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happier?
Start Learning!

According to recent studies, the Holy Grail of longevity and happiness is actually within our grasp… in our very own minds. It’s no surprise that when we’re intensely engaged learning new things, it measurably improves our well-being and happiness. That’s not only good for us, but also for our teams and organizations.

At PUMA, we’re all about moving fast. We put a lot of weight on becoming more agile and making decisions quickly. This is a part of our culture. And while knowledge is known to expand our professional arsenal, allowing us to make more informed decisions faster, there is an even more exciting benefit. Learning has actually been proven to make us happier. 

More and more employers are recognizing this connection, PUMA included. We decided to give you a “behind the scenes” look at learning and development @PUMA, by talking to Patrick Eglmaier, Manager of People Development and Organizational Learning.

CATch up:
Patrick, what’s your background and what do you love about your job?

Patrick:
My passion for learning development started during my time at the university, when I studied Business Education with a focus on people development. We were tasked with conducting and evaluating workshops with fellow students, in order to understand which impact different types of learning and contents have on human beings – the very basics of learning and development.

Fast forward to my journey at PUMA as intern in 2015, where I joined the Learning & Development team. I was really blown away. The wide range of learning opportunities for our employees was simply amazing! After different positions at PUMA, I luckily had the chance to join the Learning & Development team again in the beginning of 2018. This is where I found my calling: supporting our employees on their journey to becoming better versions of themselves. It goes without saying that this also has a significant impact on the well-being of our employees and ultimately drives the performance of our organization through learning.

CATch up:
How has learning and development evolved over the years?

Patrick:
In the age of digitalization and disruption, know-how and loyalty aren’t enough. We have to find a way to set ourselves apart from the rest! To break through the “noise” with more meaningful contributions.“Soft skills” like unrelenting curiosity, passion, resilience and a forever faster mindset help us on our path to becoming a better version of ourselves. But if you really want to get ahead fast, learning is key. Not to mention the happiness factor!

CATch up:
So what is PUMA doing to support their employees when it comes to learning?

Patrick:
Well, today there are so many ways to learn. Also, the preferred methods of learning have changed tremendously. Coming from traditional 1- or 2-day classroom trainings where we basically decided who is learning what and when, we quickly realized that self-controlled and on-demand learning in a blended manner is the direction learning needed to go. And we knew that the global implementation of Workday Learning, as centralized Learning Management System for all learning activities, would play a major role in helping us to get there. It’s such an integral part of our company that we’ve decided to join forces with LinkedIn Learning and Good Habitz. Now, our employees have access to more than 14,000 digital learning nuggets without any restriction! What I love about these courses is that they’re not just classic e-learnings but multi-medial courses, meaning they do a great job of keeping your attention. But the best feature is that they can be accessed anytime, anywhere and on any device.

CATch up:
What would you say to people who don’t really believe in learning as a transformational force? Or people who feel like they’ve learned enough?

Patrick:
We’re all super busy and it can be hard to carve time out of our schedule for learning. Lifelong and on-the-job learning has become more than just a theoretical version of what learning should ideally look like. It´s becoming an essential part of our learning culture. Because the world we live in is not just complex, but also volatile, uncertain and ambiguous, learning is never enough. Not if we want to stay competitive! The ongoing, self-motivated and voluntary pursuit of skills and knowledge shapes everyone´s mindset, self-sustainability and competitiveness.

I can tell you from experience, that my capabilities grew exponentially after I made learning a priority. Also being on the other side of the training – meaning, being a trainer for internal workshops, as well as seeing how these workshops change not just what people know, but also how they behave, confirms my belief that learning is crucial. The hardest part is always taking the first step, and we´ve made that first step even simpler for everyone: There is a learning opportunity for everyone – be it a course, learning from others or on-the-job learning.

CATch up:
What would you say to people looking for a change in career?

Patrick:
A major thing to consider is how much emphasis an employer puts on personal and professional development. And a huge part of this is learning. That’s part of why I’m so passionate about working for PUMA. It’s great to work at a place that puts so much emphasis on learning, from the very top. And this is incredibly meaningful for our employees, too. Even outside organizations have begun to take notice and acknowledge the work we’re doing there, like Europe’s “Top Employer”, a recent award which we are super excited about. And again, learning ultimately contributes our employee´s happiness, which in turn influences their willingness to push PUMA forwards. 

We’re so thankful that Patrick took the time to sit down and talk to us about the future of learning, the benefits, and what PUMA is doing on this front. And now, what are you waiting for? Your learning journey begins now!