A number of readers of “NOTES” have written to ask Where is Elliott Masie?
Here is an update of the exciting global projects and adventures that I am doing to pursue my passion for Learning, Storytelling, Technology and Theater.
Right Now? The answer to “Where?” is onboard the Queen Mary 2 on a voyage between NY and Southampton, England. For 7 days, we are been at a range of TED Talks, performances of the National Symphony Orchestra from London and connecting with a range of passengers from around the world. For people that know me, you would be surprised to see me in my tux on the 2 Gala Nights where everyone gets spiffy:
Dublin, Ireland & New York State! About half the year, we are located in Dublin, Ireland doing a Learning Fellowship with Trinity College’s Learnovate organization, focused on the changing field of learning and exploring innovations in theatre, business and entrepreneurship. And, half the year, spending time in New York City and Saratoga Springs, helping to produce new theatre productions, including “Dolly” a new musical written by Dolly Parton and starring Katie Rose Clarke (coming to Broadway in the future):
Learning - Curiosity and ReSkilling: You will see new “Notes” from me in the time ahead focusing on these 2 aspects of Workplace Learning. Here are the questions that I an asking myself and a wide range of learning colleagues from around the world:
Curiosity: What is the role of curiosity in shaping how an employee learns? How do we encourage, honor, adapt to and engage a learner’s curiosity?
ReSkilling: Between the impacts of AI, changing marketplaces and evolving career expectations, how can organizations or societies approach large scale ReSkilling of large numbers of employees. What are new models for honoring the need for ReSkilling in these changing times?
I am excited to be heading to Sweden for a keynote speech in a week about these topics, working with my colleagues at Trinity College about the future of ReSkilling and dialoging with Chief Learning Officers around this critically important topic.
Theatre and Aging: In addition to the new musicals that MASIE Productions is helping to produce, we are supporting an amazing play, “Just Another Day” written by Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years). We are presenting this play about 2 performers that are in a senior facility and every day wonder “Do I Know You” when they meet on a bench. It is warm, touching and raising money for the TILDA project that is conducting research on aging. We will be presenting it in 2026 in Dublin, Belfast and London to raise money for this research.
Retired? No, Refired! At the young age of 75, it is a common question that I am asked. Not retired. Instead, I am Refired! Every day is an opportunity to learn, to mentor, to experiment, to invest and to explore. We have invested in new startups in Ireland, supported educators in the Philippines and continued to make good disruption in the worlds of theatre and learning.
Leading and Living in Disruptive Times: These are disruptive times. I hope that our collective work in evolving learning models and creating new storytelling and theatre formats can be a way of adding creativity to these times.
NOTES Ahead: I will be publishing occasional Notes, in text, audio or video format. And, I would love to be in touch with existing and new colleagues. Feel free to send me an email to emasie@masie.com or use this button below.
Yours in Learning: I wrap with my favorite phrase that I have used for over 55 years in my notes, letters and speeches:
Yours in Learning,
Elliott
Elliott Masie
MASIE Learning Foundation
MASIE Productions
www.masie.com
emasie@masie.com
With respect to reskilling and the continuing impact of AI (or is it re-packaged ML (machine learning?) - what are the short-, medium-, and long-term Strategies and Tactics of both owners and employees to adapting to the quickly changing world of work? Are we looking at a zero-sum game model - where survival for both is a Darwinian survival of the fittest, where some projections predict people (workers) will be nearly automated out of existence? OR are we looking at an integrated hybrid model, where projections would favor an integrated approach (and not an either/or approach)? Does 'reskilling' mean enhance what workers can do/achieve (the sum of the parts being greater than the whole, with respect to effectiveness)? OR minimize/eliminate what workers can't do (there is no sum of the parts, but eliminating workers is the means-to-the-end to optimize speed/efficiancy)? Ultimately won't tactics/methods be contingent on what the future Goal is?
Thank you for the update. And yes, you do look Spiffy! Looking forward to hearing more in upcoming notes or sessions!