The Learning & Development Podcast

Recorded live at The Learning Conference in Stockholm, David is joined by Elliott Masie, Bob Mosher and Jennifer Florido to explore the forces reshaping workplace learning. From lasting shifts versus failed fads, to performance-first strategies, AI’s real impact, and rising stakeholder expectations, the panel cuts through the noise to share what matters most for L&D leaders right now. Packed with bold predictions and practical advice from three of the field’s most influential voices, this live episode captures the energy of where L&D is heading next. 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 L&D must evolve its methodologies from delivering “learning” to enabling performance—shifting focus from courses and content to real‑time support, experimentation, and impact on workflow and business performance. Chase fewer “shiny penny” technologies and treat AI as a useful tool only when it’s anchored in real workflow performance. L&D’s own risk aversion is now one of the biggest barriers to shifting from training to true performance. BEST MOMENTS “Only around 25% of L&D teams are involved in their company's skill strategy. I think that speaks to we're not relied upon.” “Branding and wording matters, when we try to explain what we do and get the buy in for what we do.” “There is a really important role for L&D at coordinating this and working on behalf of the organisation to future proof, it for skills tomorrow.” Elliott Masie Elliott Masie is an internationally recognised futurist, analyst, and learning advocate whose work has shaped the profession for more than four decades. Founder of The MASIE Center, he has been at the forefront of innovations from CBTs and LMSs to MOOCs, VR, and now AI. He also created the long-running Learning conference series, bringing leaders together to explore how workplace learning must evolve. With his trademark mix of curiosity, candour, and foresight, Elliott challenges L&D professionals to question assumptions and embrace the future with confidence. https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliottmasie/ https://masie.com/ Bob Mosher Bob Mosher is a pioneering voice in workplace learning, best known for championing performance-first approaches that put support in the flow of work at the centre of L&D. With decades of experience advising global organisations, he has helped leaders move beyond traditional training to solutions that deliver measurable impact where and when employees need it most. As Chief Learning Evangelist at APPLY Synergies, Bob continues to shape how organisations think about workflow learning, change management, and scalable performance support, earning a reputation as one of the most trusted figures in modern L&D. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmosher/ https://applysynergies.com/ Jennifer Florido Jennifer Florido is Group Head of Talent & Growth at Telia Company, leading strategy to develop, engage and enable talent across one of the Nordics’ largest telecommunications providers. With experience in leadership development, organisational growth and workforce transformation, she brings a practical, business-focused view of how L&D can drive measurable impact. Jennifer is passionate about creating environments where employees can thrive, adapt and grow, aligning learning with both performance and culture. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferflorido/ VALUABLE RESOURCES L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

As AI reshapes the world of work, Learning and Development faces a defining moment. Will the profession double down on creating faster training or finally step up as a true driver of performance? In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Bob Mosher - Chief Learning Evangelist at APPLY Synergies and one of the world’s foremost advocates for workflow learning. Together, they explore why L&D’s obsession with “shiny pennies” and new delivery modes risks missing the real opportunity AI presents: to transform how people perform on the job, not just how they learn. Bob shares why the long-standing cycle of “stakeholders ask for training, L&D delivers it” is more dangerous than ever, what it really means to become a performance architect, and how workflow learning lays the foundation for L&D to stay indispensable in an AI-powered world. If you’re serious about shifting your team’s focus from learning outputs to business outcomes - and using AI to elevate performance where it matters most - this episode is essential listening. 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 If L&D keeps focusing on creating training faster rather than addressing performance, they will be left out of the conversation. Embracing technology is essential. But don´t simply do what you are doing now, only faster.  Demonstrate to your organisation that these tools enable you to go beyond training and enhance performance. Courage and leadership are required to break old habits and proactively guide organizations through disruptive change, even when it's uncomfortable. Bob shares how to have those conversations. BEST MOMENTS “We have to move beyond this training, learning deliverable mindset, to performance and productivity.” “Don´t confuse busy with relevance.. .that´s the danger of perceiving our value by the ask, or how many people are at the door.” “We have to be able to be seen as that learning professional, that performance professional and not the L&D department that we all know.” “I´ve been at this, 43 years. I've never seen anything as disruptive as this.” Bob Mosher BioBob Mosher is Chief Learning Evangelist at APPLY Synergies and a pioneering voice in workplace learning with over 30 years of experience helping organisations drive measurable performance. A co-creator of the Five Moments of Need® framework, Bob has spent decades challenging traditional training models and championing workflow learning - an approach that supports employees at the point of need, not just in the classroom. Before founding APPLY Synergies, Bob served as Global Chief Learning Strategist for Microsoft, where he helped redefine how the company enabled performance at scale. Today, he works with global organisations to implement learning strategies that close the gap between learning and doing. Renowned for his candor, practicality, and unwavering focus on business results, Bob continues to shape the conversation about what truly effective learning looks like in the AI era. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmosher/https://applysynergies.com/ VALUABLE RESOURCES L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home 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 This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Craig Friedman, author of Enterprise Skills Unlocked, joins David to explore what it really means to build a skills-based organisation, and why now is the critical moment for change. Together, they unpack the macro forces reshaping work, the difference between skills-based and role-based approaches, and the most compelling business cases driving adoption. Craig shares where organisations should start, the role (and pitfalls) of technology, and how governance and measurement come into play when scaling globally. He also offers practical advice for leaders feeling overwhelmed by the scale of transformation, with clear steps to move from ideas to action. If you’re curious about how skills can unlock new ways to manage, develop, and empower talent, this episode is essential listening. 