5 Takeaways from “The ROI of Training: Driving Growth Through People”

Across industries, and especially in education, organizations are facing a growing talent crisis: nearly half of job seekers say they’ve been ghosted by employers, 60% of workers will need new skills by 2027, and retention challenges are costly.

At NYSERNet, we believe the answer is clear: growth happens through people. The organizations that invest in training see the strongest return. 

During our recent virtual session with Carolyn Mattiske of SUNY SAIL and Brad Jurgens of StormWind Studios, we explored how employee development has become a core driver of organizational performance. 

📽️Watch the full recording of "The ROI of Training: Driving Growth Through People"

Here are five key takeaways from the conversation, explaining why continuous learning is now essential for organizational success. 

1. Responsiveness in Hiring Directly Impacts ROI

In competitive talent markets, communication becomes both a differentiator and an efficiency booster. 

• 48% of candidates report being ghosted by employers during the hiring process (FlexJobs & MPR)

When organizations communicate clearly and consistently, they build trust sooner and reduce costly recruiting cycles. 

Through project management and professional skills trainings, we help institutions equip hiring teams with the communication and decision-making practices that create better candidate experiences and stronger pipelines.

2. Training Must Be Tailored to a Diverse Workforce

One-size-fits-all training is no longer cost-effective, nor is it engaging. 

Different generations learn in different ways, and tailoring training ensures higher retention of knowledge and of employees. LinkedIn's Talent Blog tells us:

• Boomers prefer hands-on, mentorship-driven learning.

• Gen X favors self-directed, practical training.

• Millennials rely on mobile, interactive content with immediate feedback.

• Gen Z actively pursues jobs with better skill-building opportunities.

And importantly:

• 80% of Millennials and Gen Z prefer in-office work when it includes collaborative learning and peer development (Unispace)

NYSERNet's curated education offerings, from technical upskilling to leadership development, give members access to flexible, customizable training models that fit every learner.

3. Investment in Training Directly Strengthens Culture, Engagement & Retention

The numbers tell a compelling ROI story:

• 94% of employees would stay longer at an organization that invests in their growth. (LinkedIn)

• 8 in 10 say learning adds purpose. (LinkedIn)

• 7 in 10 say it boosts connection to their organization. (LinkedIn)

When employees feel supported and confident, turnover drops and so do the associated costs. 

By offering high-impact programs at a discount, such as the SANS Aggregate Buy and CIO Leadership Academy, we help members build a culture where employees feel valued and supported.

4. Continuous Learning is Now a Strategic Necessity

The pace of change is accelerating, and so is the cost of falling behind. 

• 60% of workers will need training before 2027 due to rapidly evolving skill requirements (World Economic Forum)

Organizations that invest in continuous learning reduce risk, improve performance, and stay technologically relevant. 

This is especially true in areas such as: 

• Cybersecurity 
• Cloud technologies (Azure, AWS) 
• AI and automation 
• Data governance 
• Modern collaboration tools 

We partner with world-class training providers to ensure our members stay secure, agile, and future-ready.

5. Strong Training Partners Enhance ROI Through Delivery, Consistency & Scalability

StormWind Studios 

Brad Jurgens showcased how modern learning design drives measurable ROI through: 

• Flexible hybrid learning 

• Crash courses + placement exams 

• Scenario-based, real-world skill-building 

• Domain-by-domain support aligned with exam objectives 

• A 90% first-time pass rate 

StormWind also solves a common barrier: time. 

By curating trusted training partners, NYSERNet makes it easier, and more cost-effective, for institutions to scale skill development without sacrificing quality.

SUNY SAIL Institute

Carolyn Mattiske shared how leadership development becomes more impactful, and cost-effective, when delivered in focused, interactive segments. 

SUNY SAIL’s model includes: 

• 20-minute engagement blocks 

• Multiple facilitators 

• Cohort-based learning 

• Funding and budgeting options for tight budgets 

These approaches help organizations maximize training dollars and ensure leaders build the skills needed to drive growth. 

Don't Think of Training as an Expense — It's a Growth Strategy

When organizations invest in their people, they see returns in: 

• Higher retention 

• Stronger culture 

• Reduced risk 

• Deeper organizational trust 

The ROI of training is realized through people, their growth, their confidence, and their ability to move the organization forward. 

If your organization is ready to strengthen its workforce and build a culture of continuous learning, NYSERNet is here to support your journey. 

Ready to Take the Next Step? 

NYSERNet is here to support your institution’s growth through a suite of high-impact training opportunities:

• StormWind Technical Training – Live, flexible learning for IT teams→ nysernet.org/education/stormwind 

• CIO Leadership Academy – Transformational leadership development → nysernet.org/education/cio-leadership-academy

• SANS Aggregate Buy Program – Discounted access to world-class cybersecurity training → nysernet.org/education/sans

Training delivers measurable ROI: in retention, performance, and institutional stability.

Connect with NYSERNet and choose the training programs that will strengthen your team, today.