What does it look like when learning and development becomes more than a support function and evolves into a strategic business driver? For Tomissa Smittendorf, Senior Director of Commercial Capabilities at Kellanova, it’s all about having a clear vision, embracing innovation, and making learning personal and purposeful.
From Vision to Action: The Power of a Learning Value Proposition
Tomissa believes that everything starts with a compelling vision. Her team operates with a defined learning and development value proposition that connects their work directly to business priorities. This isn’t just about delivering training. It’s about building knowledge capital across the organization.
The “how” is just as important as the “what.” Her team fosters an intentional learner mindset by creating a culture where employees are encouraged to learn, grow, and thrive. This approach ensures their efforts are not just helpful but essential to business success.
Building Capabilities with Purpose
To make their strategy actionable, Tomissa and her team use a multi-year capability-building plan. This allows them to prioritize initiatives and meet learners where they are. Agility is key. If something isn’t working or if new needs emerge, they pivot quickly.
Measurement is an ongoing focus. While surveys are still part of the toolkit, Tomissa emphasizes the importance of long-term vision. Behavioral change doesn’t happen overnight, especially in areas like sales enablement. With consistent investment, progress becomes visible and measurable.
Marketing L&D Internally
To help learners see the value of training, Kellanova takes a page from the marketing playbook. Tomissa’s team recently produced a mid-year recap video highlighting key learning initiatives and metrics. Stats fly across the screen, showcasing real results in an engaging format that’s hard to ignore.
“It’s a fun way to market yourself as a learning organization,” she shared. It’s also a great way to answer the inevitable learner question: “What’s in it for me?”
Virtual Reality: A Game-Changer for Onboarding
One of Kellanova’s most exciting initiatives is their use of virtual reality for retail sales onboarding. Instead of traditional training, new hires are immersed in headset-based simulations that walk them through real-world scenarios like the eight-step door call process.
The results speak for themselves. A 90 percent increase in upselling display recognition and a 75 percent improvement in safety concern identification. This immersive experience not only improves knowledge retention but also eliminates distractions. There’s no multitasking when you’re in a VR headset.
Originally, the company trained new hires in a full-scale grocery store mockup. But the cost and upkeep of the physical environment led the team to explore a more scalable alternative. Working with Roundtable Learning, they developed a virtual store that delivers just as much impact without the overhead.
AI as a Co-Pilot
Artificial intelligence is another area where Kellanova is making progress. Tomissa describes AI as a co-intelligence partner. One that helps make work more efficient rather than replacing it. Her team collaborates closely with IT to ensure data security and appropriate tool use.
They’ve already piloted projects like embedding reports into co-pilot tools for their retail sales team. This provides deeper insights at the store level. The key to adoption is to start with a real use case that solves a business problem. When people see value, they’re more likely to engage.
Making Data Meaningful
With so much data available, the challenge isn’t access. It’s interpretation. Tomissa trains her team to focus on the “so what” of the data. It’s not just about numbers, but about telling a story that drives decisions. For example, in their “Communicating for Influence” class, learners are taught how to turn insights into compelling narratives that influence internal and external stakeholders.
Culture, Change, and Community
In an era of constant transformation, Tomissa sees well-being as a critical piece of the learning puzzle. Training can’t just be about skills. It also needs to equip employees to lead through change.
As she puts it, “People are the heartbeat of our organization.” That’s why Kellanova invests time and energy into developing its people. It’s also why they focus on creating a community that shares best practices across the industry.
A Career Built on Curiosity
Tomissa’s journey with Kellanova began 36 years ago. Through roles in sales, supply chain, HR, and beyond, she gained a holistic view of the business that now shapes her approach to L&D. The advice she received early on—to experience different parts of the company—paid off.
Eventually, her passion for developing people led her to learning and development. Today, she leads with a blend of curiosity, change-readiness, and deep business understanding.
Advice for the Next Generation
If she could go back and give her younger self a message, it would be simple. Embrace change. Even when it’s uncomfortable, change leads to opportunity. Sometimes, you have to look hard for the silver lining. But it’s always there.
