Central to Totem Learning is the belief that learning, when developed with how the brain works in mind, drives tangible impact and long-term results. To engage memory creation and ignite long-lasting memories, the company offers a kaleidoscope of services, from microlearning, e-learning, and immersive learning to serious games and simulations. All about experiences that are difficult to teach otherwise, Totem’s mission is clear: to transform workplaces by boosting performance and building confidence through innovation.
Totem understands that different challenges call for different solutions. Therefore, its experienced team, boasting professionals in psychology, behavioral science, technology, and game design, meets clients exactly where they’re at. By replacing bland and banal learning with exciting experiences, the company empowers employees to attain skills and knowledge that help them succeed no matter the situation.
“At the end of the day, people create your business. Training is a vital element of any organization, unless you want to stay stagnant,” says Helen Routledge, CEO. “But most training is a compliance box-checking exercise rather than a targeted strategy. Not only does that translate to a lack of employees’ interest, but also a lack of results. That’s why, whenever we work with businesses, we start by asking: What are the most important objectives and challenges? Based on that, we create tailored and engaging scenario simulations to address them.”
Throughout the years, Totem has worked with companies across virtually all sectors, from teaching makeup techniques to welding courses. But its focus lies in ‘hard to reach, hard to teach’ topics: disengaged communities or globalized audiences, and subjects that are risky, unengaging, or boring to teach.
This transformative way of teaching is a culmination of Totem’s team’s passions and experiences. Blending a deep understanding of game design and immersive learning, combined with extensive expertise in psychology and behavioral sciences, Totem bridges workplace training gaps by bringing two worlds together. “Traditionally, employees are trained by an instructor,” she says. “A gaming approach flips the model, putting you in the driving seat. You have to make choices and experience their consequences before it matters most, in real life.”
Totem’s resources are designed for maximum impact. To train muscle memory and improve skills through recall, the company’s simulations go beyond entertainment; they’re complex and built around human psychology. By fostering an emotional connection between people and on-screen characters, workers are more likely to remember the right choices with every game and simulation. At Totem, it’s not about earning badges or climbing leaderboards whenever a task is completed; it’s about learning how to master challenging conversations or situations by living them in a safe environment first.
Since 2012, Totem has been redefining workplace training with a blend of entertainment, innovation, and psychology. As a trusted digital partner, it co-creates platforms and simulations with brands that share its values, entering their organizations to listen to their needs and strategically advise. Routledge, harnessing her professional background in psychology, enriches every strategy with the laws of learning, for instance, breaking content into digestible chunks, designing core loops utilizing repetition, evoking emotions, and more.
The CEO has explored these pillars profoundly in Why Games Are Good For Business: How to Leverage the Power of Serious Games, Gamification and Simulations, a practical toolkit about applying serious games in a professional setting. As a next step in its mission, Totem has recently launched Sona AI, a tech-powered tool providing personalized insights and realistic interaction simulations with a focus on refining communication and other soft skills.
“Many learning budgets are being squeezed. But we’re all complicated people with different needs. To outpace others, scale, and build a strong foundation that lasts for years, you have to invest in your workforce,” she says. “You can deploy cutting-edge tools and management systems, but if it’s not in the heart and it’s not in the mind, nothing will change. That’s why, at Totem, it’s all about real conversations with real people. That’s the only key to real outcomes.”
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