As 2025 comes to a close, the year reveals itself more clearly than it did while everything was in motion. Being part of the Mitr group shaped much of that movement, sometimes through visible developments and sometimes through quiet shifts that became noticeable only with time. Across teams, the sense of operating within a connected ecosystem grew steadily and naturally throughout the year.
Client interactions offered some of the clearest signals. Many noted smoother conversations, faster alignment, and a level of consistency that reflected the strength of the ecosystem coming together. These moments showed how the year’s progress was felt beyond internal structures and into the experiences of those relying on the work.
Now, the year sits as a coherent pattern rather than separate events, built through collaboration, shared momentum, and steady confidence in the direction ahead. It sets a grounded foundation for what 2026 can shape next.
Upside Learning’s Journey Within the Mitr Ecosystem
The past year made it clearer how Upside fits within the wider Mitr group. A lot of the progress did not come from large shifts, but from the small ways teams across the ecosystem started depending on one another. Projects moved across regions more smoothly, and conversations that would have taken longer earlier felt quicker and more aligned. It created a sense that the group was settling into a shared rhythm, even when the work itself varied from month to month.
Clients responded to this change in ways that stood out. Some mentioned how the combined strengths of the group helped them navigate their own internal demands with fewer delays. Others appreciated the access to broader capabilities without needing separate engagements.
There was also a stronger sense of stability in how decisions were made. With more clarity around roles and support systems, teams could plan with more confidence. This steadiness shaped how solutions were delivered and how expectations were managed across engagements. It is not something that happens quickly, but it became more noticeable as the year progressed.
Overall, 2025 felt like a year where Upside grew more rooted within the Mitr ecosystem. The collaboration felt more natural, the support more immediate, and the impact more visible, especially in the way clients responded. It gave the year a sense of direction grounded in shared progress rather than individual milestones.
Industry Acknowledgments That Shaped the Year’s Momentum
The recognitions that came in through the year did not feel like isolated wins. They showed up at moments when teams were deep in delivery cycles, focused on client deadlines, and not really thinking about awards at all. When the news arrived, it created small pauses across conversations- the kind where people take a second to acknowledge that the work they are doing is landing well outside the organization too.
None of these moments were loud celebrations, but they carried a quiet sense of pride and reassurance. Clients often shared notes of appreciation around the same time, and the overlap made the recognition feel more connected to actual outcomes rather than just industry visibility.
Training Industry Watchlist- March
The first recognition of the year came early, when Upside Learning was listed on the 2025 Training Industry Custom Content Development Watchlist.
It came during a period where teams were adjusting to new workflows within the Mitr ecosystem, so the timing felt meaningful. The acknowledgment pointed to the consistency of our design work, the responsiveness of our teams, and the forward movement seen across engagements.
Brandon Hall Recognition That Supported the Year’s Direction
Mid-year brought another set of recognitions when the 2025 Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards were announced.
Upside Learning received eight Gold and three Silver awards, touching areas such as Learning and Development, Talent Acquisition, and program effectiveness. These wins felt different, mostly because they reflected a wide spread of work done across several clients, teams, and formats.
People across the organization mentioned how the awards echoed the feedback coming from clients through the year- that the solutions were clearer, more purposeful, and easier to apply in real settings.
There was no single “big moment” of celebration, but many small ones. Short messages exchanged in group chats, quick acknowledgments during calls, and the shared feeling that the work was taking shape in ways everyone could see.
More than anything, the awards reinforced the growing confidence across the team. The year involved learning how to operate within a larger ecosystem, leaning on shared strengths, and trusting processes that were still settling into place.
Seeing the outcomes validated– both through client feedback and industry recognition; made the effort feel worthwhile. It also helped set a tone for the rest of the year, giving teams room to continue refining their craft without pressure to shift direction.
Major Developments That Shaped the Year
The recognitions were one part of the year, but a few larger movements shaped the direction more clearly. These developments influenced how teams worked together, how clients experienced our support, and how the Mitr ecosystem continued to take form. Each one brought its own kind of momentum, and as the months went by, they helped define what 2025 felt like.
