L&D Disrupt

In this episode of L&D Disrupt, host Pauline speaks with Monika Holliday, Head of People at British Airways Euroflyer, about why traditional approaches to talent development and performance are no longer fit for today's workforce.

Drawing on a career that has spanned multiple industries, Monica shares how the world of work has fundamentally changed since COVID and why organisations need to rethink learning, career development, and employee growth. She explains how British Airways Euroflyer supports a multi-generational workforce by creating flexible development platforms instead of one-size-fits-all programmes, encouraging employees to take ownership of their learning, and embracing reverse mentoring to share knowledge across generations—including emerging AI skills.

Monica also introduces "Career Shapes," an alternative to the traditional nine-box talent matrix that helps employees define their own career ambitions through meaningful conversations with managers and personalised development opportunities.

The conversation explores the difference between high performance and sustained high pressure, why culture and teamwork are at the heart of organisational success, and how more agile goal setting can help organisations adapt in an ever-changing business environment.

Monica's hot take for L&D teams? Stop forcing everyone up the same career ladder, create opportunities for people to grow in ways that work for them.

00:00 Meet Monica Holliday
00:38 Squiggly HR Journey
02:22 Post COVID Work Shift
03:50 Rethinking L&D Programs
05:33 Managing Generations
06:48 Platforms Not Programs
08:51 Reverse Mentoring AI
11:50 BA Mentoring Culture
14:32 Culture Champions Inclusion
16:55 Career Shapes Explained
17:19 Beyond Nine Box
20:17 Owning Your Career
21:37 Career Shapes In Action
22:23 Career Shapes Coaching
24:55 Quiz To Career Paths
27:16 Growth Without Promotion
32:02 High Performance Culture
35:27 Making Goals Work
39:09 Final Advice And Wrap

In this episode of L&D Disrupt, host Kelsey speaks with Derek Bruce, Chief Learning Officer at Easygenerator, about what's holding L&D back and what the function needs to become next.

Derek argues that learning teams spend too much time creating content instead of making better use of what already exists, and that L&D must become more closely connected to performance, skills, and business priorities by consistently asking one simple question: "So what?" He shares why learning needs to happen quickly and in the flow of work, why managers should be involved throughout the learning journey rather than only at the end, and why measuring application and business impact matters more than completion rates and satisfaction scores.

The conversation also explores AI beyond the hype, covering practical applications for trend analysis, efficiency gains, coaching and practice at scale, and improving learning experiences, while addressing concerns around AI replacing jobs or encouraging shortcuts.

Derek explains why transparency, guardrails, and human expertise remain essential as organisations adopt AI, challenges the growing obsession with overly complex skills taxonomies, and outlines his vision for the future of L&D as a more business-facing, facilitative function embedded across the employee lifecycle.

Derek's hot take for L&D teams? Stop building more content and start solving business problems.

00:00 AI Learning Gaps
01:32 Welcome and Introductions
02:44 What's Wrong With L&D
04:00 Link Learning to Performance
06:17 Managers Enable Application
08:02 AI Beyond the Hype
10:13 AI Cheating and Trust
13:55 Human First AI Second
18:57 Common AI Mistakes
23:04 Protect Entry Level Skills
26:52 Skills Based Organisations
30:11 Reorgs and Future Skills
33:17 Future Role of L&D
35:58 Stop Vanity Metrics
37:42 Closing Thanks

In this episode of L&D Disrupt, host Kelsey speaks with Ruth South, who leads Talent Development and Learning at Costa Coffee, about what it really takes to build a learning culture that drives business success and meaningful internal mobility.

Ruth explains how Costa invests in apprenticeships, coffee craft, and centrally funded talent pathways that move people from barista to leadership roles , including transitions into the support centre across functions like data, digital, supply chain, and procurement. She shares how the team connects learning strategy to business outcomes, measuring impact through promotion rates and customer metrics like net promoter score, while getting the balance right between digital, face-to-face, and in-the-flow tools like skills cards next to the coffee machine.

