6 Lessons L&D Pros Can Learn from Pixar Movies

Among the most important stories are the ones we share with our children. Likewise, the stories we heard as children stay with us, pulling on our heartstrings and teaching us important truths. It’s no surprise that movies for children have some of the most enduring — and poignant — themes. 

In difficult moments, these stories can not only be sources of comfort but of wisdom to help us tackle challenges at work and in our lives. And these stories are particularly relevant in a moment when employees and management alike are navigating massive uncertainty. 

Read on for six lessons from Pixar movies that L&D pros should take to heart: 

Monsters, Inc. (2001): Leverage curiosity to solve tough business challenges — and reward employees for doing so

Facing limited resources and a tough climate where nothing feels certain, a workplace is forced to pivot and use what they already have to find new, agile solutions to tackle looming problems. 

Sound familiar? This isn’t a description of what’s going on in the workforce today — it’s the plot of Monsters, Inc. 

Monsters, Inc., powers their town with electricity by harnessing children’s screams, which monsters collect by jumping out of children’s closets. And as children scare less easily these days, this source of power is running out. To tackle the crisis, Sulley, a fuzzy blue monster who works at the factory, observes Boo, a rambunctious toddler with bouncing pigtails, and just how much she laughs — and uses this insight to rework machines to harness children’s laughter, a force 10 times more powerful than their screams. Thanks to his ingenuity, Sulley is promoted to CEO of Monsters, Inc.

Curiosity is key to helping solve problems. As Cat Ward, vice president of employer mobilization at Jobs for the Future says in LinkedIn’s latest Workplace Learning Report, “If you invest in curiosity, learning, and agility for your workforce, you will be able to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and be more ready for whatever comes next.”

Cars (2006): Help employees build relationships and enjoy the learning journey

Lightning McQueen, the red race car, has his sights set on winning the world-famous “Piston Cup.” As he speeds toward the racetrack, he damages the road in the small town of Radiator Springs and is forced to stay in town to repair it. As he works, he builds relationships with talking tractor Mater and finds love with blue sports car Sally Carrera. Lightning McQueen’s unexpected detour shows him that there is more to life than winning the race. 

So often, employees are racing toward the finish line, like a promotion or a career accolade. Helping them use workplace learning to enjoy their career journey and learn new skills along the way can be a worthy goal in and of itself. And they might just discover a new passion or a new area where they can grow their careers at your company. 

As Linda Jingfang Cai, chief learning officer at LinkedIn, says, encourage employees to embrace a “squiggly career path” and to not be afraid of the twists and turns on their journeys.  

Toy Story (1995): Help employees embrace change — and stay ahead of it  

Toy Story’s beloved cowboy, Woody, has gotten comfortable with his role as Andy’s favorite toy. But when Buzz Lightyear, a shiny new action figure comes to the playroom, Buzz becomes Andy’s favorite — and Woody must grapple with his new role as a sidekick to Buzz Lightyear. 

As LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky says in a recent Harvard Business Review article: “Even if you are not changing jobs, your job is most likely changing on you.” And LinkedIn’s most recent Workplace Learning Report shows that skill sets for jobs have changed by around 25% since 2015. By 2027, this number is expected to double. 

Change is constant, particularly given the speed of generative AI adoption in so many industries. This is where L&D pros can lean in — by helping employees both to make peace with constant change and to keep learning to stay one step ahead of it.   

The Incredibles (2004): Encourage employees to lean on teammates and tackle tough problems together

In the pivotal fight scene in The Incredibles, Mr. Incredible tries to battle the monster robot alone, worrying aloud, “I can’t . . . I’m not strong enough.” His wife, Elastigirl, reminds him, “If we work together, you won’t have to be.” 

To defeat Syndrome, each superhero brings unique strengths. Elastigirl brings flexibility, Mr. Incredible brings super strength, Violet brings invisibility, and Dash brings super speed. During the fight, they team up to achieve more than they could alone. 

As an L&D professional, you should encourage employees to both tackle problems and learn in community, which can make learning more effective and increase employees’ sense of belonging at work. And you can help nurture employees’ strengths as they find their superpowers and excel at what they’re uniquely good at. 

As celebrity talent coach Keanna “KJ Rose” Henson says, “Embrace your force. What is that thing you were born with that cannot be negotiated? Personally, I will never ask permission to bring my boundless energy into the room. For others, it could be their kindness or the way they connect with others. Figure out your unique attribute and communicate it: That allows your leader to utilize you properly.”

Ratatouille (2007): Motivate employees to grow their skills, no matter where or how they learn them

Remy, a rat with heightened taste and smell, is a virtuoso cook. However, his exceptional skills ostracize him from the rat community, and his appearance holds him back from putting his talents into practice in the human world. He journeys to the restaurant of the late Parisian chef Gusteau, who employed the motto: “Anyone can cook.” Remy befriends the dishwasher, Alfredo Linguini. And inspired by Gusteau’s growth mindset, Remy hides inside Alfredo’s chef’s hat to help him cook exquisite dishes.

Remy’s training was nontraditional, and Alfredo’s training wasn’t in an academy — but the barriers they face are a telling metaphor for the prejudices many employees encounter at work. Employees from historically excluded groups are less likely to have a college degree and are too often locked out of job opportunities because of it; many forms of prejudice keep employees from realizing their full potential. 

Learning plays a role in both Remy and Alfredo’s success. By giving Remy the opportunity to teach and Alfredo the opportunity to learn, together they produce exceptional results — dishes that the top food critic in France raves about. 

LinkedIn’s latest Future of Recruiting report shows that the opportunity to learn on the job is critical to advancing and retaining employees from diverse backgrounds. Both skills-first hiring and on-the-job upskilling play a role in helping people access opportunities, no matter where they come from. 

Finding Nemo (2003):  Instill in employees that learning gives them the power to keep moving forward

Marlin, the clownfish, embarks on an epic journey with his friend, Dory, to find his lost son, Nemo. Along their Odyssean voyage, they swim into the murkiest depths of the ocean, where it’s dark enough that they can’t even see each other. And Dory recites a mantra that helps her brave the unknown: “Just keep swimming.”  

Your employees are all facing uncertainty in some way, whether they’re worried about changes within your company or they have anxiety about the economic slowdown. Whether they are finding their footing in a new role or trying to grow and achieve something new, remind them that any learning is progress and that they just have to put one fin in front of the other. 

“We all have some huge issues with sustainability, climate change, global inequalities, and pending environmental collapse,” says David Perring, director of research for the Fosway Group, in LinkedIn’s latest Workplace Learning Report. “Learning gives us the power to change our thinking, adapt our behaviors, and deliver new choices. Don’t be distracted. Be bold.”

Remind yourself and your coworkers to “just keep swimming.”