Experiences refined for people
KORTX is serving more than just sandwiches; it’s fostering a culture of connection, knowledge sharing, and professional development.
Through KORTX’s Lunch & Learn series, employees can enjoy a delicious midday break while engaging in meaningful conversations and learning opportunities.
What do you enjoy about Lunch & Learns and why are they vital to the team?
“Throughout my career, I have always tried to seek out opportunities to lead training or provide thought leadership for my coworkers. Before joining GM’s ad agency in 2006, I spent several years as a public school teacher in California, and I still enjoy applying those skills to deliver trends, updates, and new products at KORTX.”
Our program’s origins trace back to a desire to rebuild connections within the office post-pandemic.
Initially, Lunch & Learns provided a casual space for employees to bond while gaining valuable knowledge. Our program quickly expanded to encompass a wider range of goals. Industry trends, internal expertise, and even presentation skills practice all found a place on the menu.
When planning KORTX employee events, our HR Coordinator, Kaia Anderson, prioritizes supporting local, minority-owned businesses within our community. As a minority-owned business ourselves, we believe it’s essential to spotlight other minority-owned businesses and raise awareness of these tasty establishments that our team might not otherwise encounter.
Some of our most frequented Detroit restaurants include Casa Amado, Green Lantern, Breadless, and Little Lou’s.
What do you enjoy about Lunch & Learns and why are they vital to the team?
“Lunch & Learns are a highlight for me. They’re this fantastically casual space where people can connect, learn something new, and maybe even discover a hidden passion. We want our team to succeed, and Lunch & Learns provide a platform for everyone to share their knowledge and grow – all over a delicious lunch. It’s a win-win for fostering a collaborative and empowered environment.”
We prioritize a relaxed approach and listen to employee suggestions (via surveys and HR). Our team identifies knowledge gaps and encourages passionate team members to share their expertise, keeping things interesting and engaging for everyone.
We aim to offer Lunch & Learns at least once a month to keep the learning momentum going. Some of our past sessions include Marketing Mix Modeling with Jeff Israel, Campaign Setup and Real-Time Bidding (RTB) with Brandon Pollard, and Lookalike Audience Modeling with Bryan Presti.
In another session, our lead designer, Lauren Hartley unveiled our updated brand guide, featuring new designs that keep all internal and external content fresh and consistent.
How do you keep the audience engaged during your Lunch & Learns?
“The key to a successful and engaging Lunch & Learn is ensuring the information directly applies to everyone’s job. Frame the session around how it can benefit them by improving their job efficiency or impact. For instance, when we offered a session on ChatGPT, we focused on practical use cases rather than simply explaining its features. Providing attendees with cheat sheets and additional resources is another great way to keep them engaged and empowered to implement what they have learned.”
Establishing a culture of Learning & Development (L&D) is essential for employee growth and is always an ongoing process.
To keep our Lunch & Learn program fresh and relevant, the HR team uses a variety of resources:
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Lunch and Learns are just one way we build community among our employees. Discover our other programs.
Paola Mioano’s Lunch & Learn presentation on Adomni DOOH (Digital Out-Of-Home) stood out. Her passion was contagious, and she explained complex topics clearly to everyone. The fun and unique slides kept the audience engaged. It was a truly informative and enjoyable session.
KORTX’s Lunch & Learn program is a recipe for connection. Born from a desire to rebuild post-pandemic connections, it’s evolved into a vibrant space for learning industry trends, fostering internal expertise, and even honing presentation skills.
Thinking of replicating this success? Don’t overthink it! Gather a passionate group, create a welcoming environment, and watch your own Lunch & Learn program flourish. After all, the most delicious results often come from simple beginnings.
Laurie McNamara is the Human Resources Director at KORTX. She’s passionate about Employee Experience (EX). You can often find her eating out, watching Dateline, or cheering her kids on at their sporting events (there are a lot!).
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