The conversation also covers leadership development through coaching programs and a CEO-sponsored global talent initiative, ongoing onboarding improvements, the realities of supporting a largely under-25 workforce, and Costa's evolving thinking on AI and the youth employment agenda. Ruth also shares her hot take for L&D teams: stop waiting for a seat at the table, start creating one.

00:00 Create the Table

01:31 Meet Ruth South

02:24 Careers Beyond Transient

04:08 Talent Programs Ecosystem

05:10 Apprenticeships as Strategy

06:24 Data Driven L&D Impact

07:43 Learning Culture Stories

09:02 Apprenticeship Playbook Tips

10:59 Building Learning Community

13:00 Managers Coaching Leadership

15:53 Onboarding and Transitions

20:46 Early Careers Skills Balance

23:31 Self Serve Flow of Work

27:34 Measuring ROI and Value

30:17 Next Frontier AI Youth

35:05 Hot Takes Start Stop

36:14 Final Advice and Wrap

In this episode, strategic talent and development leader and coach Shane Halifax shares how he moved from being a general manager at DFS into L&D after realizing he most enjoyed developing people, and explains what he learned about what does and doesn’t translate from courses into workplace performance. He outlines a capability-based approach: defining role capabilities, benchmarking with top performers, using 360-style input to identify gaps, and aligning development to both business needs and squiggly career mobility through transferable skills. Shane discusses gaining C-suite credibility by engaging early in strategy conversations, focusing on root-cause diagnosis and measurable outcomes (KPIs, engagement, customer satisfaction), and demonstrating ROI beyond “bums on seats.” He also covers making mentorship strategic and scalable using technology, including matching for chemistry, tracking outcomes, and experimenting with group and reverse mentoring, plus how AI can accelerate content creation while keeping L&D focused on real business problems. 

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 

00:26 Shane’s Path Into L&D

01:13 Learning That Sticks at Work

03:19 Capability Mapping and 360 Gaps

05:23 Squiggly Careers and Transferable Skills

06:50 Making Skills Strategic With Leaders

09:25 Diagnosing Requests With 5Di

12:26 Mentorship That Actually Works

15:13 Scaling Mentorship With Tech

19:48 Upskilling New Managers

22:30 Rolling Out Relevant Training

24:26 Marketing Learning for Adoption

25:55 Getting a Seat at the Table

28:29 Proving ROI That Execs Care About

30:01 The Future of L&D and AI

32:28 Wrap Up and Where to Connect

We’re excited to kick off Season 4 with our new host, Pauline Taylor, VP of People at HowNow!

Join us for an engaging discussion with Ian Walker, an industry leader and expert in Learning and Development (L&D), as he explores the transformative power of L&D in driving business outcomes. In this episode, Ian highlights the crucial role L&D plays in unlocking potential, fostering collaboration, and enhancing organizational culture.

The conversation covers the significance of effective onboarding, the impact of mentorship and coaching, and the emerging influence of AI on learning practices. Ian also shares his experiences in building cohesive L&D programs, the importance of continuous learning, and practical strategies for measuring the business impact of L&D initiatives.

This episode offers valuable insights for anyone looking to elevate learning and development within their organization.

To learn more about HowNow, you can chat with the team here: HowNow Demo

🎉 Celebrating the 100th episode of L&D Disrupt Live at World of Learning!

Nelson Sivalingam is joined by four forward-thinking L&D leaders—Tara (AND Digital), Stephen (So Energy), Penny (inRiver), and Joe (Centrick)—for a conversation about how Learning & Development is evolving in today’s organisations.

They explore how L&D teams are moving from problem solvers to problem finders, sharing real-world strategies that work: from AI upskilling programs and centralised learning hubs to a skills-first approach that puts learners at the heart of learning.

The panel dives into meeting learners where they are, using technology to create meaningful impact, and focusing on business outcomes over content creation. Packed with practical tips, this discussion is a must-watch for any L&D professional looking to make a bigger impact in their organisation.

