In this incredible episode, Alison Armstrong walks us through the importance of trauma-informed training and the essential skills of intervention when having conversations around challenging topic of suicide. 

Alison is a best-selling author and training specialist with a wealth of experience in the areas of alcohol, drug and suicide prevention. She has developed training across these topics to various stakeholders, organisations, and businesses across the UK and internationally. An excellent trainer and public speaker - and a qualified celebrant - Alison has personally trained over 3,000 people in suicide intervention skills and believes that everyone should be trained to help reduce the stigma of suicide. 

Alison talks Adam through the best practices for kind and compassionate trauma-informed training. Including:

1. How to intervene when someone is having thoughts of suicide 
2. When NOT to use personal stories 
3. Intentional language choices that reduce stigma

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in fostering a safe and welcoming learning environment no matter how challenging the subject. 

Connect with Alison on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-armstrong-602850191/

If you are having thoughts of suicide, help is available right now if you need it. For support for yourself or someone else:

1. Samaritans – Call 116 123, Email [email protected]
2. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - Call 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight every day)
3. National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK - Call 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day)
4. Papyrus - Call 0800 068 41 41, Text 07860 039967, Email [email protected]
5. Shout - Text "SHOUT" to 85258
6. NHS - Call 111, select option 2
7. Call your GP and ask for an emergency appointment

If you have seriously harmed yourself or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance.

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this exciting interview, Adam speaks with Harry Chapman-Walker, CEO of Kallidus. Harry Chapman-Walker studied Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath and later earned a Master’s in International Business Law and joined Kallidus in 2013.

After completing an Executive MBA in 2020, Harry moved to the US in 2021 as Executive Vice President of Sapling, driving Kallidus' North American expansion. In March 2024, he returned to the UK as CEO of Kallidus, leading the company's strategy and vision to bridge the global development gap and create a customer-focused organization.

In this episode, Harry and Adam discuss the key moves and players in an organisation that help build strong L&D, including: 

1. Finding the key to engagement in the organisational culture
2. Creating learning that supports the individual and business
3. The power of middle managers
4. How personal development benefits the wider organisation

Connect with Harry on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrychapmanwalker/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In the second podcast episode recorded at the Learning Futures event by iVentiv, Adam chats with Charles Jennings, Sina Melder, Leon Jacob about embracing collaboration and different learning cultures to foster learning development. Topics include: 

1. Demonstrating value to the organisation through L&D with Charles Jennings
2. AI beyond content creation with Sina Melder
3. Transforming soft skills into leadership skills with Leon Jacob

Charles Jennings is a prominent figure in workplace learning and performance, co-founding the 70:20:10 Institute and pioneering the 70:20:10 model for learning and development. With experience as a Chief Learning Officer, author, and consultant, he has transformed organizational learning strategies globally. 

Sina Melder is the Senior Global Organisation Development Manager at chocolate brand Lindt & Sprüngli. With extensive experience in digital learning and organisational development from her previous roles at PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble, she focuses on creating impactful global learning experiences. 

Leon Jacob, Director of People Experience at Medbase Gruppe, is transforming HR into a cohesive, digital-first team focused on employee experience. He is developing a robust Learning & Development function with innovative leadership programs and cross-functional learning initiatives in the healthcare sector.

Thank you to our Sponsor iVentiv for supporting the L&D Challenges podcast.

iVentiv is the market leader in events for Global Heads of Learning and Talent. You can join an iVentiv Executive Knowledge Exchange in cities around the world, hosted by businesses including Novartis, Visa, Metlife, ASML, Microsoft, Bosch, and Axa. Find out more:

Heads of Learning: iVentiv.com/events

Learning providers: iVentiv.com/sponsors

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this special podcast episode, Adam interviews Sam Zalcman of ST Microelectronics, Priyakumar Nair of Roche, and Peter Fischer of HEC Paris at the Learning Futures event in Basel, Switzerland, hosted by iVentiv.

Adam dives into data-driven decision-making, personalisation, and measuring impact to enhance learner engagement with Sam Zalcman, Priyakumar Nair, and Peter Fischer. Topics include:

1. Leveraging data to shape L&D decisions with Sam Zalcman
2. Using data to help learners maximize their time with Priyakumar Nair
3. Personalising training through AI with Peter Fischer

Sam Zalcman is the Global Head of Learning and Leadership Development at STMicroelectronics. A leader in workforce transformation, Sam brings experience from Deloitte Switzerland in talent strategy and from Philip Morris International, where he built a culture of learning and agility. 

Priyakumar Nair, Head of Global Learning Services at pharmaceutical company Roche, focuses on impactful learning solutions that help employees thrive. With over 25 years in HR services, he has driven transformative initiatives in HR digitalization, shared services, and governance.

Marketing professor Peter Fischer researches AI’s potential for positive social impact at HEC Paris. Peter aims to improve decision-making and address global issues like polarisation and short-termism through his work. His recent research explores creativity in analytics and AI's role in marketing, showcasing his commitment to advancing knowledge in these areas.

