The Learning & Development Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

How do you continuously reinvent L&D while working with the same stakeholders and navigating constant change? In this episode, Avinash Chadarana, Global Learning & Development Director at MCI Group, shares the realities of leading L&D over the long haul—building from scratch, overcoming challenges like budget cuts and COVID, and evolving with a geographically dispersed remote team. We dive into the biggest shifts in L&D over the past few decades, the ongoing challenge of moving stakeholders beyond just training requests, and how AI is shaping the future of workforce development. Avinash also shares his principles for staying relevant and ensuring his team does the same. Take your L&D to the next level Take advantage of thousands of hours of analysis. Hundreds of conversations with industry innovators and 25+ years of hands-on global L&D leadership. It's all distilled into one framework to help you level up L&D. Access the L&D Maturity Model here - https://360learning.com/maturity-model KEY TAKEAWAYS Develop an intrapreneurial culture to encourage employees to generate innovative ideas. Ask what we are here to achieve, not what we are here to deliver. Make sure everyone knows what success looks like. Empower performance. Leverage localised generative AI. Align learning and development initiatives directly with business outcomes. Join the dots for stakeholders so they truly understand what L&D can do for them. BEST MOMENTS “Lead by outcomes, not by hours logged.” “See what's coming up and stop being in reactive mode.” “With AI we have gone past that point of fetishization or it being novel. We're hearing actual success stories.” GUEST BIO Avinash Chandarana is a visionary global L&D leader with over 25 years of experience shaping workplace learning. As Global Learning & Development Director at MCI Group - a leading global engagement and marketing agency - he founded the MCI Institute in 2008, transforming employee development for 2,500 staff across 60 offices in 31 countries. A recognised Fellow of the Learning & Performance Institute (LPI), Avinash combines human-centred design with cutting-edge technology, including AI, to optimise learning experiences and drive business impact. A true global nomad, his career spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with successful projects in 33+ countries. Beyond leading L&D, he is a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and moderator, holding credentials from MIT Sloan and INSEAD in neuroscience, leadership, and management. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avinashc 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  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective https://360learning.com/blog L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

L&D has long been focused on behaviour change—but what if that’s the wrong goal? In this episode, Carl Binder challenges conventional wisdom and makes the case for shifting our focus from behaviours to work outputs—the measurable accomplishments that drive business results. Carl explains why this approach is more effective, how L&D teams can correctly identify and measure accomplishments, and what it takes to implement this thinking at scale. He also shares practical strategies for redesigning onboarding, leveraging non-training interventions, and aligning managers to focus on performance outcomes rather than just competency models. For L&D professionals looking to elevate their impact, this conversation offers a roadmap to making learning more business-critical, measurable, and effective. Take your L&D to the next level Take advantage of thousands of hours of analysis. Hundreds of conversations with industry innovators and 25+ years of hands-on global L&D leadership. It's all distilled into one framework to help you level up L&D. Access the L&D Maturity Model here - https://360learning.com/maturity-model KEY TAKEAWAYS When you focus on results, L&D delivers. There is no incompatibility with focusing on work outputs and changing behaviours, one leads to the other. Competency models are too subjective. The relationship between organizational results, outputs and behaviour is dynamic. When managers focus on what needs to be produced, providing feedback to change behaviours is easier. Each individual should have a performance map. Ask yourself if this training were successful what is it that I expect the participants to be able to produce? Stop asking what skills they will learn. This simple change in language is powerful. Fully map your processes. Use the Six Boxes® model. BEST MOMENTS “Figure out the purpose before you define the behaviour.” “Don´t just spray and pray.” “Behaviour might change but accomplishments are typically more stable.” “There is a “the emperor has no clothes” problem here.” Carl Binder Bio Carl Binder is a leading expert in performance improvement and the founder of The Performance Thinking Network. With a background in behavioural psychology and decades of experience in organisational learning, he has helped businesses worldwide shift their focus from behaviour change to measurable work accomplishments. Originally a student of B.F. Skinner, Carl has applied behavioural science to real-world business challenges, developing practical frameworks for performance mapping, onboarding, and enterprise-wide capability building. His work empowers L&D and business leaders to drive tangible results by focusing on what truly matters—performance outcomes. https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarlbinder/ http://www.performancethinking.com/ YouTube Channel (“Performance Improvement Insights”): www.PerformanceThinking.tv Study Guides for YouTube webinars: https://bit.ly/CarlStudyGuides  - Fluency Based instruction research and applications: www.Fluency.org - Performance Consulting certification program (“Performance Thinking® Practitioner Program):  https://www.sixboxes.com/Virtual-Practitioner-Program.html CONTACT DAVID L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home https://twitter.com/davidinlearning https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

