The Learning & Development Podcast

A governance structure in L&D is a move from implicit to explicit practices. It brings rigour and structure to decision-making practices that would otherwise be nebulous and ill-defined. It is a recognition that L&D is, fundamentally, a strategic function – equally critical for the organisation’s growth and for its survival in turbulent times. But it doesn’t exist in every L&D team.  In this episode, Noah and Tom break down why it is essential and how we, as L&D, get to grips with it.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Governance aligns L&D more closely with business objectives and ensures consistent, scalable impact. The decision on where the L&D budget is spent has to be made by the business so that the budget can be allocated to training that generates profit. Governance includes careful management of your key constituencies and relationships. Alignment, communication, consistency, planning, measurement, execution, tracking, and project management are all equally important. Ask yourself what does better look like? Properly define what you are aiming for. New technologies are not always better, be sure to properly assess them. Good governance is never 100% done, it is an ongoing process. Taking a “solid core, flexible edges” approach to governance works well for most organizations. Be brave. It´s worth a little bit of pain to make big gains.   BEST MOMENTS “Governance is about aligning learning to the strategic objectives and needs of the business… so that you can demonstrate the value of that learning function.” “You have to create consistency in the learner experience .” “AI is going to be a lightning rod.” “Shiny object syndrome  is the enemy of good governance.” “We not only define what governance is, but we define what's what it's not.”   Noah Rabinowitz Bio With 25+ years of experience in learning and leadership development, Noah has been Chief Learning Officer at Intel and Moderna and consulted globally with Korn Ferry and Deloitte. He specializes in innovative learning strategies, executive development, and large-scale digital upskilling programs, driving impactful results across industries. Tom Kupetis Bio Tom brings over 25 years of management consulting and learning solutions experience with Fortune 500 companies. As Executive Vice President at St. Charles Consulting Group, he oversees the firm’s go-to-market strategy. Previously, he held senior roles at Xerox Learning Services and Intellinex LLC (EY subsidiary). Report: https://learningforum.substack.com/p/clo-lift-governance-as-a-strategic   VALUABLE RESOURCES The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/   ABOUT THE HOST David James  David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa.  As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D.  CONTACT METHOD  Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/  L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective/ Blog: https://360learning.com/blog/ L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/

Heather Stefanski, Chief Learning and Development Officer at McKinsey & Company, and Bjorn Billhardt, a specialist in skills acceleration, delve into the pressing need for L&D to evolve. They argue that L&D professionals must become true business partners, leveraging data and focusing on impactful skill development. The discussion includes the integration of AI and simulations for quicker training solutions and the importance of aligning learning with business goals to enhance employee capability. A must-listen for those in the L&D sector!

Lisa Christensen, an expert in learning and development, dives into the evolving landscape of organizational learning. She emphasizes that quality trumps quantity when it comes to upskilling, urging leaders to focus on delivering true value rather than just clocking hours. The conversation highlights the need for L&D professionals to align with business goals and actively engage with managers to tackle real challenges. Additionally, the integration of generative AI is discussed as a means to personalize training experiences and democratize access for all employees.

Neil John Cunningham, an experienced Head of Talent & Learning and author of "Numbers & Narratives," shares insights on demonstrating the value of Learning & Development. He discusses the importance of using data stories to convey effectiveness, emphasizing the Hero's Journey framework for structuring narratives. Neil highlights the need to align L&D objectives with business goals and make data simple and relatable. He encourages honesty about L&D capabilities and the necessity of engaging emotionally driven stakeholders alongside data-driven audiences.

Nick Shackleton-Jones, a learning and development expert, joins Kenny Temowo, focused on enhancing learning outcomes. They dive into how leadership profoundly impacts employee mental health and satisfaction. A striking statistic reveals leaders influence mental health more than partners! The discussion challenges conventional approaches to learning content, with a focus on relevance and experiential training. They also explore the generational shift in job tenure, emphasizing the need for L&D to adapt to evolving workplace dynamics.

Ryan Tracey, a professional dedicated to closing skills gaps in enterprise learning, discusses the challenges of implementing skills-based learning. He emphasizes the importance of starting now and treating the skills framework as an evolving document. AI plays a significant role, offering a foundation for discussions while freeing up time for effective strategy development. Ryan advocates for prioritizing vital skills, building blended learning experiences, and validating skills through real-world demonstrations, all while fostering collaboration with engaged stakeholders.

Lily Woi, a former Deloitte Management Consultant now dedicated to driving organizational transformation, dives into the intricacies of culture change. She discusses how culture affects behavior and governance in workplaces, emphasizing a simple approach for effective transformation. Observing real behaviors rather than making assumptions is crucial. Collaboration is key, with employees participating in the design for lasting change. Woi highlights the need for tailored approaches and continuous measurement to ensure successful cultural shifts.

Learning communities transform organisations through sharing knowledge, spearheading practice, solving problems, seeding innovation, and supercharging development. So how can you develop a culture of learning in your organisation? In this episode, Andy Lancaster addresses this question - and many more. KEY TAKEAWAYS From the very start of humankind people have learned from each other, often in groups. Animals do it too. Learning from friends and colleagues is seen by practically everyone as being the most effective way to learn. People like human connection and want to feel they belong, so peer connection is powerful. The best learning takes place in context. Learning communities can be just a few people.  We need to empower different types of learning communities. Learning communities share knowledge, spearhead practice, solve problems, seed innovation, and supercharge development. What the group does needs to be structured to a degree. Encourage people to work aloud to ensure everyone is actively involved. Reward the subject experts. BEST MOMENTS 'The social context in which we learn is really important.' 'I think reflective practice ought to be embedded in all learning and development.' 'Subject experts play a vital role in communities in terms of coaching, mentoring and supporting.' 'Communities are a way of validating skills, which maybe organizations overlook. '   VALUABLE RESOURCES The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/ Andy Lancaster Bio Andy Lancaster is the Chief Learning Officer at Reimagine People Development consultancy, specializing in supporting, coaching and mentoring learning leaders and teams to create impactful development strategies and solutions, transform learning cultures and empower socialized learning communities. The former Head of Learning at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Andy is a trusted thinker, commentator and inspiring speaker, renowned for his insights that have helped reshape the organizational learning landscape globally. His book Driving Performance Through Learning gained a Business Book Award. You can follow and connect with Andy via: Twitter: @AndyLancasterUK LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-lancaster-ab995418/ Book: https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/organizational-learning-communities-9781398615496 ABOUT THE HOST David James  David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa.  As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D.  CONTACT METHOD  Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/  L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective/ Blog: https://360learning.com/blog/ L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/

Alice Thompson, an expert in online learning trends, and Ross Stevenson, a commentator on digital learning, discuss the evolving landscape of online education. They highlight how acceptance of digital training has increased, particularly post-COVID-19. Smaller organizations are embracing AI and digital learning more rapidly than larger ones, which face scalability challenges. The duo emphasizes the importance of blending digital with face-to-face learning, peer collaboration, and demonstrating the value of training to boost employee engagement and bridge skills gaps.

Seasoned CLO Christopher Lind discusses adapting L&D teams to AI and economic disruptors, emphasizing patience with stakeholders and the importance of building strong relationships. He explores using AI for faster learning, improving skills, and creating capacity for new tasks.