Peter’s Academic profile: https://www.hec.edu/en/faculty-research/faculty-directory/faculty-member/fischer-petermathias 

Thank you to our Sponsor iVentiv for supporting the L&D Challenges podcast.

iVentiv is the market leader in events for Global Heads of Learning and Talent. You can join an iVentiv Executive Knowledge Exchange in cities around the world, hosted by businesses including Novartis, Visa, Metlife, ASML, Microsoft, Bosch, and Axa. Find out more:

Heads of Learning: iVentiv.com/events

Learning providers: iVentiv.com/sponsors

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

This episode features Ket Patel, the founder of Change Agitators and a Change Management Institute Accredited Master Change Practitioner. With over 20 years of experience helping organisations as they scale, grow and modernise, Ket chats with Adam on how to support others through change and how to not be victim to organisational change. 

Adam and Ket discuss how to build the capacity to handle these shifts and confront change head-on. They’ll explore tools to reframe the problem, creating the space needed to engage teams authentically and lean into the conflict of change. This is where the path to a nimble, adaptable organisation begins. 

Note: This episode is taken from a recorded webinar. You can watch the full webinar here: [Insert link to AY website with webinar on it] 

Connect with Ket on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ketpatel-changeagitator/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with John Hinchliffe of Emirates NBD.

John is a digital learning expert recognised as a Top 30 thought leader in the eLearning Industry in 2022 and 2023 and was the youngest recipient of the LPI Colin Corder award for outstanding contribution to learning. John is the Digital Learning Experience Manager at the banking group Emirates NBD. 

John founded the Global Learning and Development Community, which now boasts over 2,000 members and has recently launched LD MENA, an L&D focused network supporting the MENA region.

In this episode, John talks Adam through how to grow and manage an L&D Community. John covers the highs and lows of organisation a community of likeminded individuals, including:

1. Practical tips to grow your own community
2. How to lead with enthusiasm 
3. Finding your structure to facilitate real connections
4. Trusting the process when growing a network from scratch

John gives practical advice on how to build and manage learning communities and highlights the common challenges of growing and maintaining these networks. If you are looking to build your own network, this is a must-listen-to episode. 

Connect with John on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hinchliffe-yourskillshub/ 

And check out LD MENA: ldmena.com. 

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this fantastic episode, Adam chats with Wali Rahman of the Forestry Commission. 

Wali is the Diversity and Wellbeing Manager at the Forestry Commission, with over 18 years of experience in higher education, Local Government, and the Civil Service. 

Wali has pioneered diversity initiatives, including Wiltshire’s first Prevent Officer role and diversity training for over 700 individuals across multiple sectors. He co-founded a community group that successfully campaigned against extremism, recently graduated from the Stepping Up Diversity Leadership programme, and, in 2023, was recognised as one of the Top 50 most influential Muslims in Europe.

In this episode, Wali and Adam discuss: 

1. Data-driven diversity and inclusion
2. Maintaining a growth mindset in DEI 
3. How to embed DEI and well-being practices across your organisation
4. Reciprocal mentoring

Wali provides excellent insights  into the landscape of DEI today and provides practical tips into managing well-being and being an advocate for diversity in your organisation. If you’re looking to bolster inclusion in your own community, this is the episode for you. 

Connect with Wali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walirahman/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this great episode, Adam chats with Neil Cunningham.

Neil began his career in acting before transitioning into sales. He then moved from sales to training, where he built an L&D program for new hires. 

This led him to a career in Learning and Development, where he finds passion in measuring the impact that L&D has on an organisation. Founding Align Learn Do, Neil works to help others build world-class L&D solutions and is on the Board of Directors for The Learning Network.

Adam and Neil Discuss: 

1. Telling a story with data
2. Measuring ROI using data and desire to change 
3. AI to support and not replace humans
4. Challenges in measuring soft skills 

Connect with Neil on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiljohncunningham/

and check out his website Alignlearndo.com

You can purchase Neil's book Narrative and Numbers: Proving L&D’s value in 7 steps on his website Alignlearndo.com. Listeners get 10% off with code challenge10

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this fantastic interview, Adam sits down with Fred Thompson of Thirst. 

As a seasoned learning and development expert and CEO of Thirst, with over two decades of experience helping businesses create learning environments that level up learner engagement, Fred offers his insights on transforming L&D through skills-led practices. 

Fred has spearheaded numerous L&D initiatives that have empowered employees to learn and develop in the most intuitive way possible. He also provides invaluable insights into the latest learning technologies and trends to countless organisations looking to turbocharge their learning cultures with game-changing learning platforms.

In this episode, Fred and Adam discuss: 

1. Transforming into a digital-led organisation 
2. Understanding the L&D space and understanding technology in the L&D space
3. Vision vowels: Analyse, Engage, Implement, Optimise, Unite
4. Clear cut ways to implement digital transformation in your business
5. Developing a learner-led culture 

Connect with Fred on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-thompson/ and check out his website: https://fredthompson.co.uk/ and Thirst's website http://Thirst.io

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this bonus episode, Adam and Ruth explore three of the nine leadership lessons Ruth has drawn from interviewing many CEOs and Managing Directors across the UK: Develop a Clear Intention, Actively Manage Yourself, and Deepen Your Listening Skills. These are lessons which culminated in her book, Next Level Leadership (also an Amazon bestseller).

Adam and Ruth look at why these different leadership skills are so important, talk through some stories and lessons from Ruths extensive interviews with CEOs and business leaders, and then examine the lessons we can take from those lessons.

Note: This episode is taken from a recorded webinar. You can watch the full webinar here: https://www.assembleyou.com/post/next-level-leadership-with-adam-and-ruth

Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthfarenga/ and purchase her book Next Level Leadership here: https://www.consciousleaders.org.uk/next-level-leadership-book

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn