Title: Director of Learning and Talent Development
Company: Publicis Sapient
Location: Raynham, Massachusetts, United States
Ian Stevens, Director of Learning and Talent Development at Publicis Sapient, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Professional Development.
Mr. Stevens has established a distinguished career spanning two decades in culture and leadership development, talent development and organizational capability building. Since 2023, he has served as the director of learning and talent development at Publicis Sapient, a technology company that provides enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and services that deliver results for clients.
In this capacity, Mr. Stevens oversees the American learning team, encompassing North America and Latin America. He is responsible for setting objectives and key results, ensuring alignment across teams and delivering measurable business impact. His leadership extends to managing programs, empowering team members to make independent decisions and take ownership of their work, as well as supporting the elevation of performance and enhancing the organization’s reputation. Additionally, Mr. Stevens directs all learning and development initiatives for Publicis Sapient’s strategy, product and experience capabilities on a global scale.
A defining milestone in Mr. Stevens’ career was his facilitation of Publicis Sapient’s adoption of the Scaled Agile framework. This initiative required rapid implementation and robust measurement of its impact while ensuring effective delivery through the new methodology. Collaborating closely with Scaled Agile, Mr. Stevens established a comprehensive approach to build this capability throughout the organization.
Within one year of its adoption, more than 3,600 employees were trained as practitioners and specialists across multiple disciplines. Mr. Stevens developed a self-sustaining ecosystem by cultivating instructors at the SAFe Program Consultant level who could guide clients in adopting and scaling new operating models within their technology enterprises. This achievement led Publicis Sapient to attain platinum status with Scaled Agile, significantly strengthening its client pipeline among companies seeking agile transformation partners. The project also marked Mr. Stevens’ first engagement with a C-level executive, specifically the chief product officer, which resulted in his oversight of the entire product organization and an expansion of his responsibilities to include strategy, product development and experience management.
From 2018 to 2023, Mr. Stevens served as a capability learning and development lead for North America at Publicis Sapient. In this role, he was instrumental in leading his team and serving as a force multiplier, delivering high-impact programs, increasing business readiness, and developing trust across regions and disciplines. Earlier, Mr. Stevens held the position of manager of learning and organizational development, between 2017 and 2018, where he led the North American learning and development team that served the financial services, commodities and public sector businesses.
Mr. Stevens began his career at Publicis Sapient in 2011 as a senior facilitator and executive coach, where he delivered high-impact coaching sessions and facilitated workshops designed to cultivate leadership skills among emerging leaders. He then became a manager of learning and organizational development in 2014, where he spent the next two years advancing talent strategies that aligned with evolving business needs across North America.
Taking a brief hiatus from the organization, Mr. Stevens spent 2016 and 2017 as a senior manager of corporate training and development at Cambridge International Education. During this time, he led a learning program development and implementation that included onboarding development, management training and other initiatives. Mr. Stevens began his professional journey as a teacher and coach with various organizations from 2005 to 2011. These opportunities laid the foundation for his expertise in education and talent development.
Mr. Stevens’ academic background includes earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French from Union College in Schenectady, New York, in 2005. The analytical skills honed during his studies have contributed significantly to his ability to communicate effectively, build relationships across diverse teams and engage fully in business challenges.
In addition to his education, Mr. Stevens’s expertise has been recognized through membership in industry-related organizations, such as ATD. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is actively involved in civic life as a program director for Raynham Youth Lacrosse, where he supports youth development through sportsmanship and teamwork.
Throughout his career, Mr. Stevens has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in building organizational capability and fostering environments where individuals can thrive professionally. His commitment to professional excellence has been reflected in numerous accolades, including being named among the Top 100 Learning and Development Professionals in 2026. He also received gold and silver Brandon Hall Awards for his contributions at Publicis Sapient and an EYP Award from the organization.
Mr. Stevens attributes his success to his ability to build strong relationships within organizations, coupled with an innate curiosity and willingness to embrace challenges, qualities that have defined his impactful career trajectory. Looking ahead, he aims to catalyze organizational change by pursuing such opportunities as global chief learning officer within a large enterprise or establishing a consulting practice focused on talent development and capability building. Ultimately, Mr. Stevens aspires to become a thought leader in the industry by guiding companies in enhancing their talent initiatives and fostering cultures of continuous growth.
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