As generative AI continues to evolve from novelty to everyday adoption, its transformative potential for Learning & Development is becoming increasingly clear. In this episode, Sean Bengry, a senior L&D leader, shares his experiences and insights on harnessing AI to drive impact and innovation in our field. Sean discusses the pivotal moment that revealed the power of generative AI, offers jaw-dropping demonstrations of its current capabilities, and explores its applications in personalised learning and talent development. From enhancing human understanding  to redefining L&D’s core aims, this conversation is packed with practical examples and forward-thinking strategies. With actionable advice and a look at the industry’s leading AI adoption, Sean provides a roadmap for L&D professionals ready to embrace this game-changing technology and rethink what’s possible. See the full agenda for L&D Week March 3rd to 6th and register for free today at https://360learning.com/l-and-d-next/2025/ KEY TAKEAWAYS AI can create content that is designed to specifically appeal to and engage with each person. A lot of what we do is gathering data from one place, reworking it and sharing it for application. AI is very good at this e.g. Notebook LM podcast feature. Most people have still not explored how AI can help them to do their L&D job. You can use voice and your camera to interface with AI. Tell AI to take on personas to explore, test and get feedback for your ideas. There are ways around any issues related to putting your business data into AI. AI enables you to get down to the micro level and create content to close very specific skills gaps. Be curious and start small. BEST MOMENTS “AI provides real impact.” “It was a new mode of content synthesis that I had never seen before.” “The more data you can put in there around who a person is … the more AI can personalise that learning information.” 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 Sean Bengry Bio Sean Bengry is a senior Learning & Development leader with a passion for driving innovation and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to empower organisations and their people. Currently the Director of Learning Transformation & Technology at DaVita Kidney Care, Sean leads strategic initiatives to enhance talent development and organisational growth. At the forefront of L&D transformation, Sean is known for his forward-thinking insights and ability to inspire action, helping organisations navigate the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving learning landscape. Connect with Sean via: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbengry/ 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 Maturity Model: https://360learning.com/maturity-model/ 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

Starting your career in L&D can be exciting and daunting. Where do you start? Which skills are important? What pitfalls must you avoid? Especially in these times when the whole profession has shifted and digital approaches are transforming the practice. In this episode, Lexie Hockaday (Junior L&D Product Manager) explores her own journey and development, alongside her line manager, Anne-Marie Burbidge (Head of Learning & Development). KEY TAKEAWAYS There are many ways into L&D. Not everyone has to do a learning apprenticeship. Spend time out in the business building up your understanding of how things actually work. Focus on what the business is trying to achieve so that you can deliver effective training. Follow up on your trainees to ensure that what you offer is delivering results. Digital resources enable you to curate content, constantly update it and deliver training fast. Learn to utilise the data you can extract from the tech systems you use. In many cases, light solutions e.g. a short how-to video is the answer, rather than a full-blown course. BEST MOMENTS 'One of the beauties of learning and development is you can come in from any number of routes.' 'I always start with what´s the why, what are people and the business trying to do? ' 'Keep the end-user, the human, the person at the heart of everything you do. ' 'I see learning and development as part of the overall employee experience. '    VALUABLE RESOURCES The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 ABOUT THE GUESTS Anne-Marie Burbidge Bio Anne-Marie is Head of Learning & Development at Utility Warehouse, a UK-based multiservice utility provider, and draws on 15 years experience of running L&D teams. Anne-Marie is keenly interested in Agile principles and understanding how data can help us, using a range of tools and approaches to understand what's really going in order to grow capability and confidence effectively. Lexie Hockaday Bio Lexie is Junior L&D Product Manager at Utility Warehouse and - at the point of recording - is studying on the CIPD Level 5 Qualification in Learning & Development.   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 Strategist at Looop, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D as well as an active member of the CIPD L&D Advisory Board. CONTACT METHOD Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.looop.co/

Is a Learning Culture essential if an organisation is to realise the potential of its people or is it, perhaps, a false nirvana? In this episode, it is explored when and how it becomes possible to develop a Learning Culture, we bust some myths around it and seek to empower L&D to begin it’s progression right now rather than wait for the perfect conditions - because those will never arrive. KEY TAKEAWAYS A learning culture has tended to mean that companies believe their learning departments or content is adequate. However, these are merely provisions. A learning culture is the point at where people can access learning at any time with no barriers to entry, and where access is encouraged. Before we develop a learning culture, it's essential to switch the conversation from learning performance and results, and not delaying the progress by thinking we have to change the culture first. No CEO will ever lose sleep over how many people have not completed courses. We need to be using measurements and metrics that business managers understand. BEST MOMENTS 'It is literally the lifeblood of the company' 'That is not a learning culture - that is a provision' 'I believe there is so much more than people completing courses and happy sheets' 'We're seeing much more of a "need to have" than a "nice to have"'  VALUABLE RESOURC ES The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 ABOUT THE GUEST A multi-award winning Learning leader with experience of heading up international Learning & Talent functions. Having worked across different organisations and sectors, Dr Hannah Gore has in-depth - as well as hands-on - knowledge of what it means to successfully align L&D with business outcomes and select the most appropriate approaches in order to make a demonstrable difference. Now a consultant, lecturer and Board Director at the eLearning Network, Hannah is an influential figure in L&D, helping to promote Learning Cultures as a way of achieving real results. You can follow and connect with Hannah via: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgore/ Twitter: @HRGore Website: https://drhannahgore.com/ 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 Strategist at Looop, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D as well as an active member of the CIPD L&D Advisory Board. CONTACT METHOD Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.looop.co/

