Hannah A.

Learning and Development Specialist

Our culture of learning is not just a program or a benefit - it is an integral part of who we are as an organization. We believe that investing in our employees' learning and growth is essential to our long-term success, and we are committed to providing Toasters with the resources, tools, and support they need, so that Toast can be a career-defining company for all employees. 

As a learning and development specialist, I am proud to be part of an organization that values continuous learning and growth. To help our employees keep learning, we have a variety of programs, resources, and experiences that are designed to enable all Toasters to thrive.

Self-serve learning opportunities are a cornerstone of our learning culture. Our goal with these on-demand learning opportunities is to empower Toasters to take ownership of their development by providing access to resources to develop new skills, and pursue their personal and professional goals. Toasters have access to three different learning libraries that offer over 20,000 courses spanning different focus areas. Toasters can choose courses that align with their interests and goals and complete them at their own pace and convenience. 

The most dynamic self-service resource we provide Toasters is our Professional Development Stipend. Every full-time employee at Toast is eligible for this stipend, which they can use to do anything that helps them grow professionally. We most commonly see Toasters taking online courses, reading books, and attending workshops or conferences.

Learn more about AfroTech here. 

This year, we are also helping teams pilot an initiative called "DEAL" which stands for Drop Everything and Learn. DEAL provides employees with uninterrupted, scheduled time each week to dedicate to their professional development. Our first department to adopt DEAL into their team was Customer Marketing, and we have been thrilled with the positive response from employees so far. 

 In addition to our self-serve opportunities, we offer live programming through four robust  leadership development experiences: Equip, Rise, Scale, and Transform. These leadership programs span across the employee's entire leadership journey, so that we can meet them at their current level and provide the most relevant resources for their needs. 

To get the most out of any of our opportunities, we work to encourage a sense of curiosity from all our Toasters. By encouraging curiosity, employees can explore new approaches to old problems, identify opportunities, and discover new roles that align with their goals and the goals of the company. Our director of Learning and Development, Kelly M., shares that “curiosity can help to lower the fear of trying something new and enable a ‘beginner's mind’—an approach of openness, excitement, and curiosity to a given situation, even when you’re operating at an advanced level.” 

Finally, fostering curiosity can broaden the understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, allowing individuals and the company to learn, grow, develop, and innovate in profound ways.

As our industry and workplace continues to evolve, we expect our programs to evolve as well, becoming more customized to our learners. Terrance M., a Senior Program Manager on our team, emphasizes the importance of recognizing our learners as a whole human by “embracing the unique identities, experiences, and emotions of our learners, and helping them craft and navigate their career.” Furthermore, in an increasingly digital world, we see data, technology, and innovation playing more of a role in all of our offerings. Senior L&D Program Manager, Stephanie S., predicts that AI will enable more customization of learning paths and courses, adjusting based on a learner’s exact needs. 

At Toast, we are committed to creating a culture of learning that enables our employees to grow and thrive in their roles. We understand that investing in our people is investing in our company's success, and we will continue to support our Toasters' learning journeys.