L&D Must Change 38. Build Learners, Not Libraries with Irma Horvath
What if the real power of L&D isn’t in the content we deliver, but in teaching people how to direct their own growth? In this episode, Jess is joined by Irma Horvath who leads learning at Kahoot! They explore how shifting from “training delivery” to “learning ownership” creates lasting impact. You’ll hear how to spark curiosity, set goals that guide attention, and make reflection the secret sauce of retention. From small experiments to culture-wide shifts, discover how to help people learn how to learn and why that’s more valuable than any course catalog.
Jess and Irma Discuss
- Why “learning how to learn” beats endless training
- The secret sauce: goals + reflection
- A simple “test–teach–test” formula that works
- How to make learning feel safe (and stick)
- Small experiments that spark big culture change
- Finding champions to spread new ways of learning
- Turning boring compliance into curiosity-driven growth
About Irma Horvath
Irma Horvath is a teacher by heart, a coach by craft, and an L&D leader by choice. She began her career as a teacher and teacher trainer, a path that took her across the world from Spain and the UK to Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Dubai, and Denmark. Along the way, she founded Morea Training, helping organizations design meaningful learning experiences, and later joined the leadership team at Drops, where she helped pioneer ways to make a fully remote team high-performing. Today, Irma leads Learning & Development at Kahoot!, driving global capability-building initiatives with a strong focus on making learning relevant, applicable, and part of everyday work. She’s a PCC-certified solution-focused brief coach and a passionate advocate for empowering people to take ownership of their development. Her mission is simple: create learning that sticks, drives change, and builds cultures where growth is part of how people work - not a box to tick.
Find and Connect with Irma Horvath
Find and Connect with Jess Almlie
- Newsletter: L&D Must Change
- Website: jessalmlie.com
- Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner
Additional Links as Mentioned in This Episode
- Article featuring Irma: Don't Just Upskill Your Employees, Create Lifelong Learners, Strategic CHRO360
- David A. Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle
- The Learning Space by Dr. Becky
- Zone of Proximal Development
Get your copy of Jess's new book now!
Jess's book, L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner is now available wherever books are sold. It's your handbook for creating the change needed to work more strategically and intentionally, in lockstep with the business. Order your copy today!