (56 to 25)
Those falling furthest—while remaining on the list (which is, after all, an achievement in itself)—are:
- 23 places: Clive Shepherd (15 to 38)
- 23 places: Thea Payome (17 to 40)
- 19 places: Nicolas Hellers (23 to 42)
Although the majority of those on the list are based in the traditional world heartlands of corporate online learning—the USA, Europe, India, and Australia—there are signs of other geographies becoming represented on the list. This year’s list includes Vladimir Kukharenko from Ukraine and, in the "Bubbling Under Bronze" section, there’s Maha Bali, based in Cairo, Egypt.
Views And Votes
The Top 100 Movers and Shakers’ List represents the views of a number of key people in the industry about the personalities who lead the corporate online learning world. The judging criteria for the list have been explained elsewhere—and this criterion hasn’t changed.
As before, when each judge—independently—produced their list for consideration, the vast majority of the 135 or so names on the "long list" were common to more than one list.
"Just in case anyone’s wondering whether the judges vote for themselves—they don’t", stresses Little. "Some of the judges—who, apart from me, all insist upon anonymity—do appear on the list. However, their names appear there only because others have suggested them".
"Moreover, since the judging is done remotely and virtually—via the technology that allows the corporate online learning industry to thrive—no judge knows for certain who any other judge is. Only I know that, and my name never appears on the list—nor will it", he smiles.
Here you can see this year’s full list of the top 100 Movers and Shakers in the corporate eLearning world.
Hopefully, you’ll know—or know of—at least most of the people on the list. If you appear on this year’s list—congratulations! If you’d like a logo testifying to your achievement—for you to use on various social media outlets—please contact the chairman of the judges, Bob Little. He’ll be delighted to send you the appropriate logo.
