In the week since the Trump administration's decision to slap a $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications, I've chatted with many HR leaders, C-suite executives and lawyers to get their take on it, and there's one word to sum up their feelings: confusion. That was the first word out of the mouth of Jyoti Bansal, CEO and founder of Harness, a $5 billion intelligent software delivery platform.
You've invested in upskilling your sales team. But now comes the big question from leadership: Was it worth it? For HR and Learning & Development leaders, proving the value of training is a business imperative. Showing a clear return on investment is what separates strategic talent partners from cost centers. It's the difference between your training budget getting approved or denied next quarter.
Planning a training budget is one of the smartest investments you can make for future-proofing your business. Data says so too! The 2025 Workplace Learning Report from LinkedIn found that organizations with strong career development programs are 42% more likely to lead in major business transformations compared with those with weaker or no programs. Whether you're an HR leader, L&D manager, team lead, or business owner, understanding how to budget for employee training ensures your workforce stays skilled, engaged, and ready for what's next.
With more than 15 years of experience in human resources, Drew has helped companies navigate Pre-IPO readiness, mergers and acquisitions, culture shifts, and reorganizations to position businesses for major growth-all through the lens of people. He doesn't just talk about HR as a support function. For Drew, it's a strategic engine that drives performance, shapes culture, and supports transformation at every level.