00:00 Introduction to L&D Challenges

01:40 Celebrating 100 Episodes of L&D Disrupt

02:21 Panel Discussion: Identifying and Solving L&D Problems

03:47 Tara's Approach to Evolving Learning Solutions

04:52 Joe's Strategy for a Unified Learning Ecosystem

06:42 Steven's Dual Focus on Compliance and Learning Perception

08:12 Penny's Certification Program Overhaul

09:30 Innovative Approaches to L&D Content and Engagement

15:08 AI Upskilling at And Digital

23:22 Moving Towards a Skills-Based Learning Approach

27:07 Engaging Line Managers in L&D

29:38 Final Thoughts and Actionable Takeaways

Join us in this exciting episode of L&D Disrupt Live as we explore the latest trends, lessons learned, and predictions for the future of Learning and Development with Nelson, CEO and co-founder of HowNow, along with a panel of experts.

From discussing the role of AI in L&D to the importance of evidence-based practice and the shift to performance-based metrics, this episode covers it all.

Featuring Andy Lancaster, Stella Collins, and Ross Garner, this conversation delves into what worked, what didn't, and where L&D is headed in 2026.

Don't miss insights on systemic thinking, the impact of AI, skills frameworks, and the crucial metrics that will define L&D success.

Tune in to understand how to stay relevant and make a meaningful impact in the evolving world of L&D.

00:00 Introduction

04:25 Welcome to L&D Disrupt Live

06:32 Biggest Surprises of 2025

12:46 Biggest Winners of 2025

23:25 Biggest Losers of 2025

30:58 The Impact of AI on L&D

32:59 Overhyped Trends in L&D for 20253

4:12 The Complexity of Skills Frameworks

39:49 Challenges with AI Literacy Programs

43:09 Hard Lessons for L&D in 2025

52:59 Looking Forward to 2026

01:00:58 Predictions for L&D in 2026

Join us for an engaging discussion with Lavinia, founder of OffBeat and a thought leader in Learning and Development (L&D), as she explores the future of organisational learning. In this episode, Lavinia highlights the crucial role L&D plays in fostering collaboration, trust, and adaptability within organisations.

The conversation covers the impact of AI on L&D, the distinction between individual and organisational learning, and strategies to enhance sense-making, experimentation, and teamwork. Lavinia also shares her experiences in building vibrant L&D communities, the relevance of behavioural science, and practical steps for cultivating a thriving learning culture.

This episode offers valuable insights for anyone looking to elevate learning and development in their organisation.

To learn more about HowNow, you can chat to the team here: https://www.gethownow.com/book-demo?

In this episode, Adam Horne joins the show to unpack the challenges of “accidental managers”, those promoted without proper leadership training, and the friction caused by poorly designed roles. Drawing on his experience at Open Org, Adam explains how the organisation supports HR professionals in startups through community building, content creation, and consulting.

He explores the impact of AI on HR and learning, identifying common pain points facing today’s people leaders and making the case for a shift from traditional training to more experiential, on-the-job learning. Adam also discusses how AI can be leveraged to reduce workplace friction, enable experimentation, and redesign employee experiences to foster continuous learning and growth.

When it comes to management, Adam highlights systemic issues in how organisations define and support leadership roles. He advocates for a community of practice approach and challenges companies to rethink career progression and growth in flatter, faster-moving structures.

As the conversation wraps up, Adam outlines key priorities for HR leaders preparing for the future, particularly around AI adoption, talent development, and evolving organisational design.

To learn more about HowNow, you can chat to the team here: https://www.gethownow.com/book-demo?

In this episode, Ross Stevenson explores how Learning and Development is evolving in the age of AI. As technology reshapes how we work and learn, Ross shares how L&D professionals can harness AI’s potential while keeping the human element at the heart of learning.

Drawing from his journey from practitioner to creator and consultant, he offers practical advice on experimenting with AI tools, adapting to change, and building resilience in a rapidly shifting landscape.

Tune in for an honest conversation about why, even in an AI-driven world, the future of learning will always depend on human connection, curiosity, and creativity.

To hear more about HowNow, speak to the team! https://www.gethownow.com/book-demo?