The Learning & Development Podcast

• Driving Business Impact with Talent Development at Scale With Martha Soehren

  Traditional L&D teams often struggle to prove their value—but at Comcast, Martha Soehren built a Talent Development function that drove measurable business impact at scale. In this episode, Martha shares how her team aligned with strategic priorities, built trusted stakeholder relationships, and embedded governance to keep L&D at the heart of business conversations. She also explains how data, storytelling, and a focus on succession planning helped elevate the function’s credibility across the organisation. Packed with hard-won insights from leading L&D in one of the world’s largest companies, this episode is essential listening for L&D leaders ready to lead with influence and impact. 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 Build strategic alignment through an executive learning council. Design learning solutions with clear business metric analysis incorporated. For impact, use data in your storytelling. Once you get senior executives on side they will stand up for you when you are not at the table. At all levels, people should mentor others and develop talent. BEST MOMENTS "You can never over communicate to those senior executives." “By having that data and telling the story of the way things were being done, I got a lot of buy in." "Care about your people and the people around you, get the job done and do it right, and always act with integrity." Martha Soehren Bio Martha Soehren is the former Chief Talent Development Officer and SVP at Comcast Cable, where she led enterprise-wide learning and talent initiatives for nearly 15 years. With a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and a background that spans 25 years in the U.S. Army, Martha brings deep expertise in instructional design, workforce planning, and organisational effectiveness to her corporate roles. She has served on numerous boards, including ATD, the Wharton/UPenn Doctorate of Learning Advisory Board, and SCTE, and is a recognized industry leader—named one of CableFax’s Most Powerful Women in Cable and a recipient of the WICT Liberty Award. Martha continues to contribute to the field through thought leadership, mentoring, and active participation in the Elliott Masie Learning Consortium. https://www.linkedin.com/in/martha-soehren-phd-a012074/ 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 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/

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• The L&D Podcast Experience, Live! – Rethinking L&D, Performance, and the Power of AI With Laura Overton, Donald Clark, and Gemma Paterson

  In this special live episode recorded with a virtual audience, host David James is joined by an all-star panel of Learning & Development leaders - Laura Overton, Donald Clark, and Gemma Paterson - for a dynamic conversation on the future of workplace learning. Together, they explore: Whether "Learning & Development" is the wrong name for the profession. The growing shift from learning-centric to performance-focused strategies—and why this remains a point of contention. How AI is transforming productivity and reshaping L&D approaches. Real-life examples of how leading organizations are navigating this evolution. This episode pulls no punches as it challenges long-held assumptions in L&D and sparks essential questions about the direction of the profession. Tune in for sharp insights, bold ideas, and practical takeaways from some of the most influential voices in the field. KEY TAKEAWAYS Focus on intentional impact rather than just delivering courses Ask stakeholders “what are you trying to change?” Seek out the ultra-keen or those who are desperate for change. Stop worrying about the ethics of using AI, it´s an effective productivity tool, so use it. L&D needs to have the tough conversations. BEST MOMENTS “The word learning has turned into a noun rather than a process.” “Intentional impact is the thing that really drives me.” "That AI on the sly thing, it´s not enough.” "If you still call yourself L&D in 5 years ... you're defining yourself as sort of milky weak." GUESTS Laura Overton Laura is an award-winning L&D analyst and co-author of Evidence-Informed Learning Design. As the founder of Towards Maturity and a champion of research-led practice, Laura has spent her career helping organizations unlock the potential of workplace learning through data, insight, and innovation. Donald Clark Donald is a learning technology entrepreneur, author, and advocate for the use of AI in education. With decades of experience in digital learning, he is the CEO of Wildfire Learning and a former CEO and founder of Epic Group. He is known for his bold perspectives on the future of learning, captured in his books like Artificial Intelligence for Learning and his influential blog. Gemma Paterson Gemma is Head of Culture Innovation at Lloyds Banking Group, where she leads work that reimagines how culture, learning, and innovation intersect in large organizations. With a background in digital learning and organizational development, Gemma is passionate about creating environments that foster curiosity, collaboration, and meaningful change at scale. Take your L&D to the next level Take advantage of 1000s 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 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 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/

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• Reinventing L&D for Long-Term Impact with Avinash Chandarana

  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/

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• Rethinking L&D: Why Accomplishments Matter More Than Behaviours With Carl Binder

  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/

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• Hope Isn’t a Plan: Building a Progressive L&D Strategy with Dani Johnson

  Traditional L&D strategies rely too much on hope. Hope that training will stick, hope that stakeholders will engage, and hope that impact will follow. But as Dani Johnson of RedThread Research explains in this episode, hope isn’t a plan. Drawing on insights from the latest report, Dani outlines why L&D’s influence in strategic business discussions is declining - and what leaders must do to reverse the trend. She breaks down the five essential elements of a progressive L&D strategy, from organisational alignment and stakeholder engagement to tech, data, and operational discipline. Dani also explores the tension between consistency and adaptability, how to move beyond training requests to real business conversations, and why outdated approaches to learning persist despite their lack of impact. For L&D professionals ready to move from reactive to strategic, this episode offers a clear, research-backed blueprint for building a modern, credible, and business-aligned L&D function. 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 Hope is not a strategy – intentionality is essential.  Don´t just drift, create a business need driven strategy, follow it and measure progress. Dani´s study shows that L&D is increasingly losing strategic influence. L&D needs to shift from being order-takers to being business partners. Get out from behind your desk. Use the same language as stakeholders.  L&D needs to provide stability but also be flexible enough to quickly meet emerging needs. Tech and data are strategic levers, not just tools. Buy the right tech. BEST MOMENTS "What has gotten us here is not going to get us into the future." "Be intentional about making that strategy and then delivering on that strategy." "It is time to quit looking at old models and traditional ways of doing things." "We are here for a planned, demonstrable impact." "Two big things are driving this integration of technology and data: the first is skills... the second is AI." Dani Johnson Bio Dani is Co-founder and Principal Analyst at RedThread Research, where she explores the intersection of people, practices, and technology.  Prior to RedThread, Dani led the Learning and Career research practice at Bersin, Deloitte. Her work has appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal, CLO Magazine, Employment Relations and HR Magazine.  Dani holds an MBA and dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University.  RedThread is known for its bold, unbiased research on topics like DEIB, learning, performance, and people analytics—helping leaders rethink how work gets done. You can follow or contact Dani at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-johnson/ Direct link to infographic: https://members.redthreadresearch.com/posts/infographic-the-building-blocks-of-a-future-ready-ld-strategy (free membership required) - Membership Link: https://redthreadresearch.com/pricing 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 This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

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