The Learning & Development Podcast

Data expert Laura Paramoure discusses the shift towards using data for planning and measuring impact in L&D. Highlighting the importance of proving business impact and creating skills for greater outcomes. Emphasizing the need for tailored courses, effective measurement, and continuous evaluation to drive workplace change and course effectiveness.

Since 2014, the L&D Global Sentiment Survey has been a barometer of what’s hot and what’s not in the Learning & Development profession, guiding people development professionals towards the trends that their peers are most concerned about. In this episode, Donald H Taylor takes a deep dive into the recently published report and explores in conversation what we should all be taking note of. KEY TAKEAWAYS Because it is self-selecting most of the people who fill out the survey are innovators. It looks at what is hot in L&D, what is likely to take hold and what is likely to fall by the wayside. This year AI dominated, but many are overwhelmed and unsure how to use it. AI is good at content, which frees up time for L&D to do more in other areas.  Yet, there is likely to be a backlash against AI-generated content because initially, people will be awful at using it. Lots of people are missing the fact that AI can play a role in coaching and mentoring. Collaborative and social learning have slipped down the list. There are geographical differences, what they are and why they exist is discussed. BEST MOMENTS 'There's somewhere between the wisdom of the crowd and the derangement of the mob.' 'Personalization is one of the obvious and very valuable implementation points for AI.' 'The top four for 2024 … are all things which are fuelled by good use of data.'   Donald H Taylor Bio A recognised commentator and thinker in the fields of workplace learning and supporting technologies, Donald is committed to helping develop the learning and development profession.  He has chaired the Learning Technologies Conference in London since 2000 and writes and speaks worldwide about Learning and Development (L&D). His annual L&D Global Sentiment Survey started in 2014, provides a unique perspective on L&D trends from over 100 countries. He chairs the Workforce Development board for VC firm Emerge Education, and invests in, and advises, several EdTech start-ups. From 2010 to 2021, he chaired the Learning and Performance Institute. He is the author of Learning Technologies in the Workplace, a graduate of Oxford University and in 2016 was awarded an honorary doctorate by Middlesex University in recognition of his work developing the L&D profession. You can follow and contact Donald via: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/  X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonaldHTaylor  L&D Global Sentiment Survey 2024: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2024/  Website: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/  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/

Josh Novelle, VP of People Experience and Insights at HSBC, discusses L&D leadership, making impact, and skills-based learning. He emphasizes boosting revenue, retiring ineffective strategies, and talking in financial terms. HSBC is shifting to a skills-based organization. Success lies in understanding business direction, saving time, and keeping things simple. Key takeaway: Be adaptable, strategic, and focus on generating real impact.

In this episode, Egle Vinauskaite discusses the current state and potential of generative AI in L&D. Most L&D departments have not fully integrated AI yet, but it is coming and organizations need to experiment with it. AI can provide personalized feedback and spot emerging skill needs. It is important to not fall for AI shiny objects that don't solve real problems and to audit and improve tools using AI.

It was clear that one podcast episode wouldn’t be enough to cover everything we wanted to so Kenny’s back to unpack what leadership development at Netflix means and what it’s there to achieve. This conversation is both revealing and inspiring.  KEY TAKEAWAYS There are universal leadership principles that apply to any industry. However, each leadership role is still different. Context is crucial in developing effective leaders. First, understand the business impact solving the problem is going to have. Discovery is essential. Without it, the understanding of the problem is not deep enough. Fall in love with the problem. Netflix uses powerful stories or cases to exemplify key issues in the business. Using a one-and-done solution is only going to have a limited impact.  It is continuous learning and embedding learning that will be transformative. Simulations that engage people emotionally and sometimes physically are incredibly impactful. Start with the why. Next look for quick wins, the simpler the better. BEST MOMENTS 'I've seen the power of being part of a team where you can be honest, you're cared about, you're loved.' 'If you want to change something, you've got to understand the problem.' 'You need to design for the terrain and not actually do something idealised.' Kenny Temowo Bio Kenny Temowo leads Talent Management and Leadership Development for Netflix UK. He’s spent almost two decades in learning and education, working as a consultant with clients such as the BBC, Vodafone, and Rolls-Royce, as well as leading in-house L&D teams. EPISODE RESOURCES Reed Hastings No Rules Rules - https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Rules-Netflix-Culture-Reinvention-ebook/dp/B082261K3F 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/

