The Learning & Development Podcast

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Geraldine Murphy to explore how learning can move from a reactive service to a strategic driver of business impact.

Geraldine shares how she built the foundations for transformation - introducing governance, process, and consistency - and shifted the culture from chasing “shiny new things” to making smarter decisions about building, borrowing, buying, or automating learning. She reflects on influencing stakeholders, the power of storytelling in driving change and the personal skills that mattered most throughout the journey.

This conversation is a guide for L&D professionals ready to tackle entrenched challenges, start making change even without formal permission and step confidently into a more strategic, impactful role.

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


Passion isn’t enough; without structure, governance and the right tools, L&D effort stays local and inefficient.


Data‑driven storytelling unlocks investment and permission to transform.


Governance, clear promises to the business, and knowing when to say “no” are central to leading large‑scale change.


L&D must link learning directly to productivity and business performance to escape being seen as simply a “nice to have.”

BEST MOMENTS

“We weren't doing technology for technology’s sake.”

“If your people aren't growing, then the business is not growing.”

“When you've got a vision to elevate L&D to be business savvy, accountable and impactful, it's not so difficult to bring senior stakeholders on board to help to shape that.”

“For the first time, we had one platform to rule them all.”

Geraldine Murphy Bio

Geraldine Murphy is an experienced Learning & Development leader, most recently Global Learning Experience Manager at HEINEKEN. In this role, she managed a broad global portfolio of learning tools and processes and worked with 85 decentralised learning teams to support the delivery of L&D for more than 90,000 employees worldwide. Alongside this, she served as a Global DEI Ambassador, contributing to the organisation’s diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda.

Geraldine began her career in education following her teacher training in 2009 and has since worked across further and higher education, publishing, and technology. Her work includes leading learning design for HE partnership programmes at a FTSE 100 publisher and consulting with organisations such as HSBC University (Global), FourthRev, Aula, Scribbr, Jisc and the University of Cambridge. She also sits on the advisory boards for SAP SuccessFactors and LinkedIn Learning.

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

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Andy Storch, co-author of Own Your Brand, Own Your Career, to explore why personal branding has become a central tool for career growth.

Andy discusses the workplace shifts that inspired his book and reframes traditional career development, showing how L&D leaders can help employees discover and articulate an authentic professional brand that aligns with both personal values and organisational needs. He unpacks the broader lens of career growth beyond upward mobility - covering lateral moves, reputation, visibility, and the power of storytelling - while offering practical advice on networking, self-advocacy and intentional career moves in today’s job market.

This conversation is a guide for L&D professionals looking to equip employees to take ownership of their careers, measure the impact of brand-and-career development initiatives and balance individual growth with organisational retention. 

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


Your personal brand is your reputation. In a world of restructures and layoffs, you can’t wait – build visibility, trust, and a clear story of your value now, so decision-makers know exactly why you’re worth keeping or hiring.


Helping people build their personal brand makes their value visible. When L&D supports employees to show what they’re great at, leaders can spot talent faster, growth feels fairer, and your best people are more likely to see a future and stay.


If networking and personal branding feel cringey, reframe them as relationship building and sharing your learning. You don’t need to perform - just focus on one genuine conversation at a time.

BEST MOMENTS

“In the past, there's been this stigma about spending time on LinkedIn or other platforms, about creating a brand for yourself outside of work, and I've seen a big shift in that.”

“I've seen people go and build great relationships and get jobs from being able to tell their story.”

Andy Storch Bio

Andy Storch is an author, consultant, coach, and speaker focused on helping professionals take ownership of their careers and lives. He is the author of Own Your Career, Own Your Life, a practical guide for people who want to stop drifting and take intentional control of their future.

Andy is the host of multiple podcasts, including The Talent Development Hot Seat, Own Your Career and My NFT Journey, and is the co-founder and host of the Talent Development Think Tank Conference and Community, as well as the Talent Development Virtual Summit. His work includes consulting and teaching strategy, leadership, sales, finance, and innovation for organisations such as Salesforce, Oracle, Google, Toyota, State Farm, Red Bull, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, HP, Sony, Cisco and Tiffany & Co. He holds an MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and a BS from the University of Florida.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andystorch/

https://andystorch.com/

Own Your Brand, Own Your Career Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Own-Your-Brand-Career-Accelerates/dp/1736020986

ABOUT THE HOST

David James has been a People Development professional for 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

https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective

https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Laura Overton and Michelle Ockers, co-authors of the new book The L&D Leader: Principles and Practice for Delivering Business Value.

Together, they explore why the L&D profession must shift from delivering learning to driving business value and how leaders at every stage of their career can navigate this change. Drawing on 20+ years of benchmark data and hundreds of practitioner interviews, Laura and Michelle share their TRY and be BOLD frameworks, the navigation metaphor that underpins their book and practical insights for applying principles rather than clinging to rigid models.

