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Leonardo (Essilor Luxottica)
https://www.essilorluxottica.com/en/2023highlights/leonardo-plarform/




Alessandra Senici


EssilorLuxottica has been on the forefront of ECP education, offering training and education opportunities about all their products. In May 2021, this was expanded with the launch of Leonardo, a global learning ecosystem with the goal of making high-quality education accessible to everyone in the eyecare and eyewear industry in a community setting.

The program addresses the educational needs of EssilorLuxottica employees and clients, ECPs at every level and role, and opticianry and optometry students, offering them the opportunity to continuously expand their skills and knowledge.





“With this broad offering of knowledge, EssilorLuxottica makes an investment that represents one of the levers to help additionally unlock the potential of the industry. Leonardo is made up of a global team and platform available in all the markets where EssilorLuxottica is present with its business,” said Alessandra Senici, head of Leonardo.

“Thanks to a blended approach, it spreads knowledge via a variety of formats, including on-demand content, live sessions, and face-to-face events available in up to 30 languages, earning a strong reputation as the global educational point of reference across the industry.”

Senici said Leonardo was inspired by the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, who pioneered modern cultural advancement through his studies. She added that the company also draws inspiration from Leonardo Del Vecchio, the late founder and chairman of Luxottica.





The Leonardo team has made the program available through the EssilorLuxottica B2B platform and directly on the website. She said the team has worked with its partners to provide them access to Leonardo through a single sign-on mechanism, allowing employees or students to connect easily through their current work or school portal. Internally, all employees simply log in using their work email.

“Leonardo strives to be inclusive by being accessible to everyone in the industry and providing on-demand, top-tier learning materials in diverse formats suited to individual learning preferences. Tailoring our catalogue to the specific profiles of learners—be they employees, partners, students, or prescribers—it ensures relevance and effectiveness for all,” Senici said. She added that Leonardo has solidified its position as the leading educational hub within the eyewear and eyecare industry at a global level, celebrated for its expertise in educating on a wide range of topics spanning vision care, practice management, and personnel development.

Its educational content is available in various formats, including interactive courses, videos, readings, and podcasts, accessible as standalone resources or as components of structured educational programs. The provision of structured programs represents a pioneering approach to learning, offering individuals clear pathways for both professional and personal growth.



Nicolas Gilberg


 
Recently, EssilorLuxottica added a new section to the platform called Build Your Career, aimed at empowering ECPs to enhance the skills of their staff, irrespective of their practice model, and to bolster their expertise, allowing them to earn recognition from patients as trusted members of optometry or ophthalmology practices.

This section provides structured programs tailored to support both newcomers and seasoned professionals in their personal and professional growth journeys. Comprising three pivotal domains, Build Your Career offers a diverse range of learning opportunities.

Last year, the company revamped the organization of content by tailoring it to specific roles within the practice, ensuring dedicated resources for U.S. ECPs. This included a wide range of specialized content covering topics such as understanding vision plans and providing general education on ocular disease for staff members.

Last year, EssilorLuxottica released the Varilux XR Series. This more advanced technology furthered the need for additional education modules. Senici said Leonardo supported all ECPs with the product launch, with content on individualized progressive lenses, digital measurements, Eye-Ruler 2, and deep dives into Varilux XR Series technologies.

“Our learners responded positively to an array of content offerings. However, particular enthusiasm was observed for our live, 8-week ABO preparation course. Led by seasoned professionals and educators, this course ensured thorough preparation for individuals intending to take the ABO exam, addressing live questions from participants along the way,” she said.

In 2023, Leonardo partnered with Harvard to bring a selection of curated content aimed at improving the business skills of all learners and reshaping the way they work. Harvard ManageMentor covers more than 40 essential business courses, delivering critical management skills when and where needed, and is divided into three management areas: Leading Yourself, Leading Others, Leading the Business.





This year, the Leonardo platform will add several new modules, including a billing and coding course that will soon be accessible to every practice member, catering to beginners as well as advanced learners. This will be followed up with the release of the Optometric Technician program, which will comprehensively cover all necessary skills for individuals in this role, including cross-training opportunities for other practice members.

The team has also begun to integrate National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) continuing education materials to support those seeking to uphold their certification. Virtual classes are also held monthly on vision care topics such as glaucoma, low vision, sun protection, and eye injury prevention.

“Excellent patient care starts with strong education for every staff member,” said Dr. Nicolas Gilberg, head of vision care faculty at Leonardo. “You don’t know who is going to pick up the phone to address an urgent complaint from a patient. Every staff member should be well-versed in answering those questions. To a larger extent, I believe in cross-training everyone in the practice to ensure smooth operations and the highest level of patient satisfaction.”