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Andrew Barry

Founder & CEO, Curious Lion

ICs can do more on their own with AI than ever before. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for L&D. This newsletter explores how to equip ICs with the influence skills that drive retention, accelerate OKRs, and position L&D as a strategic partner to the business. (Sent twice a month).

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A grayscale org chart pyramid dissolves into a colorful network as a lion rides a red surfboard from rigid hierarchy into flowing connections.
Featured Post

[3-2-1] When the Org Chart Disappears

Hey Reader, Welcome to the 15th edition of the 3-2-1. My last edition on six new thinking skills made possible by AI resulted in a ton of great feedback from readers like you (more than any other edition so far). This issue builds on that idea. Today, we’re talking about what happens when AI stops being a tool you delegate to and starts being something you work with. Let’s get into it. 3 Things for Work (in L&D) 1. As We May Work (Taylor Pearson) Taylor borrows from freestyle chess to...

7 days ago • 4 min read
Grayscale lion at a desk reviews five yellow-marked documents with a red pen as a small robot hands more; a cat and bear behind watch with single documents.

Hey Reader, Welcome to the 14th edition of the 3-2-1 (check out previous issues here). I write about transforming ICs into Impact Contributors. And today, we’re talking about the cognitive moves that only became possible with AI. Let’s get into it. 3 Things for Work (in L&D) 1. How Do Workers Develop Good Judgment in the AI Era? (HBR) AI amplifies existing expertise but removes the hands-on, messy work that builds it. HBR identifies five forms of judgment now quietly eroding: evaluative,...

28 days ago • 2 min read
Editorial illustration of a meeting room with five animals in business attire around a conference table. A lion in glasses leans forward with a yellow question mark thought bubble, genuinely curious. The four other animals appear attentive but their thoug

Hi Reader, Welcome to the 13th edition of the 3-2-1 (check out previous issues here). I write about transforming ICs into Impact Contributors. And today, we're talking about what happens when you replace judgment with curiosity. Let's get into it. 3 Things for Work (in L&D) 1. Don't Deprioritize Curiosity-Driven Research (Nature) Governments worldwide are demanding research funding follow political priorities. The warning: the breakthroughs that produced the most value have consistently come...

about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Two identical business-casual lions open doors labeled ‘AI Training’ and ‘Leadership Development,’ revealing the same whiteboard reading ‘Problem Framing,’ as suited animals look on in surprise.

Hi Reader, Welcome to the 12th edition of the 3-2-1 (check out previous issues here). I write about transforming ICs into Impact Contributors. And today, we're talking about why management skills are no longer optional for anyone. Let's get into it. 3 Things for Work (in L&D) 1. To Thrive in the AI Era, Companies Need Agent Managers (HBR) A new role is emerging: the agent manager. Someone who orchestrates how AI agents learn, collaborate, and operate alongside humans. Salesforce reports its...

about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Grayscale lion points to a storm with lightning outside a window while suited animals at a conference table face away, ignoring the warning

Hi Reader, Welcome to the 11th edition of the 3-2-1 (check out previous issues here). I write about transforming ICs into Impact Contributors. And today, we’re talking about the untapped intelligence sitting in every department of your organization. Let’s get into it. 3 Things for Work (in L&D) 1. Andy Grove - Only the Paranoid Survive (Farnam Street) Grove called them “Cassandras.” Front-line employees and middle managers who spot risks and opportunities before senior leadership does. He...

2 months ago • 2 min read
Grayscale lion stands in an empty room as a hand offers a ‘Be An Owner’ poster, highlighting motivation without tools or resources

Hi Reader, Welcome to the 10th edition of the 3-2-1 (check out previous issues here). I write about transforming ICs into Impact Contributors. And today, we’re talking about the gap between what companies expect and what they actually enable. Let’s get into it. 3 Things for Work (in L&D) 1. When There’s Nowhere to Promote a Star Employee (HBR) Career advancement doesn’t only mean climbing the org chart. Rebecca Knight argues that decoupling title progression from career growth is how you...

3 months ago • 2 min read
Grayscale lion assembles a financial dashboard by hand, pinning charts and graphs to a teal-framed board with sticky notes and tools

Hey Reader, Welcome to the 9th edition of the 3-2-1 (check out previous issues here). I took some extra time off over the holidays, because that first week back was a hectic one, wasn't it? But we're back, and I'm excited you're here reading this. Today, we’re talking about why AI rewards thinking instead of replacing it. Let’s get into it. 3 Things for Work (in L&D) When Working With AI, Act Like a Decision-Maker—Not a Tool-User (HBR) AI’s speed and confidence are seductive. People...

3 months ago • 2 min read
Grayscale lions at different rungs of a ladder share stories, symbolizing company hierarchy, set against a teal circle with a yellow upward arrow.

Hey Reader, AI has changed the rules. The gap between "I have an idea" and "here's the finished output" has collapsed from weeks to minutes. Suddenly, the bottleneck shifts from execution to judgment and storytelling. These forms of leadership are not just critical at the top of the org. They're needed where the problem or opportunity arises. That's what this week's edition is all about: leadership as a capability that needs to exist all the way down. Welcome to the 8th edition of the 3-2-1...

4 months ago • 3 min read
Grayscale lion sits cross-legged using a laptop while reading a book; a yellow line links book to a lightbulb over a teal circle, blurring work and learning

Hey Reader, Welcome to the 7th edition of the 3-2-1 (check out previous issues here). You're getting this because you care about developing people. I write about transforming ICs -> Impact Contributors (and I took last week off for Thanksgiving 🦃). Today, we're talking about learning in the flow of work. Let's flow then, shall we? 3 Things for Work (in L&D) Learning In The Flow of Work (Josh Bersin) The article that coined the term. Bersin argues that knowledge workers have just 24 minutes...

5 months ago • 2 min read
Grayscale lion cashier at a retail checkout reviews a receipt; teal circle backdrop, yellow growth arrow, and bar chart on the monitor

Hey Reader, Welcome to the 6th edition of the 3-2-1 (check out previous issues here). You're getting this because you care about developing people. I write about transforming ICs -> Impact Contributors. And today, we're talking about Universal Perspective. Let's get into it. 3 Things for Work (in L&D) The Case For Writing A compelling look at why to get your people writing as part of their learning. If writing is thinking, outsourcing this to AI is regressing. 🏋️♀️ Effort ≈ 4 min read Hiring...

5 months ago • 2 min read