Like so many professions, Learning & Development is evolving and transforming fast. Starting out in the profession had a standard path just a short while ago but expectations and technological advances have been catalysts for great change. In this episode, presented by 360Learning, John and David explore what it takes now to start out - and grow a career - in L&D. KEY TAKEAWAYS In the past, L&D professionals were created mainly in the classroom. Technology has changed the way people learn, so, how people enter the L&D sector and the type of person that works in the industry has changed too. Become a good content curator. It will enable you to, very quickly, create truly effective and tailored learning resources. Learn to repurpose content. It is a great way to create easily digestible learning resources, e.g., taking a 20-minute video and dividing it into 10 1 to 3-minute blocks. Data analysis is essential. Without it, you can't see what works and prove L&D's value to the business. New technology creates new opportunities to engage with people and help them to build new skills. Stay up to date. Look at what others are doing, be open-minded and ready to emulate them. L&D has a strong role to play in helping people to see where they can take their careers next. BEST MOMENTS 'Bizarrely I think that everything and hardly anything has changed.' 'Understand what people need, what the organization needs, rather than what it wants.' 'Get a mentor.' John Hinchcliffe Bio John Hinchcliffe is a Digital Learning Experience Manager at Emirates National Bank of Dubai and an internationally recognized award-winning digital learning expert. You can follow and contact John via: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hinchliffe-yourskillshub/ X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourskillshub Skills Report: https://360learning.com/guide/2023-global-state-upskilling-and-reskilling-report/introduction/ 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/

Want to know how to level up your employee experience using design thinking? Want a no-nonsense approach to designing people-centred products, services, and experience? Well, Danny Seals has written the book on these and tells us all about it in this episode. KEY TAKEAWAYS Levelling up your employee experience has never been more important. Examine the problem properly, don´t simply go with what you think the issue is. Use the ladder technique that Danny shares in this episode. People need to stop simply looking at how things are and focus on what could be e.g., instead of delivering an off-the-shelf leadership programme, challenge the fundamental DNA of leadership. You need to be creative, and genuinely open-minded to look at what could be. Make the implicit explicit. Be open and have those difficult conversations early. The businesses that retain their workers, design for the human. Their systems and processes equip their people to succeed. Create experiments that can be conducted within the flow of work to evaluate things and hone your design. BEST MOMENTS 'Make work better by good design.' 'Work in transparency.' 'If you don´t add that human at the centre of everything you do, who are you really designing for.' Danny Seals Bio Danny is Head of Employee Innovation at Legal & General, founder of Get Knotted and author of the book The Insightful Innovator. Danny has led and developed various teams using these innovative approaches to design employee experience products that exceed BAU.Danny also hosts his own successful podcast, Mindchimp, where he talks to friends in his network and challenges the industry on the future of work.    You can follow and contact Danny via:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyseals/?originalSubdomain=uk Get Knotted: https://www.weareknot.co.uk/   The Insightful Innovator book: https://www.amazon.com/Insightful-Innovator-Experience-No-Nonsense-People-Centered/dp/1739346505   Mindchimp Podcast: https://mindchimp.podbean.com/   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/  

In this episode, Guy Wallace, an expert in performance-oriented soft skills development, discusses the importance of planning, designing, and delivering for real impact. He emphasizes the need to tell people upfront how what they learn applies to their job, use proprietary internal knowhow to plug content gaps, and have people practice what they learn. Wallace also highlights the importance of improving first-line management training and understanding outputs and how they are measured. He concludes by emphasizing that L&D needs to develop too, to set an example.

What’s it like to lead L&D at one of the world’s most renowned and successful companies? Netflix has grown into an international powerhouse of home entertainment and is almost as famous for its people practices as its product. In this episode we lift the lid on L&D at Netflix and explore what development looks like at this aspirational and ambitious brand. KEY TAKEAWAYS The culture informs everything Netflix does. Netflix takes a different approach to performance management. At Netflix the culture is innovation, L&D emanates from that culture. Ongoing feedback is a key component of Netflix culture. Onboarding is extensive and immerses people in all areas of the business. Because they have a global workforce there are some cultural differences, but the important principles are the same across the entire company. It is cheaper to develop and promote from within, which Netflix does a lot. Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries. BEST MOMENTS'We talk a lot in Netflix around good processes.' 'You cannot make a distinction between the technical skills or industry knowledge and culture.' 'We do a good job of codifying the culture.' VALUABLE RESOURCESThe 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 GUESTKenny Temowo BioKenny Temowo leads Talent Management and Leadership development for Netflix UK. He’s spent almost two decades in learning and education, working as a consultant with clients such as the BBC, Vodafone, Rolls-Royce, as well as leading in-house L&D teams. ABOUT THE HOSTDavid 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/

Skills-based approaches to organizations and development are gaining prominence. Focusing on skills rather than roles results in a more agile organization. Training your workforce to get the right skills mix is less disruptive. Generative AI can help identify skill gaps. Workplace learning must engage both sides of the brain and be contextual. The podcast explores the challenges of skills-based learning and the impact of technology on organizations.