How the mynd Acquisition Strengthened the Mitr-Upside Ecosystem
September brought the biggest shift of the year, when mynd became part of the Mitr group. The announcement landed with a mix of excitement and curiosity across teams. Even before any formal changes took place, it was easy to see the fitness. mynd’s strength in visual storytelling and creative production aligned naturally with Upside’s grounding in instructional design and performance-focused thinking.
As teams began speaking with one another, the possibilities became more concrete. Conversations that once required multiple steps felt easier. Creative ideas expanded faster. The blend of European design sensibilities and Asian production agility created a rhythm that clients noticed almost immediately. Several even mentioned how the expanded capability helped them think more confidently about complex learning needs that previously felt difficult to scale.
The integration was gradual, but the impact surfaced quickly- in smoother collaboration, richer learning experiences, and a deeper sense of being part of a growing, global ecosystem.
Adding BrinX.ai to the Ecosystem and the Early Impact It Created
The launch of BrinX.ai became one of the year’s defining steps forward. It arrived at a moment when many organizations were still trying to balance speed with instructional clarity, especially as content demands kept growing. BrinX.ai offers a practical answer– structured, reliable course creation delivered at the pace modern teams require.
Clients responded quickly. Several mentioned that the service felt like something they had been hoping for but did not expect to access so easily. The ability to turn raw material into clear, instructionally grounded content gave them confidence that scale no longer meant compromise.
Inside Upside, the shift showed up in quieter ways. Teams could focus more on the decisions that rely on human judgment, while BrinX.ai handled the parts of production that benefit from consistency and speed. It created room for deeper design conversations without stretching timelines.
The discussions that followed the launch made its significance clear. It strengthened the ecosystem in a way that felt natural- supporting scale, improving precision, and reinforcing capabilities that will matter even more in the years ahead.
Engagement with the Community at Learning Technologies 2025
Upside’s participation in Learning Technologies 2025 added another layer to the year. The event created space for direct conversations with L&D leaders who were working through many of the same questions our clients were asking- clarity in design, performance-aligned workflows, and measurable outcomes.
The exchanges were steady and thoughtful, and they stayed with the team long after the event ended. It felt less like a showcase and more like a continuation of the discussions already shaping projects throughout the year. In many ways, it confirmed that the direction was aligned with what the industry valued most.
Launching the eBook “Beyond Training: An Actionable Guide to Learning That Delivers Measurable Business Impact”
The release of the eBook Beyond Training: An Actionable Guide to Learning That Delivers Measurable Business Impact marked another moment that shaped the year. It captured approaches the teams had been refining for a long time and offered leaders a practical, structured way of connecting learning with business performance. Many clients mentioned that the framework helped clarify expectations upfront, making collaboration smoother and more predictable.
For Upside, the eBook was not just a resource- it became a shared foundation that made conversations deeper and more focused, especially when planning long-term initiatives.
What the 2025 Blog Focused On: Themes and Ideas from the Year
The ideas covered in this year’s blog library came from conversations unfolding across projects, check-ins, and client discussions. Nothing was planned as a single direction at the start; the themes formed gradually as similar questions surfaced in different contexts. Each topic reflected something organizations were thinking about, working through, or trying to make sense of in their own systems.
Microlearning, Modular Learning, and Workflow Support
Organizations kept asking for learning that fits into everyday work. The posts reflected how smaller structures help teams manage pressure without changing entire systems.
AI, Skill Intelligence, and Structured Adaptation
AI became part of discussions not for novelty but for clarity. The themes focused on how it helps teams organize scattered content and understand evolving capability needs.
Learning in Regulated and High-Reliability Environments
These posts centered on reliability and accuracy, as most teams wanted training that held steady across locations and remained easy to update.
Capability Building, Internal Mobility, and Workforce Shifts
Shifts in roles pushed many organizations to reconsider how they prepare people for movement across functions. The writing followed those practical concerns, not trends.
Strategic Choices in Learning Investments
Conversations about value and long-term fit shaped this theme. Leaders were trying to understand where impact shows up when options and budgets keep changing.
High-Engagement Learning Experiences
Interest in immersive formats appeared in specific cases, not as a trend. The posts explore when these methods genuinely support performance and when they add unnecessary complexity.
