Over two inspiring days, Docebo Inspire Rome 2024, the first of its kind in Europe, revealed how blending tradition with innovation ignites transformation in learning and development (L&D).
Fittingly set in historic Rome and hosted at the prestigious Rome Cavalieri, this year’s event brought together over 280 attendees from 17 countries, 50 speakers, 11 sponsors, and over 30 dynamic sessions, creating an atmosphere of learning, networking, and discovery that celebrated both the timeless and the cutting-edge—from using the Kirkpatrick Model to measure performance to exploring AI-driven learning strategies to enhance learning experiences.
A view of Rome from the hotel Rome Cavalieri
Armed with a mix of traditional techniques and transformational technologies, L&D practitioners left feeling empowered knowing they have the strong foundation to succeed in this brave new world of AI.
But beyond all the learning, mornings started strong with energizing wellness sessions sponsored by Kharalis, setting the tone for productive days ahead. Participants also got to experience Roman art and culture through guided art tours and live sketching sessions (complete with a custom watercolor portrait that made for a special event souvenir). Plus, L&D practitioners brought their best moves and their best fits to Inspire Party Night, inspired by La Dolce Vita, sponsored by GuyKat.
Watercolor artist Ann Berdy live-sketching
Read below for more key takeaways from our Inspire Rome event!
“To keep tradition alive, you have to break it”
Massimo Bottura is pictured talking during his keynote Q&A session
The keynote Q&A session by Massimo Bottura, Michelin-starred chef and founder of nonprofit Food for Soul, set the tone for the event. “To keep tradition alive, you have to break it - and then rebuild it,” were the wise words of Bottura, who championed embracing change while honoring the past.
His passion reminded attendees that innovation often draws strength from revisiting foundational principles, but transformation is absolutely integral to resilience in business and life.
Learning continues to be a numbers game
The highly attended sessions on learning analytics underscored one thing: L&D practitioners are eager to turn learning into measurable business impact.
Multiple sessions including one of the highest registered sessions, "Analytics Strategies in L&D: How data-driven initiatives lead to more impactful learning experiences," bridged the gap between the data-driven innovations shaping the future and the conventional learning frameworks such as the Kirkpatrick and the Learning Transfer Models.
Attendees left equipped with actionable strategies to harness the power of analytics, and drive learning impact from experts and colleagues in the field.
Reskilling is a competitive advantage
While much of the learning world focuses on millennials and Gen Z, Inspire Rome 2024 made space for an often-overlooked demographic: GenXers.
The session "The Forgotten Generation: How Reskilling Your 50+ Workforce Could Be Your Competitive Advantage" explored the value of investing in experienced employees to create a workforce rich in skills and perspective, and most importantly, strengthen organizational knowledge.
And sessions like Bridging the gap: unlocking the ROI of digital L&D for the nonprofit sector emphasized the importance of upskilling. “Digital skills aren’t just a ‘nice-to-have’, they are essential for nonprofits to remain resilient. And when nonprofits thrive, we all do,” said Róisín McGovern, Head of Programmes at Lightful, an organization that helps nonprofits develop the skills, tools, and confidence to grow.
Speaking of tools that would enable upskilling for nonprofits, check out OWL, a free learning platform powered by Docebo for small nonprofits and charities.
Localization is both an art and a science
Localization was something of a hot topic, with multiple sessions emphasizing how critical it is for global businesses to strike the delicate balance of adapting content to diverse cultures and regions while respecting tradition and keeping up with new and exciting content.
If you missed out on this important topic at Inspire Rome and you’re interested in knowing more, the most recent episode of Leaders in Learning with Courtney Sembler, Director of HubSpot Academy, also explores localization and the importance of standardization and documentation as we drive innovation to meet global needs.
AI continues to spice up learning
Inspire Rome 2024 was also the stage for the unveiling of Docebo’s AI authoring tool, designed to empower users with faster, smarter content creation. The demonstration underscored how technology and human creativity go hand in hand, showing that AI can augment traditional learning design while maintaining a focus on quality and engagement.
Other sessions like Redefining the Digital Experience in the AI-ERA with AWS and Turning Learning into a Competitive Advantage: Visma's AI-Enhanced Approach to Customer Education respectively revealed AWS’s cutting-edge cloud-based, AI technologies could enhance customization while keeping data secured, and how AI and API integrations can automate menial tasks while hyperpersonalizing learning paths to create a unique and rewarding customer education experience.
But Inspire Rome 2024 was not just about embracing innovation in AI, it was also about doing so responsibly. For organizations in EMEA, governance and security—especially around AI—aren’t optional; they’re fundamental. The conversations throughout Inspire Rome highlighted the increasing importance of ensuring that innovation in learning technology aligns with local and regional legislations like GDPR, as well as global data security standards.
Recognizing the critical nature of these concerns, Docebo’s own CEO, Alessio Artuffo addressed privacy and data security head-on during his keynote address, reaffirming Docebo’s commitment to embedding robust governance practices and compliance frameworks into every aspect of the Docebo platform, such as being able to have prescriptive controls over Docebo’s AI functionalities.
Docebo’s CEO Alessio Artuffo takes the stage for his keynote address
By tackling these issues directly, he emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with ethical and secure practices, ensuring businesses in the EMEA region can confidently harness the power of AI while meeting regulatory responsibilities.
The best is yet to come
The sessions, panel discussions and case studies shared at Inspire Rome 2024, like in Dallas, set a new benchmark for corporate learning. As one attendee put it, “This event is the perfect opportunity to dive into the latest trends in learning technology, connect with industry leaders, and discover how others are transforming their L&D strategies.”
As the event came to a close, the energy and insights shared throughout the two days left attendees inspired and ready to implement new ideas in their organizations. Inspire Rome 2024 proved that innovation doesn’t mean abandoning tradition—it means finding new ways to honor and evolve it.
Stay tuned as we prepare for Docebo Inspire 2025 in Orlando, where we will continue empowering L&D professionals to grow and succeed in their field. Until then, thank you for being part of this incredible experience!