How Blood Cancer United Fosters a Culture of Curiosity and Learning

When Blood Cancer United, formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, set out to strengthen its culture of learning, the goal wasn’t simply to introduce new tools. It was to create an environment where curiosity, growth, and opportunity could thrive.

That philosophy starts at the top.

“Our people are critical to delivering on our lifesaving mission,” says Orlando Ashworth, Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer of Blood Cancer United. “We believe every employee has the ability to lead from where they are — and lifelong learning is what makes that possible.”

To bring this to life, Blood Cancer United has built a learning ecosystem that combines technology, curated content, and a human-centered approach to career development, with LinkedIn Learning at its core.

Today, employees watch nearly 18,000 LinkedIn Learning videos annually, with a 75% completion rate, reflecting strong engagement and a shared commitment to growth.

Making learning accessible, engaging, and impactful

Much of this progress has been led by Kathy Luette, Senior Director of Talent Development, who oversees career development and learning strategy.

Her focus: make learning easy to access and relevant to everyday work.

“LinkedIn Learning gives us an all-you-can-learn buffet,” Kathy says. “I’ve never searched for a topic and not found something valuable, which matters in a world where 40% of future jobs don’t yet exist.”

To build momentum, her team introduced monthly curated challenges featuring short, accessible content on topics like communication, stress management, and curiosity. Most take less than five minutes and can be accessed on demand.

“Sometimes learning isn’t about making time — it’s about fitting it in,” she explains. “Microlearning makes that possible.”

Offering this level of access is a deliberate investment, and one that sets Blood Cancer United apart within the nonprofit sector.

“Not every nonprofit can offer this kind of opportunity,” Kathy says. “Providing LinkedIn Learning at no cost to employees is a significant investment in their growth — and one I used to dream about bringing to my prior organization.”

That access has helped shift learning from a periodic activity to an everyday resource, empowering employees to explore new skills and interests on their own terms.

Embedding learning across the employee experience

At Blood Cancer United, learning isn’t separate from the work. It’s embedded within it.

“We don’t treat learning as a standalone activity,” Orlando says. “It’s part of how we develop leaders, support our teams, and prepare for the future.”

LinkedIn Learning is integrated into:

• Leadership journeys across all levels

• Succession planning

• Career pathing and development plans

• Competency frameworks for future-ready skills

• The Blood Cancer United Leading Teams program for people managers

• Sales training, including the Xcelerate Sales Series

Blood Cancer United’s Xcelerate Sales Series connects LinkedIn Learning’s expert‑led content with trusted partner resources for a curated, role‑relevant sales learning experience.

The organization also leverages LinkedIn Learning’s AI-powered coaching tools to support real-time development, particularly for managers and revenue teams.

Learning embedded in the work is not only part of the picture. Career growth at Blood Cancer United is designed to be flexible, personalized, and future-focused. 

“Our philosophy is that every employee leads,” Orlando says. “And leadership is rooted in growth, not hierarchy.”

To support this, Kathy's team offers skills assessments, curated learning paths, role-specific content, certifications, and career planning tools including the LinkedIn Learning Career Hub.

“We’re helping employees build skills for today and for what’s ahead,” Kathy says. “That’s how we create a more future-ready workforce.”

A culture built on partnership and curiosity

Kathy describes LinkedIn Learning as an “amazing partner,” and the relationship goes beyond content.

“They have even joined us to give a staff tour of the LinkedIn Learning Career Hub on Career Day,” she says. “They genuinely want to help us grow as an organization.”

Blood Cancer United also works closely with their LinkedIn representatives to curate the organization’s LinkedIn Learning collections, support adoption, and bring the latest features into its leadership programs.

Curiosity is a core organizational value and a guiding principle for how their teams operate.

“We want to be curious about how we learn, adapt, and work together,” Orlando says. “Curiosity helps us prepare for whatever the future holds, and it helps us deliver for the communities we serve.”

With a strong foundation and continued investment in its people, Blood Cancer United is building a culture where learning and growth are expected, supported, and celebrated.

Interested in strengthening your own learning culture?

Explore what LinkedIn Learning solutions can offer your nonprofit and start building a culture of continuous learning today.