Behind the Telly: How ICON’s Award-Winning Course on AI Bias Came to Life
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Behind the Telly: How ICON’s Award-Winning Course on AI Bias Came to Life

12 June 2025
By Missy Norbury-LeDoux

An interview with ICON Producer and Creative Director, Karen Harding

What makes an online course truly unforgettable? For OpenSesame Exclusive publisher ICON, the answer lies in powerful storytelling—and the Telly Awards seem to agree.

Earlier this year, The Truth About Bias in AI, an ICON course featuring acclaimed filmmaker and TED speaker Robin Hauser, earned a bronze Telly Award—a global honor recognizing excellence in video and television across all screens. With over 12,000 entries annually from top-tier brands, networks, and creative agencies, the Telly Awards celebrate standout content that moves, informs, and inspires. For an elearning course to take home this recognition? That’s a big deal.

This isn’t just a win for OpenSesame; it’s a milestone for what’s possible in workplace learning. The course explores how bias shows up in artificial intelligence, but what truly sets it apart is how human it feels. From cinematic visuals to confident, character-rich narration, this course provides a blueprint for addressing one of learning’s most challenging tasks: making training content engaging and effective.

To learn how this course came to life, I sat down with ICON Producer and Creative Director Karen Harding to gain a behind-the-scenes look at the process. Read on to learn how she finds the perfect narrative rhythm, why lived experience makes a difference, and how ICON uses storytelling to inspire change.

Karen Harding wearing a bright pink blazer and white top, holding a paper and a disposable coffee cup while seated indoors. A blurred café-style background with shelves and lights is visible behind her.

Q: ICON just won a Telly Award. Let’s rewind—what was the original vision for this series?

“It’s been an evolving process. We started with nothing, and it was really just ideating what the style would be—drawing from my experience in marketing and advertising, developing that brand, and then just iterating, iterating, going through lots of changes.”

“When I presented a prototype to leadership, they mentioned that developing content worthy of an award would be great. So it really feels good that we got there, especially for OpenSesame to be able to say we have award-winning Exclusive content.”

Takeaway: ICON isn’t just another video-based training series. From the beginning, Karen envisioned something cinematic, driven by subject matter experts, and rooted in real-world emotion; something that could help learners not just understand, but feel.

Q: How did you discover Robin Hauser, and what made her stand out?

“I do a lot of research to identify subject matter experts, and at the time, I was specifically looking into bias and gender representation. We were also really seeking more female speakers.”

“I’d seen Robin’s TED Talk on bias in AI, and it really struck me. I reached out, and we connected immediately—as filmmakers, as creatives. She’s a filmmaker, I’m from New York too… it was just a wonderful alignment.”

Takeaway: That creative connection laid the foundation for a course that would go beyond lectures and PowerPoints, and instead, invite the viewer into a human conversation about AI, ethics, and equity.

Q: Can you describe the production process? You filmed this one in Utah?

“Yes, one of my roles is to source and vet video crew resources in various regions, and we worked with Capture Films in Utah. I’ve used them more than once now, since I manage a lot remotely. Even when I’m not there in person, I work closely on things like framing the speaker on camera, making sure they speak directly to the lens. It’s a small detail that creates intimacy.”

“I’m a different kind of producer. I’m also a creative director. I do what you’d call the first edit. After writing the content, I storyboard by sourcing and assigning visual assets and music tracks for edit assembly. I indicate to editors how and when to cut into and out of them for impact. That’s how you create a feeling that makes insights and learning moments connect to the viewer.”

Karen Harding and Robin Hauser in a video call setup. Karen Harding in the smaller inset at the top is wearing a purple outfit and appears on a video call screen. The main scene shows Robin Hauser seated in a studio with black paneled walls, professional lighting equipment, and decorative string lights above.

Q: What were some of the biggest challenges in making this course?

“One of the challenges was a blessing, which is that we were granted permission to use an enormous amount of assets. It’s great, but it’s also a challenge. You have to really look through everything, organize everything, and pick the moments, especially in video.”

“It’s not like a photo. You have to find the exact moment in motion that matches the narrative. And you can’t really change those clips much. You have to work around a very tight box to make it all fit.”

“To make it more complex, this was one of the first ICON projects for a new editor we had just brought on. I loaded them with everything—storyboards, music cues, visuals, structure. It was a lot for a new group to get used to, and it was the start of developing a great flow.”

Takeaway: Despite the hurdles, the result was seamless. The editors from Orlando-based DLR Studio worked hand-in-hand with Karen to bring her vision to life.

Q: Why do you think this course connected so deeply with learners, and now with award judges?

“Robin’s style is so creative and accessible. I thought, ‘This person really can make a difference.’ When everything came together, it felt very strong.”