Sukh Pabial recently conducted some research to understand the impact of COVID-19 - and subsequent restrictions - on L&D. In this episode, the results of this research are shared and explored in order to help understand where we are now and where we, as a profession, should prepare to go. KEY TAKEAWAYS The furlough scheme saw to it that many jobs were saved, but for those in L&D, if robust remote learning methods were not implemented, then a huge proportion of workforces could not be developed while furloughed. The shift to remote development has been significant. 85% of workforce learning is now done digitally and virtually. Everyone who pivoted from their original existing L&D strategy and content delivery, to one more focussed upon needs and priorities, created a huge contrast to the way things worked previously – an as-and-when framework. From a professional capability perspective, the shift to digital and virtual has been transformative. BEST MOMENTS 'The overall finding is that 85% shift to virtual’ ‘This has left a huge population who cannot access skills development’ ‘I think our “solutions” are so insubstantial that they require support from elsewhere’ ‘This has allowed them to make the shift they wanted to make’  VALUABLE RESOURCES The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 ABOUT THE GUEST Sukhvinder (Sukh) Pabial is a senior Learning & Organisational Development leader who, as CLO of Challenging Frontiers, actively works to progress the thinking and practice of L&D. Sukh’s interests lie in L&D strategy and consultation, innovation in business, positive psychology and emotional intelligence. Sukh is an occupational psychologist by education, and has extensively studied the fields of positive psychology and emotional intelligence.  Twitter @sukhpabial LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukhvinder-pabial-01113b1b/ How Has COVID Impacted L&D? Research Results: https://challengingfrontiers.com/impact-covid19-ld Website: https://challengingfrontiers.com/ 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 Strategist at Looop, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D as well as an active member of the CIPD L&D Advisory Board. CONTACT METHOD Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.looop.co/

Design Thinking is an emerging trend in Learning & Development but one that can easily be misunderstood or misappropriated - but it can also be incredibly powerful. In this episode we dive deep into what it is, how it can help L&D and how to use it.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Approaching problems from the perspective of the user, and being informed by data, is a way to solve real business problems. Design is not one single thing, but a collection of choices that come together to create a better experience. In order to best understand how to create design as a way of thinking, we must conceive of it as an investment in time and understanding. Far too many people jump upon buzzwords in order to make it seem as though they are being proactive. But this is the root cause behind the misconceptions that are keeping L&D in the past BEST MOMENTS 'We should be saying design... as a way of thinking...' 'Design is an approach that people can use to solve big problems' 'Change can't travel throughout our profession because of the mis-branding' 'If we understand the thought behind the problem, we don't need a piece of e-learning'  VALUABLE RESOURCES The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 ABOUT THE GUESTS Danny Seals is Director of Design, Experience & Innovation at GP Strategies and the purpose of his work is to create impactful change through using good design. He pulls from various design disciplines and mindsets such as human centred design, design thinking, service design, system thinking and experience design.  You can follow and connect with Danny via: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyseals/ With a background in the engineering and aerospace sectors, Tim Brind understands ROI and how to add value; an approach that combines performance consulting with human centred design to ensure the production of innovative, user-centric learning experiences and creative problem solving. You can follow and connect with Tim via: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-brind-81707513/ 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 Strategist at Looop, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D as well as an active member of the CIPD L&D Advisory Board. CONTACT METHOD Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.looop.co/

