There’s a lot of noise right now about AI, skills, and the future of work. What actually helps? The right tools, the right content, and a clear path forward. Here’s what’s new at OpenSesame and how it helps your team build skills that stick.
New in OpenSesame Plus: XtremeLabs and Second City Works
We’re expanding the OpenSesame Plus catalog with new publishers designed to help you build in-demand skills across your organization, from hands-on technical training to engaging, story-driven compliance learning.
XtremeLabs: Hands-on training for real-world skills
XtremeLabs delivers live lab training that helps learners build practical, job-ready skills across cloud, IT, and cybersecurity. With hands-on environments that mirror tasks they'll need to complete on the job, teams can move beyond theory and actively apply what they’re learning.
Each lab includes optional assessments to reinforce knowledge and track progress, making it easier to scale technical training and keep teams current as technology evolves.
Explore XtremeLabs on OpenSesame
Second City Works: Compliance training that actually sticks
Ever heard of Tina Fey, Bill Murray, or Stephen Colbert? They all got their start at the world-renowned Second City comedy theater. Now, its professional development arm, Second City Works, brings that same power of storytelling and improvisation to an engaging course library.
Their content uses humor and relatable scenarios to make compliance and workplace topics more engaging. With short, focused lessons and recurring characters, these courses capture attention, spark conversation, and help learners retain what matters.
Explore Second City Works on OpenSesame
The language filter just got smarter, so you can find better matches for all your learners
Finding a single course that works across languages has always been possible, but used to mean extra effort: sorting through results, double-checking availability, and managing multiple course assignments.
Now, the language filter does that work for you. With the new “Show All Selected” option, you can filter for courses available in all the languages you need at once, no more piecing together separate options or second-guessing your selections.
That means you can assign one course to multiple regions with confidence, simplify your rollout, and give every learner a consistent experience in their preferred language.
Research spotlight: L&D has a value problem. Or does it?
The pressure to prove impact is rising. The ability to do it is not.
According to recent research from ATD, only 30% of organizations are effectively using learning data to inform business decisions. At the same time, Donald H. Taylor’s 2026 Global Sentiment Survey shows that “showing value” is one of the few L&D priorities rising year over year, signaling growing expectations from the business.
But there is a clear tension. While the need to demonstrate impact is increasing, interest in learning analytics is declining. L&D teams are being asked to prove more, often without the systems or frameworks to do it.
The takeaway? L&D has a positioning problem.
“The smart training leader partners with the business to understand how learning can deliver real hard-hitting value."
– Josh Bersin, Global industry analyst and Josh Bersin Company CEO
Executives are not looking for more activity data. They are looking for a clear connection between learning and outcomes like performance, productivity, and risk reduction. And when that connection is not visible, L&D risks being seen as a support function rather than a strategic driver.
To stay relevant, L&D needs to shift how learning is framed and communicated, linking it directly to the outcomes the business already cares about.
Wondering where to get started?
Get the playbook: Making Learning Make Sense to Executives
Customer spotlight: Getz Healthcare
What does it look like to unify learning across ten countries? Getz Healthcare is showing how it’s done.
By partnering with OpenSesame, LearnUpon, and Degreed, the team built a connected learning ecosystem that balances technical expertise with essential business skills, and delivers personalized online training at scale.
The results speak for themselves: a 93% course completion rate, a 4.5 out of 5 learner satisfaction score, and a stronger culture of continuous learning across Asia Pacific.
Explore the full customer story to see how Getz Healthcare is turning learning into a driver of growth.
Join us at ATD
Join OpenSesame at ATD 2026, happening 17–20 May at the Los Angeles Convention Center. We’d love to see you there! Stop by Booth #1609 to grab exclusive swag, take our AI Readiness Survey, and build your own LEGO® mini-figurine. You can also book time with our team in advance to make the most of your visit.
While you’re there, don’t miss our customer party at the GRAMMY Museum Terrace on 18 May. Be sure to reserve your spot early.
