Josie Paruta

About Josie Paruta

Committed Learning and Development professional with proven communication, facilitation, and influencing skills, who is proficient course and curriculum design. Dedicated to outstanding customer service. A team player with strong consultative and diagnostic skills which allow for successful collaboration with others in the business and HR. Proven ability to recognize and improve areas of opportunity within departments and implement solutions. Proven track record in building strong business relationships with HR and business leaders to drive successful solutions. Some of her notable accomplishments over the years include: building out an engaging and comprehensive orientation program, Rookie Camp, building a first of its kind facilitator team and putting thousands of new hires through the program over many years; leading several cycles of the Employee Engagement Survey, working with the business to build first-ever division action plans and measuring successes throughout each cycle; extending learning programs past the Bristol campus to employees in regional offices allowing regional employees to learn in their home offices for the first time; introduced the first university partnership with Cornell University, offering two Certificate programs for ESPN learners; leading a learning needs assessment and implementing learning based off findings; and finally, leading the wildly popular virtual Engage Speaker Series, allowing employees to learn about the business directly from internal and external speakers. Other specialties: Diversity & Inclusion, Strong analytical skills, business planning, and project management skills

Experience

1. Director, Learning and Development

   ESPN

   Apr 2015 — Present · Bristol, CT, US

   Manage and develop programs to support our business goals and objectives, enhancing our culture, and creating and managing the vision of the team. Consult with the HR team and business leaders, assess needs and identify opportunities to build and implement appropriate learning solutions that develop and engage employees. Partner directly with the business to understand and co-create talent development journeys for a diverse set of populations-Developed and implemented Inclusion & Belonging program in partnership with the Diversity and Inclusion team. Built roll-out, measurement and sustainment strategy with 95% completion rate of all people leaders within the organization-Built a leader learning strategy to focus on the mid-level leader. Implemented instructor-led training, just-in-time learning resources and speakers series-Collaborate with learning leaders across TWDC to create enterprise-wide learning solutions-University partnerships to create unique learning cohort experiences to a diverse population of ESPN employees. Certificate programs include Women in Leadership and Digital Transformation Certificate programs through Cornell University.

Education

• University of Connecticut

  Bachelor of Science, Marketing

  1993 — 1997

• University of Hartford

  MBA

  2003 — 2005