This conversation is a call to action for L&D professionals who want to stop getting stuck in old job descriptions, start tuning into business priorities, and step into their true potential as navigators of change.

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


High‑impact L&D leaders act as wayfinders: they co‑create a clear picture of business value with stakeholders, then continuously read signals from the organisation and course‑correct, rather than follow a fixed plan or model.


Instead of chasing the next model or tool, effective L&D is grounded in learning science, fuelled by curiosity and opening up more impactful options than “just another course.”


What really differentiates impactful L&D leaders are their thinking habits: being business‑first, open‑minded, leading and learning, and deliberate – a practical inner compass for bolder, better decisions.

BEST MOMENTS

“The horizon is getting closer to us. The amount of time between a shift and us needing to have people ready for that shift is so tight now that our traditional approaches cannot respond quickly enough.”

“The (traditional) models, can restrict us …. (and) can actually crush people´s ambition.”

“You are a learning change maker.”

Laura Overton Bio

Laura Overton is an award-winning learning analyst, author, and international speaker with over 30 years of experience in the learning industry. Best known as the founder of Towards Maturity, Laura led 15 years of research exploring how learning innovation drives business value, working with thousands of L&D leaders worldwide. Today, Laura continues to champion evidence-based practice, helping learning professionals move beyond models and frameworks to embrace principles that unlock real business impact.

Michelle Ockers Bio

Michelle Ockers is a respected workplace learning strategist, speaker, and podcaster. With a background that spans the Royal Australian Air Force, corporate leadership roles and global consulting, Michelle has a reputation for helping organisations modernise learning and build business-ready capabilities. Michelle is the host of the Learning Uncut podcast, where she shares real-world stories of L&D in action. Her work brings together evidence, practice, and community to support learning leaders in navigating complexity with confidence.

LINKS

The L&D Leader Book: https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/the-l-d-leader-9781398620278

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleockers/

https://learninguncut.global/

https://learninguncut.global/podcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraoverton/

https://learningchangemakers.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

CONTACT METHOD 


 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/

In this special live AI edition of the Learning & Development Podcast, David James brings together Egle Vinauskaite, Ross Stevenson, and Peter Manniche Riber for a candid, practical conversation about what AI really means for L&D today. The discussion explores the gap between hype and reality, the tools and applications that are starting to make a meaningful difference and how AI is already being used to improve performance, capability, and skills development.

The panel examines what L&D teams are getting right, where major opportunities are being missed and the challenges slowing progress, from security and capability constraints to mindset and organisational conservatism. They also look ahead to how AI could reshape the way L&D operates and how the function is perceived across the business.

A clear, grounded and insight-rich conversation for L&D professionals wanting to understand where AI can drive genuine value.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

AI frees up time and has the capabilities to enable L&D to move beyond courses into solving business problems and improving performance and capability. Real-world examples are shared.

AI strategy can’t sit with L&D alone; a multidisciplinary, business-driven group must shape it.

To stay relevant, L&D needs commercial acumen and tech curiosity, alongside human strengths like storytelling, influence, and relationship‑building.

BEST MOMENTS

“Too many are just bolting AI onto an existing model, rather than stepping back and saying, does that model still serve us today? ”

“We know that content does not equal skills.”

“What we really need to do is to target effectiveness. We need to solve the problem.”

Egle Vinauskaite

Egle Vinauskaite is a learning, behaviour, and technology specialist who works with global enterprises and emerging edtech innovators. With a background across AI, XR, mobile learning, and digital platforms, she brings a sharp perspective on how technology is reshaping organisational learning and the future of work. As both advisor and researcher, she helps L&D teams integrate AI into their operations and equip workforces with the skills needed for effective adoption.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinauskaite

http://nodes.works

The Race for Impact report: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/focus04-race-for-impact

Ross Stevenson

Ross is a leading voice in the global L&D community, known for his practical, no-nonsense approach to modern learning. Through his writing, speaking and community platform Steal These Thoughts, he explores how organisations can better align learning with performance, develop essential skills, and embrace new technologies - including AI. Ross brings a strategic yet pragmatic perspective on how L&D teams can evolve and remain relevant in an age of rapid technological change.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rstevensonuk

www.stealthesethoughts.com

Peter Manniche Riber

Peter is an experienced L&D leader who until recently served as Head of New Tech, Digital Learning Solutions at Novo Nordisk, transforming HR and learning for a global workforce of 70,000+. Passionate about using technology to simplify and enhance learning, he experiments with generative AI, machine learning, adaptive platforms, and data-driven methods to deliver timely, effective solutions. With a strong foundation in team leadership and human-centric design, Peter helps organisations solve business challenges through technology while driving meaningful collaboration and measurable impact.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermannicheriber

RESOURCES

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

HOST CONTACT

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/

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/