The digital skills gap within L&D has been called out as one of only 4 areas that could be critically holding back organisations and unless we recognise this and develop ourselves then we’ll continue to be part of the problem rather than those at the forefront of addressing it. In this episode, we discuss the difference between what L&D perceive to be digital and the opportunity that it actually presents.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Having the right mind-set is a prerequisite of success. You can't succeed in digital initiatives without a good mindset as it limits your chances. L&D has taken a long time to warm to themes of remote development, but this thawing of attitudes has been greatly sped up by the impact of lockdown. Remote is now seen as the norm, and so L&D has begun to fully embrace the possibilities. We do not necessarily make the most of the connection theme. We tend to think of it as being connected to a system, or connected to an instructor, but while they are important, this is limiting. It is incumbent upon us to measure success not in the number of clicks or downloads of software, but the success and penetration of ideas and learning. BEST MOMENTS 'Part of it's about how you organise. Part of it's about how you take decisions' 'L&D is starting to warm to these themes now' 'It's been a huge area of growth, and I don't think it's going to stop' 'These are themes from my working history that I still think are very valid'  VALUABLE RESOURC ES The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 ABOUT THE GUEST Myles is an experienced consultant, senior manager and general manager of online and digital business in the private and public sector. He has a particular depth of experience in digital transformation, leading the development of digital and online learning and products in the corporate and education worlds with extensive experience of digital learning strategy, managing implementation and digital product strategy and design. You can follow and connect with Myles via: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myles-runham/ Twitter: @MylesRun Blog: https://mylesrunham.com/blog/ 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 Strategist at Looop, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D as well as an active member of the CIPD L&D Advisory Board. CONTACT METHOD Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.looop.co/

As podcasting grows, in terms of listeners and the number of podcasts available, the opportunity for internal use in organisations is also growing. This has been an area that many in L&D have been experimenting with as a new channel and another modern way of sharing messages and insights. In this episode we explore examples of what’s working well in some organisations and tips for getting going with podcasting.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Podcasting is one of the fastest-growing areas of content development. They are swift to deploy in service of a defined need. If seeking to deploy podcast content, we should always aim to experiment rather than launch as a new commitment. This can lead to the feeling of wearing a millstone. Podcast listening is up 40% over the last three years. At Podbean alone, over 100,000 podcasts were begun in 2020. There is no gatekeeper for the world of podcasting, allowing for a surfeit of creativity. This also allows listeners to tune in to more specific niches. BEST MOMENTS 'A lot of people found their creative vibe during lockdown' 'See if it gets you the results you seek, and not just some attention' 'More Americans listen to podcasts every week that attend religious services' 'Podcasts really foster independent creation'  VALUABLE RESOURC ES The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 ABOUT THE GUEST Shannon works with podcasters and organisations running internal communications and training podcasts, to support their efforts and address their needs. In addition Shannon run community outreach: interviews, social media, events, collaborations, and sponsorships. She also speaks at podcasting and employee development/training/HR conferences on various aspects of podcasting. You can follow and connect with Shannon via: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonmartinwrites/ ‘Podcasting for Learning and Development & Internal Communications’ LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13872219/ Podbean Blog: https://blog.podbean.com/  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 Strategist at Looop, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D as well as an active member of the CIPD L&D Advisory Board. CONTACT METHOD Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.looop.co/

If addressing Skills Gaps was as easy as plugging in a new platform filled with categorised content then L&D wouldn’t be recognised as part of the Skills Gap problem rather than addressing it. Yes, that’s right, Organisational Learning is deemed under-skilled at addressing ‘broad-based re-skilling efforts’. So how did we get here and how do we sort ourselves out? These questions - and many more are explored in this episode.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Training and learning are different things. We are creating a flawed system through our own educational institutions. We are taught the basics, but not taught how to apply these lessons. The industrial strategy council has highlighted that five million workers could become acutely underskilled in basic digital skills by 2030. Skills gaps are impacted both positively and negatively by more factors that many realise, including the political landscape and economic requirements of any given territory. Approximately, we spend 44 billion pounds per year on L&D, and yet the returns do not seem to be worth the investment. BEST MOMENTS 'We're not addressing a skills gap - it's just keeping a nice chat going' 'We can't just go out and recruit to make this business successful - we're going to have to grow some' 'As a learning profession we have turned the other way' 'What is the outcome that we deliver, year on year, for that spend?'  VALUABLE RESOURC ES The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523 Industrial Strategy Council ‘UK Skills Mismatch 2030’ Research Paper - https://industrialstrategycouncil.org/uk-skills-mismatch-2030-research-paper UK’s Digital Skills Gap Poses Risk To Economic Recovery - https://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2020/11/23/uks-digital-skills-gap-poses-risk-to-economic-recovery-research-reveals/ ABOUT THE GUEST Simon is a modern and experienced Executive-level People Leader who has delivered meaningful commercial Change and Transformation via appropriate Learning, Organisational Development and Talent initiatives. Simon has a varied history and experience of working in different sectors and economic climates. From start-up to large multi-national companies, including NBC Universal, Fujitsu, Sonnedix and NatWest / RBS.  You can follow and connect with Simon via: Twitter: @simon1gibson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongibsonlearning/  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 Strategist at Looop, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D as well as an active member of the CIPD L&D Advisory Board. CONTACT METHOD Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.looop.co/