We’re also hosting a customer panel session, What AI readiness actually requires: a practical playbook for learning leaders, on Tuesday, 19 May from 10:00–11:00 a.m. in Room 304 A. Leaders from East Wind Advisors, First Solar, and the American Arbitration Association will share how they’re navigating AI adoption and what it takes to build an AI-ready workforce
We look forward to connecting with you in Los Angeles.
Strengthening partnerships across the learning ecosystem
Our partner ecosystem continues to grow more connected, strategic, and impactful.
Recognition across our ecosystem reflects the strength of these relationships. We celebrated innovation through our Partner Sesame Award winners, and partners like UKG recognized OpenSesame as a Premier LMS Content Partner and White Glove Technology Partner of the Year. These milestones show the real results we’re delivering together.
They also point to something bigger. We’re building an ecosystem that works together to support better learning outcomes.
Building a more connected ecosystem
This vision comes to life across industries, environments, and use cases.
We’re expanding support for global teams through new partners like Deel. Together, we bring curated, high-impact online training directly into the employee lifecycle, helping distributed teams access learning in the flow of work.
Another new partner, EHS Insight, connects training to safety and compliance workflows. When an incident occurs, employees can complete relevant training in the same system where it’s reported. This practical approach helps reinforce safe behaviors when they matter most.
We’re also deepening strategic relationships. Our expanded work with Meridian Knowledge Solutions, a FedRAMP® 20x Moderate Authorized LMS, strengthens support for government and public sector organizations that require secure, compliance-driven learning environments.
As the HR technology landscape evolves, so do we.
Our partnership with Workday supports continuity as platforms grow and change. With OpenSesame integrations across Sana Learn and Workday Learning, we’re enabling a more connected, AI-driven approach to learning.
Explore our Partner Ecosystem to see how these connections come together.
See how our ecosystem comes together
Our ecosystem is not only growing. It’s becoming easier to explore and put into action.
You can discover how partners connect, explore integrations that fit your environment, and see how learning fits into the tools your teams already use, all in one place.
Insights from the people behind the partnerships
Behind every integration is a shared commitment to solving real challenges.
Through our Ecosystem Experts series, OpenSesame leaders and partner experts share practical insights on learning, technology, and the future of work. These conversations reflect what they’re seeing across organizations every day.
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From our ecosystem experts
In our latest Ecosystem Experts episode, OpenSesame’s Liza Mucheru Wisner and D2L’s Sandy Rezendes explore how AI is making learning more adaptive, personalized, and continuous.
They share practical insights on supporting skill development in the flow of work, and how to use AI to strengthen, not replace, human connection.
Upcoming webinar: From Tool to Teammate
AI is no longer just a tool. It’s becoming a teammate, reshaping how work gets done and what skills teams need to succeed.
In this upcoming session with Marc Zao-Sanders, we’ll explore what workforce reinvention really looks like, and how organizations can build the technical, relational, and strategic skills needed for AI-augmented work.
Join us to learn where AI is automating tasks, where it’s elevating human capability, and how L&D leaders can prepare their workforce for what’s next.
Register now to save your spot and get a Data Governance Cheat Sheet.
New resource roundup
Explore the latest insights, tools, and stories to help you navigate Workforce Reinvention and build skills for what’s next.
See why OpenSesame was named a Fosway 9-Grid™ Core Leader and what it signals for the future of L&D. This piece explores the shift from content to capability, and how organizations can deliver personalized, skills-driven learning without added complexity.
A practical guide to moving from AI experimentation to real impact. Learn how to run focused pilots, measure results, and scale adoption with confidence.
A step-by-step framework for building an AI-ready workforce. This guide outlines each stage of reinvention, with clear actions and common pitfalls to help you move forward strategically.
Why most organizations aren’t ready for AI, and what to do about it. This article breaks down the growing gap between technology and skills, and how proactive leaders are getting ahead.
What if training felt more like a show you’d actually want to watch? Go behind the scenes of Bridging Worlds, a story-driven series designed to spark reflection, build empathy, and bring real workplace dynamics to life.
