What’s New from OpenSesame: July 2025
Article

What’s New from OpenSesame: July 2025

9 July 2025
By Sydney Ward

We’re halfway there! Here at OpenSesame, we’re already looking ahead to how we can finish the year strong, and your L&D program can too. What’s one meaningful change you can make today to boost impact by year’s end?

This month, we’ve added new publishers and fresh content to help you take that next step with confidence.

New to OpenSesame Plus: Business and leadership training from Sentinel | 9

Sentinel | 9 delivers courses that help professionals build skills in strategic planning, legal frameworks, financial fluency, and leadership development. Each course is designed with real-world case studies, interactive activities, and gamified learning to keep learners engaged and ready to apply what they’ve learned.

Whether your team is just starting out or preparing for leadership roles, Sentinel | 9 content supports skill growth that meets the moment.

Screenshot of a Sentinel | 9 online course titled “Enterprise Risk for Managers: 01. Mastering Enterprise Risk.” The screen shows Lesson 3 of 8, titled “The Positive Side of Risk,” with a progress bar indicating 25% completion. The lesson text discusses how risk includes both negative and positive outcomes and highlights its role in human progress and decision-making. A banner image at the top shows two people in conversation overlaid with colorful vertical stock chart graphics.

How Amber Crain is leading a learning transformation at Pregis

Promotional graphic featuring the Pregis logo and the text “Amber Crain is transforming learning at Pregis.” On the right, a photo of Amber Crain speaking, wearing a patterned blue and beige blouse, with a blurred event background.

As Director of Learning and Organizational Development, Amber is leading innovative programs that make training relevant and accessible. Her “Management Mondays” series is reshaping leadership development, with over 50% of salaried employees and full participation from manufacturing teams engaging in the experience.

Amber has also created more than 100 custom employee training sessions using PowerPoint, Simon, and OpenSesame. Her approach allows for quick updates, seamless translation, and empowers subject matter experts to contribute without technical expertise. One of her standout achievements is launching a complete manager onboarding program in just 30 days.

From building engagement to scaling training across a global workforce, Amber’s strategy proves that effective learning can be both powerful and practical.

Discover how Amber is driving real impact at Pregis. Watch the full stories:

Publisher spotlight: Digest bestselling book summaries with Briefly

This month, we’re highlighting OpenSesame Exclusive publisher Briefly. Briefly transforms bestselling business books into short, actionable summaries you can listen to or read—perfect for busy professionals who want big insights, fast.

Check out some of their newest and most talked-about picks:

Disrupt Disruption: How to Decode the Future, Disrupt Your Industry, and Transform Your Business by Pascal Finette

Learn how to lead confidently through change by recognizing early signals of future trends, avoiding common transformation traps, and building a mindset of continuous reinvention.

The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking: Leading Your Organization into the Future by Michael D. Watkins

Explore Watkins’ framework for developing six critical mental disciplines that enhance strategic leadership.

Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential, and Your Paycheck by Kelli Thompson

Learn how women can build authentic confidence to advance their careers without burnout.

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek

For anyone who wants to lead with care and build strong, resilient teams, learn how safety, trust, and empathy fuel effective leadership.

July-ready content to feature in your training lineup

World Listening Day | 18 July
Take the time to improve your empathy skills. This course covers how to be a good listener.

UV Safety Awareness Month
Now’s the time to start practicing healthy sun habits. Learn about the different types of heat-related illnesses and explore tips to stay safe while working in the heat.

Where to find us next

This August, we have two upcoming webinars you won’t want to miss.

Promotional graphic for an OpenSesame live webinar titled “Effective Dialogue to Engage Employees,” scheduled for Wednesday, 16 July at 9 am PT / 12 pm ET. Featured speakers include Shilpa Pherwani (Principal and CEO, Ibis Consulting Group), Rahul Kay (Director of Client Success, Ibis Consulting Group), and Liza Mucheru Wisner (Head of Talent and Workplace Culture Portfolio, OpenSesame). Includes a “Register Now” button and SHRM, HRCI, and ATD certification badges at the top.

Challenging conversations can be turning points, not roadblocks. Join Ibis Consulting Group and OpenSesame on Wednesday, 16 July, to explore how immersive storytelling and dialogue techniques can transform communication, build stronger teams, and promote inclusive leadership.

Promotional banner for a live webinar titled “Cloud-First Success: Stop Playing Catch-Up with IT Skills,” hosted by OpenSesame and CYPHER Learning. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, 30 July at 9 am PT / 12 pm ET. Featured speakers are Mark Schuster, Product Manager at CYPHER Learning Seasoned, and Kyle Gagliardi, OpenSesame Curation Specialist, Technology. Includes a “Register Now” button.

On 30 July, discover how to close critical IT skills gaps and reduce cybersecurity risks with smarter, personalized training. Tech experts from OpenSesame and CYPHER Learning will share practical strategies to help your teams stay ahead and drive measurable business impact.

New resource roundup

Before you go, check out these new articles and resources designed to strengthen your L&D strategy.

Promotional banner with the text “15 Essential Skills That Power Success in Every Industry.” On the right, two women are smiling and talking—one in a light trench coat holding a phone, and the other in a blue coat with a pink scarf—standing in front of an abstract orange and white background.

From communication and collaboration to adaptability and innovation, discover the power skills that drive effectiveness, trust, and growth across every role and industry. It also includes a curated learning path so you can train your team to build each essential skill with confidence.

Promotional banner for 8Levers featuring the headline “Cut Through the Hype: How to Choose AI Tools That Work.” On the right, a smiling man in glasses and a brown jacket holds a folder, standing against an abstract orange and white background. The 8Levers logo appears at the top left.

Senior learning strategist Lori Niles-Hofmann shares a practical, hype-free framework to help L&D leaders evaluate AI tools for real business impact while aligning with strategy, compliance, and organizational readiness.

Promotional graphic for Icon’s award-winning course on AI bias. Text reads, “Behind the Telly: How Icon’s Award-Winning Course on AI Bias Came to Life.” Includes the ICON logo and a badge for the 46th Annual Telly Awards showing “Bronze Winner.” The badge features a stylized trophy icon on an orange gradient background.

This behind-the-scenes look at ICON’s Telly Award-winning course reveals how cinematic storytelling and real-life narratives can transform online learning into a compelling and human experience.

And don’t miss these timely reads:

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