RETHINKING LEARNING: HOW WE SHAPE GROWTH FROM THE INSIDE OUT💡

What does learning really look like in a creative environment driven by passion? 💭 

It isn’t a formality; it’s part of our work at act.3. It shapes how we build culture, move through change, and push beyond the obvious. It happens in conversation, in collaboration, and often in unexpected spaces; inside a breakout room, between workshop moments, or even mid-activation. 

That’s why we started ACT.CADEMY, our very own learning hub and facilitation platform. It’s not only how we reflect inward but how we grow outward. It’s a space where ideas turn into formats, and formats into shared experiences. Not a fixed curriculum. Not one-size-fits-all. 

In this edition, we look at ACT.CADEMY through the lens of three act.3 community members shaping what learning looks and feels like.  

Sibylle Kneer , also known as Billy, is a seasoned facilitator at act.3 who guides with emotion and intention. Agata Kałabunowska is a strategist and co-creator who ensures learning formats are relevant, informative and energising. And Anna Gugelmann , one of our newest team members, brings a fresh perspective on what learning can feel like when it’s truly embedded in culture.  

Curious how we learn at act.3 and how you could shape it with your team? Here's a look inside. 📚⬇️ 

BEYOND THE BASICS: WHAT ACT.CADEMY REALLY IS 🔎 

ACT.CADEMY brings creativity, capability, and community together. Inside act.3, it supports how we grow, through onboarding, offsites, coaching, and team building. With partners, we co-create learning moments that spark and shape clarity, connection, and momentum. 

“ACT.CADEMY is not a traditional Learning & Development department,” says Agata. “It’s a living platform, driven by the needs of our people, not just a preset curriculum.” 

It’s shaped from within. If someone has a passion, a skill, or a perspective others can learn from, ACT.CADEMY makes space for that to happen. If there’s a challenge a team is facing, we co-create the right session to address it. 

“We build what’s needed—nothing is off-the-shelf. If a team is feeling stuck, we help unlock new thinking. If someone’s curious about a topic, we co-create a session to explore it,” says Agata.  

Anna adds: “There’s a real openness here to try something new—even if it’s messy or untested. That mindset makes you feel like learning isn’t about getting it right, it’s about showing up and shaping things as they unfold.” 

Key takeaway: We don’t just ask what people need to learn, we ask how they need to feel to take action. 

Here are a few tips from Billy on how to design for that feeling: 

➡️ Know your context: Understand your audience, goals, topic, location, and timing. 

➡️ Plan your flow: Create a diverse, goal-aligned agenda using tools like Liberating Structures or AI support. 

➡️ Get feedback: Involve others – participants, facilitators, or colleagues – for input before you go live. 

➡️ Set the tone: Your energy matters. Stay relaxed, open, and enjoy the process. 

 HOW WE MAKE LEARNING REAL 🌱 

ACT.CADEMY offers a broad set of learning tools and facilitation services—for our internal community and partners.  

Our formats are created to meet the moment, from creative brainstorming, a leadership roundtable, or an energised team-building session in nature. 

Anna puts it simply: “It’s not about delivering content. It’s about creating space people actually want to be in.” 

How we bring learning to life: 

✨Workshop design and content creation 

✨Consultancy around workshop formats 

✨Co-creation with topic experts 

✨Program and curriculum curation 

✨On-site facilitation 

✨Open stage moments and moderation 

✨Ice breakers and energisers 

✨Recaps and strategic content analysis 

We often build formats from scratch, based on real problems, feedback, or strategic focus areas. And we always ask ourselves: how can this feel more human, more authentic? 

“If the session is about communication, we might run it on a theatre stage. If it’s about adaptability, we’ve done it in a vegetable garden. The space should reflect the story,” says Billy.  

“Even when working online, there’s room for connection. I’ve seen people cry tears of joy in virtual breakout rooms—not because the content was emotional, but because they felt seen. That’s the power of intentional design.” 

💡 INSIDE THE LEARNING JOURNEY 

We believe that learning doesn’t just build skills, it builds trust. Trust in the process, in each other, and in our ability to keep shaping what’s next. 

That trust shows up differently, for everyone. For Anna, it’s in the rhythm of everyday work. She believes learning isn’t something that happens outside the job, it's subtly built into what we do. 

“It doesn’t feel like a side activity—it’s woven into how we work, says Anna. “There’s space to pause, share, experiment, and grow.” 

She describes ACT.CADEMY sessions as vibrant and open, not about having the right answers, but about showing up honestly.  

For Agata, co-creation is at the core of how learning gets built. Some of the most meaningful sessions didn’t come from strategy decks, they started in hallway conversations. 

“Someone says, ‘We need something for this. Want to build it together?’ That’s the heartbeat of ACT.CADEMY.” 

She’s also a huge fan of keeping it simple. “We’ve used Lego bricks to explore resilience. Another time, we built a session around repurposed material. It’s never about how shiny the format is, it’s about the intention behind it.” 

And for Billy, it always comes back to impact. How does this session land? What will people carry with them after it ends? 

“I like to close sessions with the ‘15% method.’ Everyone identifies one small action they can take within their sphere of influence. It grounds the learning. Makes it feel doable.” 

These reflections show how learning moves at act.3, shaped in real time, with real people, in real moments. 

🏁 LET’S BUILD BETTER LEARNING MOMENTS TOGETHER 

ACT.CADEMY isn’t a traditional learning hub, it’s a mindset. One that sees learning as a creative act, a cultural driver, and a shared responsibility.  

Remember, the sessions we shape are made for real moments, helping you reimagine a team offsite, navigate cultural shifts, explore new ways of working, or simply create space to slow down and reflect. It’s designed to meet you where you are. 

So, if you're looking to energise your team, unlock new thinking, or bring more intention into how you grow together, let’s shape that moment, thoughtfully and creatively together.  

Here’s to learning that shapes what’s next!