How SkillStack is Redefining Learning and Storytelling in the Workplace
Discover how SkillStack is reshaping professional development by harnessing storytelling for skill-building with Founder Robert Mac Giolla Phadraig.
What if training for the workplace could feel as compelling as a masterclass or as impactful as your favorite story? Robert Mac Giolla Phadraig, the mind behind SkillStack, is challenging how we approach skill-building by harnessing the power of storytelling.
Rob’s new venture isn’t just a learning platform—it’s a collection of human experiences, insights, and skills, artfully told to resonate in both work and life.
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For Rob, Skillstack isn’t just business—it’s personal.
Growing up in a family where resilience and hard work were the fabric of everyday life, Rob learned early on that the right skills come through lived experience. Whether it was cleaning his school’s halls after hours or taking inspiration from the community role models his mother revered, Rob’s journey has been about embracing the unpolished aspects of life and learning from them.
“We stayed back every evening after school and cleaned up our school friends’ mess,” Rob reminisced, “It was humbling and exhausting, but it’s where I learned the value of hard work and humility.”
Skillstack’s Unique Approach to Learning
So, what exactly is Skillstack? Think of it as a blend of the cinematic quality you’d find in a masterclass with the life lessons embedded in a TED talk.
The platform brings together leading global thought leaders who share their wisdom through personal stories and insights that apply to both business and life.
Skillstack offers a curated set of short-form videos, but these aren’t just talking heads in a corporate setting—they’re beautifully produced, featuring rich narratives and storytelling. Each segment is designed to cover “moments that drive performance” in areas that matter, from empathy in the workplace to the intricacies of decision-making.
“For me, the ability to enable somebody to see what you mean—there’s no greater way of sharing knowledge,” Rob explains. “Video was the only way to create that impactful experience.”
Skillstack’s format isn’t only about content consumption but about creating “ah-ha” moments where learners see themselves reflected in the lessons.
Rob recalls feedback from one user who described the experience as a mix of “TED meets masterclass and a personal coach.” Now, that’s impact.
Why Storytelling?
If Skillstack had a core philosophy, it would be this: Stories have the power to drive learning in ways traditional education cannot.
We all relate to stories because they capture something deeply human. Rob’s approach uses storytelling as a method to convey core “power skills”—compassion, empathy, critical thinking—essentially the nuanced, often-overlooked attributes that make leaders effective and team members collaborative.
One of the standouts among Skillstack’s faculty is Margaret Heffernan, a renowned author and TED speaker. In her course on decision-making, Heffernan teaches that effective decisions aren’t only about achieving a desired outcome; they’re also about the process. According to Rob, Margaret’s insight was a game-changer:
“She taught me not to focus on the outcome of a decision but to invest in the process through which the outcome is reached. We want people to accept the process, even if they don’t agree with the decision itself.”
That process-focused approach resonates across all aspects of life. Whether it’s a high-stakes business decision or a tough call in our personal lives, the emphasis on transparent and fair processes can help build trust and integrity within teams.
In an era where business decisions are often called into question, these are invaluable lessons.
Decision-Making and Critical Thinking: Skills for Work and Life
Another area where Skillstack shines is in its approach to critical thinking and the art of questioning. As someone who spent 23 years in staffing, Rob understands the impact of asking the right questions. He recalls a vivid example from a moment of crisis:
“We’d laid out 500 seats for an event expecting 2000 participants. I had to ask the event organizer how we could make room for 1500 more. By rephrasing my question to ‘How could we do this?’ instead of ‘Why didn’t we?’ I opened up a conversation rather than triggering defensiveness—and we solved the problem together.”
That example highlights the kind of soft skills training Skillstack promotes. Good decision-making, critical thinking, and the ability to ask effective questions aren’t just workplace skills; they’re life skills.
As Rob and I discussed, negotiation is another area where story-driven learning shines. One Skillstack course even features former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who shares stories from the historic Northern Ireland peace process, offering invaluable negotiation lessons.
Imagine learning to negotiate by understanding the stakes of peace and conflict resolution— that’s a different level of stakes.
Delivering Quality, Not Quantity
Rob is clear that Skillstack’s success isn’t about offering a vast library of videos; it’s about curating a rich experience. The production quality rivals what you’d see on a streaming service, with short-form videos running from 8 to 33 minutes.
This isn’t a platform where users pick through hundreds of unconnected modules. Instead, Skillstack builds an intentional learning pathway.
To keep learners engaged, each video is designed for real-world application, like a toolkit you can use right away. And it’s been effective: Rob shared that one user likened the content to binge-watching Netflix because of its engaging format.
For those looking for “just-in-time” training—getting skills right when they need them—Skillstack offers a rare, high-quality solution in a crowded market. As Rob says, “If the content is king, then context is the kingdom.”
What’s Next for Skillstack?
With Skillstack, Rob’s bringing a new, human-centered approach to professional learning. His mission isn’t just to train workers but to help them find purpose and meaning in their jobs. It’s a cause that hits close to home, rooted in his upbringing and life journey.
If you want to get a taste of what Skillstack is building, you can explore it at Skillstack.ie. And for anyone in talent development, Skillstack is a reminder that learning isn’t about clicking through slides or memorizing concepts. It’s about connecting to stories that change us.
“As a species, the most impactful way we share knowledge, create recall, and teach is through story,” Rob says, summing up his vision. “And that’s the essence of Skillstack.”
This vision—to create lasting learning through storytelling—is something I can’t wait to see resonate with teams, organizations, and anyone ready to grow beyond the workplace.