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 It is now possible to manage and develop skills at a truly granular level, enabling real-time, targeted learning pathways tailored to each employee or business need instead of just for broad roles. An integrated ecosystem of HR technology - including talent marketplaces, skills intelligence tools, and performance and learning management systems - enables true skills-based talent management. You can match the right person to the right project or task, instantly and precisely. To have real impact, organizations must ground skills initiatives in urgent business objectives. BEST MOMENTS “This is a technology driven HR transformation, essentially …. we have access to a new level of skills data that we actually can manage.” “It shifts talent from being a headcount management exercise to a capability management exercise, a giant step closer to business alignment.” “No matter what anybody tells you, there is no one system that does it all.” Craig Friedman Craig Friedman has 30 years of experience as a human capital and talent advisor, executive, and entrepreneur. He specializes in skills-based talent strategies, learning operating models, change management, and performance consulting. A Senior Talent Strategist at St. Charles Consulting Group, Craig partners with CHROs and CLOs to align global talent strategies, supporting Fortune 500 companies and four of the five largest professional services firms.   He spent 15 years at Deloitte, leading talent development for the U.S. Tax practice and earning several national and international learning awards. Craig also co-led Deloitte’s clinician change adoption practice and helped establish corporate universities for regional health systems.  Craig’s background includes launching two eLearning start-ups and earning two U.S. patents for innovations in online education. He holds an M.A. in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University and dual undergraduate degrees from Tufts University in Human Factors Engineering and English.  Craig is the author of the new book Enterprise Skills Unlocked: A Blueprint for Building a Skills-Based Organization.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-w-friedman-8950841 Book: https://stccg.com/enterprise-skills-unlocked-2/ [email protected] https://stccg.com/ HOST RESOURCES https://twitter.com/davidinlearning  https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective L&D Master Class: 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 carried the “hangover” of legacy expectations: delivering courses, creating content, and measuring completions. But in 2025, those skills won’t cut it - and they could even put the profession at risk of being replaced by AI. In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Candice Mitchell - consultant, founder of the Talent Development Academy, and researcher into L&D’s future skills - to explore the next chapter for L&D. Together, they unpack the critical capabilities every practitioner needs now: from business acumen and consulting skills to the human strengths that AI can’t replicate. Candice also shares her Impact Toolkit and five-spoke model for reframing the role of L&D, plus practical advice for professionals who feel stuck as reactive order-takers. If you want to move beyond legacy expectations and position yourself as a true business partner, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss. 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 Businesses have to let go of the training course “comfort blanket”. Now, we need strategic skills development. Teams that do not change will be replaced by AI. AI skills will soon be standard. The human capabilities you bring beyond technology will set you apart. Candice’s Impact Toolkit equips you to transition from order taker to strategic partner. BEST MOMENTS “Smart businesspeople just won’t let go of the comfort blanket.” “We are good at delivering courses, at training people… but now we need to do the hard things so that we can stay relevant.” Candice Mitchell  With nearly 20 years in the field, Candice has worked both as a corporate L&D leader and as a consultant to global organisations, designing capability strategies that go far beyond “training delivery.” Candice is a consultant, educator, and founder of the Talent Development Academy, where she helps mid-to-senior L&D professionals develop the skills needed to drive real business impact. Her Master’s research explored the skills L&D professionals must build to stay relevant in an AI-integrated workplace - concluding that while AI literacy is table stakes, it’s human and strategic capabilities that will define the future of the profession. Known for her optimism, candour, and practical frameworks, Candice is passionate about helping L&D break free from legacy expectations and step confidently into a more impactful role. https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/ https://talentdevelopmentnerds.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 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  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 This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Egle Vinauskaite joins David to discuss the very latest AI in L&D report, The Race for Impact, and why L&D is at a pivotal moment. They explore the shift from AI experimentation to implementation, the barriers holding teams back, and the new models of impact outlined in her “Transformation Triangle.” With case studies from Leyton and TTEC, Egle shows how L&D can move beyond content creation to workforce enablement and lasting business value. If you want to understand how L&D can harness AI, adapt with confidence, and stay relevant in a fast-changing landscape, this episode is essential listening. Get Ready For What Comes Next L&D isn't ready for what's next, but you will be - the L&D Performance Academy is a free 9 course certification that gives you the playbook to stay essential in the age of AI agents and rising expectations. Learn how to align learning with business goals, measure real impact and lead with confidence alongside a global community of L&D pros. Don't just ask for a seat at the table, show up with the agenda – enrol here - https://bit.ly/488gT5w KEY TAKEAWAYS Standing still in today’s landscape is risky, L&D needs to go beyond producing content and become an indispensable partner in workforce performance. Egel shares and explains the 3 future models L&D can use to evolve and become invaluable within their business - Skills Authority, Enablement Partner, and Adaptation Engine. Not adopting AI is becoming a career-limiting risk for L&D professionals. Your performance is likely to be defined by whether and how you work with AI. BEST MOMENTS “L&D can move beyond content creation, embrace new models of impact and position itself as an indispensable partner in the workforce.” "L&D can't stay a content producer or it will disappear" "First understand your starting point, what does the business come to you for? What is your value add? " Egle Vinauskaite Bio Egle Vinauskaite brings extensive expertise in learning, behaviour, and technology, working with both global enterprises and emerging edtech innovators. Her background spans AI, XR, mobile learning, digital platforms, and blended learning design, giving her a unique perspective on how technology is reshaping organisational learning and the future of work. As both an advisor and researcher, she helps L&D teams integrate AI into their operations and prepare workforces with the skills needed for effective adoption. Blending rigorous research with hands-on application, Egle has a sharp view of how AI is redefining the role of L&D and creating new possibilities for learning in the workplace. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinauskaite http://nodes.works The Race for Impact report: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/focus04-race-for-impact VALUABLE RESOURCES 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/