Part 1 – A CEO’s Perspective: Entering a new Era of Learning

A thought leadership series with Chris Teeling, CEO of Arlo on the future of learning and why instructor-led training matters more than ever.

I’m humbled to join you as we journey together into the future of training, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as Arlo’s new CEO.

In my first few weeks in this role, what has inspired me most is seeing the incredible impact our customers and community are making through training. From conversations with customers to the stories I’ve read, one thing is clear: this community is united by a belief that instructor-led training changes lives, and that it’s even more essential in a world of AI.

Over the last fifteen years, I’ve been privileged to help build and lead three great global technology companies. One ushered in the era of cloud computing for creatives at Pixar, traders on Wall Street, and rocket scientists at NASA. If you’re using Microsoft today, you benefit from what we invented. At Xero, we helped millions of small businesses around the world gain financial confidence and prosperity. At LawVu, we enabled in-house legal teams to become hyper-efficient by automating repetitive tasks and unlocking the time they needed to focus on meaningful, challenging work and freeing them from their desks to become the legal heroes of their organizations. That’s the kind of impact I want Arlo to empower you to achieve today and in the future.

For me, education is deeply personal. I’d call myself a lifelong learner, a consumer of books and courses. At pivotal moments in my career, it was face-to-face training, or someone taking me under their wing and opening doors to new opportunities, that propelled me forward.

Education has also shaped my personal life. As the parent of four grown sons, I’ve watched them learn and thrive throughout their schooling years. Even with the talent and opportunity to attend top U.S. universities or pursue any career he wanted, one of my sons chose to follow his passion to become a teacher. That choice speaks volumes: despite other options, he recognized the profound, lasting impact education can have on individuals, their communities, and the future of society.

What attracted me to Arlo is the critical importance of instructor-led training experiences in a world shaped by AI, and Arlo’s ability to unlock time and empower you to reach more learners and make an even greater impact. Around the world, Arlo is already helping customers focus more on delivering meaningful, impactful training while we take care of everything else: handling registrations, automating communications and certifications, delivering seamless blended learning experiences, and much more. All of this helps your organization grow and succeed.

We all have a story about how education has shaped us. Now, as CEO of Arlo, I have the privilege of helping you shape the future of education. Together, as a community reaching millions of learners, we can make an impact on a global scale. This is just the beginning of the journey, and I look forward to connecting with you, learning from your experiences, and ensuring Arlo is the best possible partner in your success.

What sets instructor-led training apart?

In an age of rapid AI innovation, it’s worth remembering what makes ILT unique: the human advantage. It’s the lived experience, empathy, expertise, and critical thinking that only people can bring to blended training. The tools help extend your reach, but at the heart of it all are:

• Deep expertise and creativity: Instructors don’t just know the content; they create it and live it. They bring years, and sometimes decades, of professional and lived experience into the room. That context makes learning stick.
  
• Empathy and adaptability: The future of learning is deeper personalization. Great instructors don’t always stick to a script; they read the room, respond to questions, and guide learners in real time. AI can help curate personalized experiences and point out teachable moments where you can step in online – but it will never replace trainer intuition.
  
• Peer-to-peer engagement: ILT is a social experience. Learners gain just as much from each other as from the instructor – sharing stories, asking questions, and building connections that last long after the course ends. That’s your community.
  

At Arlo, we believe our role is to amplify these human qualities by supporting the delivery and scalability of blended learning through technology. With our latest elearning enhancements, the release of the new Arlo checkout with full mobile + WCAG 2.2 compliance, a new WordPress theme and much more.

You’ll also find a strong, like-minded community of training providers through Arlo – passionate people delivering exceptional training that changes lives. We’re committed to fostering connections within this community and showcasing their stories, insights, and learnings.

In our upcoming AI panel, you’ll hear from Donald H. Taylor, Stella Lee, Elena Agaragimova, and Scott D’Amico in a live discussion on the impact of AI on the training industry. Be sure to register.

Following that, you’re invited to join us for a webinar with cLearn CEO Jeff Makey, where he’ll share his personal playbook for delivering outstanding blended learning. And don’t forget to explore our Changemaker series on the Arlo blog – I’m particularly inspired by the remarkable journey of Simon and Jill Snell, the founders behind SAFE Ltd. With over 60 years of combined experience in specialist police safeguarding units – including leadership roles in child protection, sexual exploitation, MAPPA, and high-stakes interviewing – they’ve turned frontline insights into life-changing training and consultancy. And scaled it with the support of technology.

This is the first in a series where I’ll share my perspective on where the industry is heading, the challenges providers are facing, and the role Arlo will play in championing instructor-led training. I look forward to continuing this conversation with you.