Chris Huyck Trout is a builder of what’s never been done before — a strategic innovator passionate about helping organizations figure out what’s possible, achieve it, and then reach beyond it. As a Senior Advisor and Consultant with the Aspen Institute’s Upskill America Initiative, Chris brings more than 35 years of leadership experience across workforce development, organizational transformation, and leadership strategy.
At the Walt Disney Company, Chris led the enterprise-wide Learning and Development function, reimagining leadership development across all levels — from first-time leaders to the C-suite — and creating impactful experiences that drove measurable growth. He also led the creation and launch of Disney Aspire, helping to reshape corporate education at scale and unlock opportunity for thousands of employees while strengthening business performance.
Chris’ work sits at the intersection of workforce transformation, leadership development, and organizational impact — grounded in relentless curiosity, bold action, and a commitment to shaping better futures. Through his firm, Donlon Insights, he partners with organizations ready to rethink leadership and workforce strategies to strengthen business outcomes, advance individual growth, and build thriving communities.
He holds a master’s in education from Boston University and completed the Advanced Program in Organization Development and Human Resources at Columbia University. In life and work, Chris is fueled by creativity, exploration, and a love of learning from experience.
