Welcome to Development Nerds! In this episode, we’re diving into the 6 mega trends shaping Learning and Development (L&D) in 2025. These aren’t just trends—they’re opportunities for L&D leaders to step up, align with business goals, and create workplaces where people thrive.

From embedding whole-person development to leveraging AI and navigating the hybrid world, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you prepare for what’s next. Whether you’re an L&D pro or someone passionate about driving meaningful change, this episode is your roadmap to success.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Whole-Person Development with CORE Capabilities

• How emotional intelligence, resilience, and empathy are redefining “essential” skills.
• The CORE Framework: Connect, Optimize, Resilience, and Empathy.

Total Employee Experience in a Hybrid World

• Why connection is the missing ingredient in hybrid teams—and how L&D can lead the charge.
• The role of L&D in onboarding, continuous development, and even offboarding.

The Global Mindset

• What it takes to foster cultural competence and inclusion across global teams.
• Practical tips for making training accessible and meaningful worldwide.

Strategic Partnerships in L&D

• How to align with HR, IT, and business leaders for greater impact.
• Why external partnerships (think universities and gig workers) are a competitive advantage.

Technology in L&D

• AI as your new co-pilot for personalized learning and proactive skill development.
• Practical tech strategies that amplify—not complicate—your L&D initiatives.

The Capability to Adapt

• Why adaptability is the ultimate skill for 2025 and beyond.
• A 4-phase framework to build change capability within your organization.

Key Takeaways:

• L&D isn’t just about training anymore—it’s about driving culture, connection, and capability.
• The trends shaping 2025 aren’t challenges to fear; they’re opportunities to lead.
• Practical frameworks like CORE and Change Capability can transform how your organization thrives in the face of change.

Resources & References Mentioned:

• World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs Report
• Gartner: Playbook for Increasing HR’s Strategic Impact
• SHRM: Hybrid Work Statistics and Trends
• Microsoft’s Global Skills Initiative
• Link to the full blog post on L&D Mega Trends for 2025

Let’s Connect:

Loved this episode? Share your thoughts!

• Which trend resonates most with you?
• What are you planning to implement in 2025?

Find me on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

And if you haven’t already, subscribe to Development Nerds so you never miss an episode.

Rate, Review, and Follow:

If this episode gave you fresh ideas, I’d love it if you could leave a review—it helps more people discover the show!

Thanks for listening, and here’s to making 2025 a standout year for L&D!