The Learning & Development Podcast: The #1 L&D Show

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Danny Barrow, Lead Learning Program Manager at Ridgeline - an innovative Investment Management company - to explore how AI has reshaped what Danny believes his function is capable of delivering, and the practical, sometimes messy, process of turning that belief into something tangible. From solving live business needs to a project built for interns.

Danny shares how he's laying the groundwork for taking AI to the next level, including the knowledge repository he's building and where his early experiments with AI agents are taking him. Along the way, David and Danny get into what this shift is doing to Danny's own sense of his role, and what it might mean for where the L&D profession is headed next.

For anyone wanting to experiment more with AI in their own L&D practice but unsure where to begin, this episode offers a grounded, honest look at what it actually takes.

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

BEST MOMENTS

“I’m passionate about using AI to add business value and boost efficiency in learning and development without sacrificing the quality.”  

“Where AI has come into the picture is it is making us move faster, not differently.”  

“We shouldn’t be order-takers. We should be consultants to guide the business and coach them towards best practices.”  

"Start small....  it doesn't even have to be learning and development related.”

Danny Barrow Bio

Danny Barrow is Lead Learning Program Manager at Ridgeline, an investment management technology company, where he designs and implements learning and enablement solutions to help the business scale. His recent work has included re-imagining the onboarding curriculum for Ridgeline's Customer Experience department and leading the implementation of 360Learning's LMS, transitioning the company's training operations from manual processes onto the platform. Before Ridgeline, he worked at InvestCloud as a technical trainer. He is based in Los Angeles and studied at Pitzer College.https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-barrow-4b199163/

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 

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

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David is joined by Erica Farmer to discuss her new book ‘AI for People Professionals: Understand How to Use Artificial Intelligence in Your HR Role.’

Erica shares the experiences that convinced her the book was needed now and the patterns she noticed in how HR professionals perceive and use AI. They explore what it means for HR to "get out of living in Hard Mode," before diving into the AI dividend and what it could offer L&D and the wider workforce. Erica unpacks the practicalities of prompting, makes the case for sustainable AI adoption, and discusses the role of HR and L&D in driving AI adoption and advocacy. She also addresses concerns around AI-supported wellbeing, sets out L&D's role as a curator of skills, and explores the opportunity in AI-augmented coaching.

Erica also touches on the impact of AI on talent management and paints a picture of how agentic AI is shifting people development from generative to autonomous, closing with her vision for learning-led HR.

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

BEST MOMENTS

“AI can be an Iron Man suit that can help you to achieve an enormous amount more than before. But if you're going to stay in your lane … then AI is your meteor.  .”

“Using AI as a thinking partner will help you challenge yourself and develop and start to think in a way that traditionally you might not of and therefore come up with more innovative ideas.”

“If you're somebody who will say naturally, I'm not techy, then become techy.”

Erica Farmer Bio

Erica Farmer has over 25 years of learning and development and apprenticeships experience with some of the UK's best known brands such as LV=, British Gas, Specsavers and Virgin. Her area of specialism is AI and future skills. Erica speaks about this in her TEDx talk, 'Reforming Education through the Digital First Mindset', and in her courses as a LinkedIn Learning Instructor.

Erica is passionate about driving human collaborations with tech. Examples are the 'AI for the Average Joe' podcast show, making the complex, simple, alongside her innovative keynotes and workshops focusing on AI for everyone, AI in leadership and practical uses AI in wellbeing. An advisory member of the AI in Work & Skills Forum, Erica is a seasoned presenter who was shortlisted as Best AI Speaker in the 2025 Speaker Awards. She is also an AI Strategist for a leading European learning and teaching assessment organization.

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

https://ericafarmer.ai/

AI for People Professionals book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/People-Professionals-Understand-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/139862599X/

ABOUT THE HOST

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, he is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 

CONTACT

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 Rob Peacock, Director of Leadership & Learning at Merlin Entertainments, to discuss the transformation journey of the global learning function. They look at the disconnect between legacy training methods and the "hands-on" reality of managing a commercial P&L, while tackling the question of how to select and deliver "power skills" that genuinely serve a young, frontline workforce. They also explore how senior leaders are being embedded as active role models across the organization, the friction encountered when transitioning from local teams to global academies and the specific metrics needed to remain accountable and valued in 2026.

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

BEST MOMENTS

“The goal is great leaders, not great leadership development.”  

“If you identify the right levers, you can make a very very substantive difference.”

“Data informs people. Stories move people.”  

“Leadership is the cornerstone of any successful organisation. It´s a cornerstone of any transformation.”  

“You have to stay laser focused on the things that make the single biggest difference.”  

Rob Peacock Bio

Rob Peacock is a senior learning and development leader with over 15 years of experience building capability across global organisations. He currently serves as Global Director of Leadership and Learning at Merlin Entertainments, having joined in 2024.

Before Merlin, Rob held senior L&D and talent roles at The Very Group, Samsung Electronics, and Virgin Media, where he led the company's L&D Academy. His career began at Tesco, where he spent nearly a decade across recruitment, HR business partnering, and learning roles spanning 22 countries.

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

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 

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

Step inside the courtroom of Learning & Development, where long-held beliefs are called to the stand and only evidence, experience, and impact will determine the verdict.

This high-energy, live episode brings together three of L&D’s most respected voices to challenge the myths holding our profession back. David James will play the role of courtroom judge, inviting the audience to be the jury - and witnesses - in a fast-paced, interactive trial of truth versus tradition.

Each expert panellist takes on a widely accepted L&D myth - presenting their “case,” examining the evidence and defending the reality based on years of frontline experience:

Audience members become the jury - voting “Guilty” or “Not Guilty” after each myth and ultimately deciding which challenged belief brought the biggest insight.

This unmissable episode blends drama, debate and practical truth - leaving the audience with grounded strategies to modernise their L&D approach, reject outdated assumptions and focus on what truly drives performance and impact.

Take your L&D to the next level

Take advantage of 1000s of hours of analysis and conversations with industry innovators and 25+ years of hands-on L&D leadership - here - https://360learning.com/maturity-model

KEY TAKEAWAYS

BEST MOMENTS

“It might look slick, but in reality, it won´t do the job.”

“Training the business to think differently about how they approach us with requests ... happens one person at a time.”

“We need to remove the myth that training alone can fix it, ghat L&D has magic dust, magic wands and secret formulas.”

Becky Willis

Becky Willis is founder and chief learning officer at Tractus Learning, helping customers build successful digital learning strategies. She also founded WillLearn Consulting. Previously, she was VP of Engagement at EdCast and led learning innovation at Hewlett Packard.

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

https://tractuslearning.com/

Jess Almlie

Jess Almlie is an L&D leader, consultant, speaker, and author of L&D Order Taker No More. With 20+ years of experience, she has led enterprise learning strategies across healthcare, education, and financial services. Most recently, she was VP of Learning Experience at WEX.

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

L&D Must Change Podcast: https://www.jessalmlie.com/podcast

L&D Order Taker No More: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Order-Taker-No-More-Strategic-ebook/dp/B0F83XBBCV

Kevin M. Yates

Kevin M. Yates, the L&D Detective®, is a global expert in measuring learning’s impact on workplace performance. With 25+ years of experience at organisations including McDonald’s, Meta, and Grant Thornton, he helps L&D teams use data to demonstrate business impact. He also founded the nonprofit Meals in the Meantime.

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

https://kevinmyates.com/detective-kit

https://kevinmyates.com/

RESOURCES

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

THE HOST

David  James 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.

https://twitter.com/davidinlearning

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

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

In this episode, David James is joined by Larry Durham, President of St. Charles Consulting Group, and Jonathan Eighteen, Global Head of Consulting and Advisory Services at NIIT, to explore the findings of the 2026 Learning Transformation Benchmark. Together, they examine why L&D is entering a period of structural rebuild as the environment it was originally designed for ceases to exist.

Larry and Jonathan reflect on the growing gap between organizational ambition and actual system readiness, highlighting how AI intensifies the need for learning to operate as enterprise infrastructure. They discuss the shift toward "invisible L&D," the necessity of moving skills from static taxonomies to active tools for workforce planning, and how L&D must evolve from a delivery engine into a strategic architect of performance to have a real business impact in an AI-accelerated world.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

·      Currently, the real gap is misaligned systems, governance, and funding.

·      As AI takes over declarative and procedural work, L&D must shift from compliance and content to performance, judgement, and stakeholder capability.

·      AI collapses design and development effort; the opportunity is to reinvest at the edges in performance consulting, measurement, and capability architecture. It gives us more impact.

·      Owning the organisation’s capability operating system is L&D’s path to lasting relevance in an AI‑driven workplace.

BEST MOMENTS

“The ambition is really clear. It's just the execution, the systems, and the governance that are holding people back.”

“I think it (AI) inverts it, and it maybe even flattens the bell curve.”

“If we don't have a seat going forward, it's because we didn't either take it or we didn't show up.”

Read the 2026 Learning Transformation Benchmark report for yourself, here: https://www.niit.com/en/learning-outsourcing/news-details/niitmts-stcharles-announce-2026-global-learning-transformation-benchmark-survey-report/

Larry Durham Bio 

Larry Durham has spent 30 years helping organizations strengthen talent development, partnering with global professional services firms and Fortune 500 companies to deliver measurable business outcomes. He has worked in more than 30 countries as a consultant, facilitator, and speaker. Larry is President of St. Charles Consulting Group and previously led PwC's Learning Practice within Human Capital Advisory Services.

His recent work includes developing AI strategies for learning organizations, redesigning learning operating models, and aligning learning with business, diversity, and performance goals. Larry hosts The HIVE podcast, co-authored The Talent-Fueled Enterprise, and is currently co-authoring The Judgment Void: How AI is Dismantling the One Human Capability It Cannot Replace.

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

Jonathan Eighteen Bio  

Jonathan Eighteen is a transformation expert who helps leading organizations evolve learning, leadership, and talent strategies to improve performance. He has worked across complex public and private sector organizations in the UK, US, and globally, with deep expertise in learning operating models and organizational transformation.

He has led large-scale learning function transformations, including strategy, governance, restructuring, technology modernization, and managed services transitions. Jonathan also helped lead Deloitte's research on skills-based organizations and later commissioned NIIT research on skills. He has since advised multiple organizations on designing and implementing skills-based talent strategies.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-eighteen-5293396/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

·      https://twitter.com/davidinlearning

·      https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin

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

·      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 Tracie Cantu to discuss her book Running L&D Like a Business. Tracie shares the L&D leadership experience that shaped her perspective and what compelled her to write the book.

They explore what it truly means to run L&D like a business and why this mindset is so often missing, before diving into the Learning Operations Business Model and its four core components, and the three buckets of the Learning Operations Blueprint. Tracie unpacks the important distinction between the "customer" and the "consumer" of learning, explains what good governance looks like without it becoming bureaucracy, and makes the case for prioritising people and process before technology.

Tracie also shares her advocacy for a go-to-market strategy for internal learning initiatives and closes with practical advice for listeners on where and how to begin applying these frameworks in their own organisations.

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

BEST MOMENTS

"Our job is to help them make money, save money, and reduce risk - if we´re not, then it´s not aligned to the business goals."  

"Build it and they will come. That is bulls**t. They will not come....because we are not marketing it."  

"We should be anchoring every training we have to that high customer value."

Tracie Cantu Bio

Tracie Cantu, MHRM, CPTD is a recognised expert in learning operations and technology with more than two decades of experience leading and transforming enterprise L&D functions. Her career spans aviation, government, retail, and tech, including senior roles such as Director of Learning Technology at Whole Foods Market (Amazon), Head of Learning Ecosystems at Meta, and L&D leadership at Atlassian. Today she serves as CEO and Chief Learning Strategist at Your CLO, where she partners with CHROs, COOs, and senior L&D leaders to modernise learning operations, optimise technology ecosystems, and implement scalable processes that drive measurable business impact. A sought-after international speaker, Tracie regularly presents at major industry events including ATD and Learning Technologies UK. She is the author of Running L&D Like a Business

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

https://www.yourclo.net/

Running L&D Like a Business Book - https://www.yourclo.net/running-l-d-like-a-business

VALUABLE RESOURCES

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 

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 JD Dillon to celebrate the launch of his new book, The Frontline Enablement Playbook. They explore why the traditional L&D toolkit often fails the deskless workforce and how JD’s experience at Disney helped shape a more grounded, practical philosophy for supporting those whose "office" is a shop floor, a hospital wing, or a delivery vehicle.

