Lauren Urdang

I am an L&D and people development professional with a genuine passion for building the programmes, processes, and cultures that enable organisations to grow and their people to thrive. My background spans learning strategy and design, organisational development, and change management and I take pride in work that is both meaningful and operationally sound. I have experience leading development initiatives across a global business, partnering with senior stakeholders, and building solutions that connect directly to how a business performs.

What drives me is the relationship between people and strategy as I believe that understanding what an organisation needs to succeed, and putting the right foundations in place to get there, is where the most meaningful growth happens. With a background in law, organisational psychology, and business management, alongside a change management qualification and hands-on experience building L&D functions, I am motivated by work that contributes to organisational development in a purposeful and lasting way.

Learning Manager - VAT IT

(2024-10)

Promoted into this role to lead the global L&D function, shaping people development strategy

• Own the people development strategy for the global business, identifying organisational capability gaps and designing training and processes that support performance
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and business units on talent development, shifting the L&D function from a reactive training approach to a proactive strategic partner
• Design and scale onboarding and development programmes that accelerate and enhance productivity and strengthen the employee experience from day one
• Lead change enablement across transformation initiatives by partnering with leadership to build a lasting people centric culture
• Use learning data and business feedback to continuously improve how the organisation invests in its people and continually find ways to upskill and develop employees
• Build collaborative relationships across HR, Exco, and subject matter experts to ensure development is embedded in business processes

Senior Trainer & Facilitator - VAT IT

(2022-01 - 2024-09)

Joined VAT IT full time as a Junior Trainer, following an internship at the company in 2021

• Coordinated and delivered structured onboarding programmes that enabled new employees to integrate seamlessly with their teams
• Designed learning materials including, e-learning courses, videos and in-person sessions to cater to different training needs
• Facilitated in-person and virtual workshops across departments globally, adapting delivery style to diverse audiences
• Built stakeholder relationships that enabled the L&D team to be seen as a trusted business partner rather than a peripheral function
• Supported change initiatives through structured communication plans and targeted training interventions
• Managed projects end-to-end, ensuring delivery within scope, timeline, and quality expectations

School Tutor (Grades 8-12) - Independent

(2018-01)

• Provide structured academic support to learners across multiple subjects, requiring strong organisation, consistency, and accountability
• Support learners with planning, preparation discipline, and progress tracking

Sales Assistant - Villeroy & Boch

(2019-09 - 2020-05)

• Managed daily store operations including cash handling, stock control, and customer service
• Maintained high standards of professionalism and attention to detail in a client-facing environment

Certificate - Change Management - University of Cape Town (2024)

Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PDM) - Business Administration - Wits Business School (2021)

Bachelor of Arts - Law & Organisational Psychology - University of the Witwatersrand (2020)

Matric - St Stithians Girls College (2017)