Karen also discusses the power of concrete examples in storytelling:

“The nice thing in filmmaking… when you provide a couple of examples, like jail, mortgages, things that affect real lives, it’s understood by the viewer that you’re not only pulling out those two. We all have an imagination; we can say, ‘Wow, I wonder how else this is impacting other people.'”

“It builds empathy. That kind of storytelling helps people see bias not as abstract, but as something they’re a part of.”

“And personally, I had a mind shift. I think we’ll never go into writing AI prompts the same way again. And if we can help people think more carefully about how they write prompts, wouldn’t it be amazing if that could transfer to how they think about and communicate with other people?”

Q: What makes this course particularly timely right now, in your view?

“AI is just exploding—and so are our concerns. It’s touching everything we touch. It’s helpful, but it’s not the boss.”

“We have to have our core values. And when we look at data, we need to question how AI got that data. We’ve all gotten things we know aren’t right.”

“Keep being human. Let AI be your assistant, not your boss.”

Filming setup in a studio with a woman in a green top seated facing the camera, Karen Harding in a light blue blazer seated with her back to the camera, and a man operating filming equipment. Professional lighting, tripods, monitors, and cables are visible throughout the room with hardwood floors and white walls.

Q: You mentioned music. How does your background shape that part of the course?

“I’m a conservatory graduate. I started my career in film by composing music commercially, jingles and long-form, for brands like Maybelline and Warner Bros. So I think a lot about how music drives emotion.”

“With Robin’s courses, I chose fun, confident, spirited music expressing equity and belonging in a friendly way. The music invites listeners to meet us where we are, not the other way around.” 

“Coming upon somebody’s platform, I can usually tell what their music needs to be. I look at the speaker’s delivery style, platform, experiences, and the audience we wish to connect with.  Why does a commercial for a pickup truck use rock or spirited country music more often than, let’s say, classical? We strive to be relatable to make a difference.”

Q: You’ve said ICON is about storytelling, not just training. Why is that so effective?

“People love to learn from other people. That lived experience, how someone built a company, overcame a challenge, networked successfully—that sticks more than a checklist of skills. You’re not going to mimic them, you’re going to personalize it. But it’s more memorable.”

“I always say—it’s like the town crier or cave drawings. They’re telling the story of real-life experiences that influence people. ICON is word-of-mouth, and word of mouth is often thought to have the greatest influence.”

Q: So, what’s next for ICON?

“What’s really exciting is that we’re having our first shoot abroad. As you know, we’re a global company, and we want to represent our global community, so it’s time to dip our toes in the water and get ourselves across the pond.”

“We’ll be filming in London with Shaheena Javir from HEC Business School, and Gary Hamel from London Business School.”

“If you don’t already know, Gary, he’s a huge voice in the business world. Fortune once called him ‘the world’s leading expert on business strategy,’ and The Economist described him as ‘the world’s reigning strategy guru.’ 

“We also just filmed Super Bowl champion and former NFL offensive tackle Ryan Harris. Behind every moment of excellence in sports are timeless leadership lessons: believing in ourselves, becoming who we aspire to be, staying focused, collaborating deeply, and leading with generosity. Ryan is a born leader in all he does and will inspire many.”

Q: Final question—what’s your favorite part of producing ICON?

“I get to wear all the hats that live on my head,” she laughed. “Working with subject matter experts, creative directing, connecting great ideas to curious people—it’s the core of who I am.”

“I’ve done advertising, I’ve done music, I’ve done filmmaking. With ICON, I get to utilize all of that to tell stories that help people grow. It’s a gift.”

Interview setup in a studio with a man in a blue blazer seated on a brown couch, speaking to Karen Harding in a black leather jacket seated across from him. Camera equipment, lighting, and a monitor operator are visible. A Dunkin’ coffee box and multiple cups are on a table in the foreground. Large windows and vanity mirrors are in the background.

Explore the full series

Karen Harding’s creative direction and Robin Hauser’s compelling voice come together to create something rare in workplace learning: courses that feel personal, urgent, and human.
The Truth About Bias in AI is just one part of a powerful lineup.

Robin’s full ICON series explores themes such as gender equity, leadership perception, and inclusive workplace culture. Each course combines storytelling, research, and emotional resonance to spark genuine reflection and meaningful change.

Check out the full playlist here, including titles like: 

  • The Likeability Dilemma: Do We Undervalue Strong Women?
  • Creating Winning Presentations: Lessons from a Filmmaker
  • The Subtle Ways Gender Bias Shows Up at Work

Ready to move beyond check-the-box training? Discover how storytelling can transform learning and leave a lasting impact. Explore the full ICON catalog today.

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