JD reflects on the shift from digital accessibility to true operational enablement, arguing that L&D must stop asking how to get workers onto a desktop and start asking how to deliver value in the flow of demanding, high-pressure work. They delve into the impact of AI on frontline development, the necessity of data-driven strategies, and how to empower overstretched frontline managers to support their teams. JD provides a roadmap for evolving L&D from a corporate function into a vital support system that recognises skills, respects time, and drives genuine organisational performance.

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

Frontline enablement means shifting L&D’s focus from learning outputs to helping people do their jobs in time‑starved, heavily measured operations.  

Build genuine community - start by helping overwhelmed managers succeed.  

Technology and AI only add value when they’re grounded in real workflows, hardware constraints, and operational data.  

Leverage the rich data around frontline roles.

BEST MOMENTS

“I'm not here to help people learn, I'm here to help people do - to help the organisation achieve by the everyday performance of the people who are doing the heavy lifting.”

“The strongest frontline teams work in service of one another, in service of a shared success, in service of a pride in doing the job well and doing the job well together.”

JD Dillon Bio

JD Dillon began his career on the frontline, leading teams in theme parks, movie theatres, and contact centres. These roles shaped his understanding of how people learn, perform, and succeed in fast-paced environments.

Over the past 25 years, JD has become a leading voice in frontline enablement, holding operations, marketing, and talent development roles with global organisations including Disney, AMC, and Kaplan. He has helped shape strategy, technology, and services that empower millions of frontline workers across industries such as retail, food service, hospitality, logistics, and financial services.

A respected author, content creator, and keynote speaker, JD advises organisations on frontline performance strategy, ecosystem design, and AI-enabled solutions. His latest book, The Frontline Enablement Playbook – Equip Your Deskless Workforce to Power Organizational Performance, is a blueprint for rethinking how organisations engage and empower deskless workers.

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

Frontline Enablement Playbook - Equip Your Deskless Workforce to Power Organiaztional Performance,

https://jddillon.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

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

ABOUT THE HOST

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

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 episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Egle Vinauskaite to discuss the launch of her highly anticipated follow-up to the ‘Race for Impact’ report. They explore the core objectives behind this new research and the methodology Egle used to capture the reality of today's learning landscape.

Egle reflects on the "Transformation Triangle" - a core concept of the report - unpacking its components and arguing for a definitive move away from traditional, legacy training models. They delve into the practicalities of how L&D leaders can navigate these strategic paths, the organizational blockers or "drags" that routinely stall progress, and what it truly means when Egle writes that "influence is not a consolation prize." Egle provides a roadmap for teams facing leadership pushback, offering actionable advice on how to break out of a strictly content-focused lane and elevate L&D into a high-impact, influential business driver.

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

AI is rapidly taking over traditional L&D tasks, so L&D must redefine their role rather than just produce content faster.

For L&D, the future lies in 3 areas: becoming a skills authority, an enablement partner and/or tackling performance as a systems problem.

L&D’s ability to change is shaped by the organisation around it. Reporting lines, what leaders expect from “the training team,” and the skills the L&D team has will all determine how far beyond content L&D can really move.

Building credibility by being involved early when business problems are defined, enables L&D to influence decisions and outcomes more powerfully.

BEST MOMENTS

“The transformation triangle is a strategic framework for L&D leaders…it maps the territory beyond content focused L&D.”

“Understand the boundaries that you're operating within. Not that you cannot massage those boundaries over time.”

Egle Vinauskaite Bio

Egle Vinauskaite brings extensive expertise in learning, behaviour, and technology, working with both global enterprises and emerging edtech innovators. Her background spans AI, XR, mobile learning, digital platforms, and blended learning design, giving her a unique perspective on how technology is reshaping organisational learning and the future of work. As both an advisor and researcher, she helps L&D teams integrate AI into their operations and prepare workforces with the skills needed for effective adoption. Blending rigorous research with hands-on application, Egle has a sharp view of how AI is redefining the role of L&D and creating new possibilities for learning in the workplace.

