For decades, organizations have relied on satisfaction surveys to gauge training success—yet these “smile sheets” reveal little about real performance impact. In this session, Vanessa Milara Alzate introduces the modernized Kirkpatrick Four Levels® and demonstrates how learning professionals can move beyond attendance and satisfaction metrics to measure what truly matters: behavior change and results. Attendees will explore how to align learning design, delivery, and evaluation with organizational priorities and performance outcomes, using practical examples and real-world applications.

After this session, participants will be able to:

• Explain what has changed in the modernized Kirkpatrick Model® and why it matters today
• Connect learning initiatives to behavior change and measurable performance outcomes
• Apply the Four Levels® as a practical framework for evaluating learning impact
• Identify opportunities to move from compliance-based metrics to strategic decision-making

ATD Capability Model – Performance Improvement, Learning Technologies

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Vanessa Milara Alzate is the Owner & CEO of Kirkpatrick Partners and Founder & CEO of Anchored Training. With more than fifteen years of experience, she has advised organizations across industries including education, life sciences, government, and the Department of Defense. Since acquiring Kirkpatrick Partners in 2023, Vanessa has led the next evolution of the globally recognized Kirkpatrick Model®, modernizing it for today’s performance-driven, data-informed organizations.

Vanessa is a sought-after speaker known for translating evaluation theory into practical, actionable strategies that connect learning to behavior change, performance, and measurable results. She has presented at leading industry conferences including ATD ICE, DevLearn, Learning Solutions, ATD TechKnowledge, and Training Conference. Her sessions are highly interactive and application-focused, using real-world examples, live polling, and reflection prompts to help leaders move beyond activity metrics and toward enterprise impact.

She is the author of Building a Culture of Evaluation, which introduces a new vision for aligning learning, performance, and organizational strategy.