Across these themes, the writing captured what teams were working through in real time, revealing patterns that only became visible as the year progressed.
Small Festivities That Added Energy and Togetherness Throughout the Year
Even with the focus on delivery and ecosystem growth, the year still had small moments that brought the team together. Most of these were online, but they carried a sense of closeness that felt genuine. They added rhythm to the year and reminded everyone that connection does not need grand events; sometimes a simple shared moment is enough to lift the atmosphere.
Women’s Day: Short Messages, Big Warmth
Women’s Day was acknowledged through an easy online activity where colleagues shared appreciation messages with the women on the team. The notes were simple and sincere, and they created a warm moment in the middle of a regular workday. It set up a friendly tone across conversations that lingered longer than expected, which made the gesture feel meaningful despite being so light.
Diwali: A Virtual Celebration That Stood Out
Diwali brought one of the most energetic online gatherings of the year. The team came together for a Tombola session, and the call picked up momentum almost immediately. People laughed, reacted, teased one another, and the screen felt lively in a way that does not always happen in virtual spaces. It ended up being one of those sessions that left everyone smiling even after they logged off.
Men’s Day: A Simple Mirror of Appreciation
Men’s Day followed a similar pattern to Women’s Day. The women on the team shared appreciation messages with their colleagues, creating another brief but uplifting moment. It was uncomplicated, friendly, and carried the same warm tone as the earlier celebration, keeping the spirit of acknowledgment balanced across the team.
Across these observances, the energy was light and genuine. Nothing elaborate was planned, but each moment added something noticeable to the year- a sense of connection that sat comfortably alongside the larger movements happening across the organization.
How 2026 Is Beginning to Form Through the Patterns of This Year
As the year settles, the path into 2026 feels clearer. The priorities that shaped much of 2025 are still present, but they have taken on a more defined shape. Organizations continue to focus on capability building, workflow-aligned learning, and reliable systems that support people through shifting roles and expectations. These conversations have matured, and they will likely guide most of the work in the coming cycle.
Within the growing Mitr ecosystem, collaboration is expected to deepen rather than change direction. The combined strengths in design, creativity, and scalable delivery create a foundation that teams can rely on as they plan for the year ahead. The emphasis is less on introducing new categories of work and more on strengthening what has proven effective, improving how teams operate together, and using shared capabilities in a more intentional way.
The year ahead looks steady, with room for refinement and thoughtful expansion. It offers space for continued progress with clients, more integrated project flows, and solutions that reflect the practical realities organizations are navigating. 2026 does not need to begin with large shifts; it begins with clarity earned through the past year.
FAQs: Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf eLearning
If your workflows, tools, or brand vibe are one-of-a-kind- or if behavior change matters- custom’s your cheat code.
Yep, upfront it’s lighter on the wallet. But for long-term wins and role-specific skills? Custom flexes harder ROI.
For sure. Start with off-the-shelf for the basics, then sprinkle in custom modules where it really counts.
Depends on how ambitious you get- usually weeks to months. Planning ahead keeps you from sweating deadlines.
For general topics, yeah. For real-life scenarios or changing habits? Engagement can ghost you.
Totally. You own the content, so edits, tweaks, or upgrades? All yours.
Custom can adapt paths, toss in interactive exercises, and mix multimedia to match every brain type.
Mostly basic stuff- completion rates, quiz scores. Custom digs deeper: behavior, skill gaps, all the good analytics.
Quick wins? Off-the-shelf. Lasting change? Custom. Pick your lane- or flex both.
Yep. They make it seamless- fast deployment, tailored experiences, or a mashup.
Pick Smart, Train Better
Picking off-the-shelf or custom eLearning? Don’t stress. It’s really about your team, your goals, and the impact you want. Quick wins? Off-the-shelf has you covered. Role-specific skills or behavior change? Custom eLearning is your move.
Upside Learning makes both options effortless. Whether it’s ready-to-roll courses or fully tailored experiences, we handle the heavy lifting- interactive modules, adaptive paths, branded visuals, and analytics that tell you something. No wasted time, no generic content- just learning that sticks.
Ready to level up your team’s learning game? Connect with Upside Learning today and see how we make training fast, engaging, and results-driven. Your team deserves training that works- and we deliver.