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

http://nodes.works/

The Transformation Triangle report: https://www.nodes.works/transformation-triangle

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/

In this episode, Kevin Black joins David to explore why leadership so often feels chaotic and why most leadership development fails to prepare leaders for that reality.

Together, they examine the gap between how leadership is taught and how it’s experienced, unpacking how leaders respond to pressure, uncertainty, and loss of control and why those responses can either escalate or stabilise chaos. Kevin shares insights from his research into leadership under pressure, introducing a more grounded way of understanding what effective leadership looks like when conditions are volatile and ambiguous.

The conversation also focuses on the role of Learning & Development. Kevin explains where traditional leadership programmes fall short, what L&D can do differently to prepare leaders for real-world complexity and how embracing chaos as a design constraint - not a flaw - can lead to more credible and impactful leadership development. If you’re responsible for developing leaders and questioning whether current approaches are enough, this episode is for you.

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

If L&D keeps treating leadership as generic empathy and communication training, it leaves leaders under-skilled in critical thinking, planning, strategy execution, and behavioural adaptability – unprepared for the chaos they face.

Reconnect leadership to context, critical thinking, planning and behavioural adaptability, so leaders can recognise the patterns of chaos and work with it rather than be overwhelmed by it.

BEST MOMENTS

“Chaos is experienced at the individual level, but it's measured at the team level.”

“If leadership education is all people-oriented, and you're not learning how to critically think, plan, link your communication, then you are inviting people to go into behavioural overdrive.”

“You should have a direct line to the C suite... Don't be the handmaid of HR and just doing services.”

Kevin Black Bio

Kevin Black is globally recognised as a leadership strategist and researcher, specialising in how leaders perform under pressure and uncertainty. Drawing on six years of frontline experience in the U.S. Army, he helps organisations develop leaders who make better decisions, build resilient teams, and deliver results when traditional leadership models fall short. Kevin is also the author of Strength in Chaos (2025), which equips leaders with a practical framework for navigating complexity and driving performance in high-stakes environments.

You can follow and connect with Kevin via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Book: https://kevinblack.co/strength-in-chaos/

Website: https://kevinblack.co/

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, Kevin Black joins David to explore why leadership so often feels chaotic and why most leadership development fails to prepare leaders for that reality.

Together, they examine the gap between how leadership is taught and how it’s experienced, unpacking how leaders respond to pressure, uncertainty, and loss of control and why those responses can either escalate or stabilise chaos. Kevin shares insights from his research into leadership under pressure, introducing a more grounded way of understanding what effective leadership looks like when conditions are volatile and ambiguous.

The conversation also focuses on the role of Learning & Development. Kevin explains where traditional leadership programmes fall short, what L&D can do differently to prepare leaders for real-world complexity and how embracing chaos as a design constraint - not a flaw - can lead to more credible and impactful leadership development. If you’re responsible for developing leaders and questioning whether current approaches are enough, this episode is for you.

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

If L&D keeps treating leadership as generic empathy and communication training, it leaves leaders under-skilled in critical thinking, planning, strategy execution, and behavioural adaptability – unprepared for the chaos they face.

Reconnect leadership to context, critical thinking, planning and behavioural adaptability, so leaders can recognise the patterns of chaos and work with it rather than be overwhelmed by it.

BEST MOMENTS

“Chaos is experienced at the individual level, but it's measured at the team level.”

“If leadership education is all people-oriented, and you're not learning how to critically think, plan, link your communication, then you are inviting people to go into behavioural overdrive.”

“You should have a direct line to the C suite... Don't be the handmaid of HR and just doing services.”

Kevin Black Bio

Kevin Black is globally recognised as a leadership strategist and researcher, specialising in how leaders perform under pressure and uncertainty. Drawing on six years of frontline experience in the U.S. Army, he helps organisations develop leaders who make better decisions, build resilient teams, and deliver results when traditional leadership models fall short. Kevin is also the author of Strength in Chaos (2025), which equips leaders with a practical framework for navigating complexity and driving performance in high-stakes environments.

You can follow and connect with Kevin via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Book: https://kevinblack.co/strength-in-chaos/

Website: https://kevinblack.co/

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/