How to Make a Leader

Want culture change? Build a learning philosophy first.


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Every great learning culture starts with one thing: a clear philosophy of how people grow. 


Dwayne Britton has spent his career shaping culture and capability at Apple, Lululemon, Adidas, Zalando, and On. Across each, he’s learned that lasting impact comes when learning is guided by philosophy, not just programming.


In this episode, Dwayne shares how L&D teams can redefine their role from content creators to cultural amplifiers, by building a learning philosophy that connects business strategy, brand identity, and human growth.


You’ll learn:

  • The difference between a learning culture and a learning philosophy
  • How a learning philosophy positions L&D as a strategic partner
  • The SPARK framework Dwayne used at On to connect learning to culture
  • How to align brand, business, and learning goals 
  • How to identify your organization’s learning beliefs

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Dwayne Britton

(02:19) Dwayne’s path from musical theater to L&D

(04:36) What defines a learning culture vs. philosophy

(06:47) Three realms every L&D program should serve

(10:03) The question that defines your learning philosophy

(12:20) The SPARK method for scaling learning

(15:06) How to get leadership buy-in for new L&D initiatives

(19:36) Advice for L&D teams to increase cultural impact


To learn more about Dwayne, check out his LinkedIn, his website, and his musical background

Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus


About Dwayne Britton:
Dwayne Britton brings 15+ years at the intersection of learning, culture and brand. He’s shaped programs at Apple, Adidas, Zalando and Lululemon, and led Global Learning & Development at On. Through his Berlin-based consultancy, DAY|WON, Dwayne provides fractional L&D leadership for startups, scale-ups and internal teams, with a focus on brand-led onboarding, culture building and collaboration. He partners with leaders to design clear, practical programs and workshops that align teams, clarify decisions and build momentum.Dwayne also serves as an L&D Strategic Advisor to Manageable, a UK startup helping managers build the confidence and habits to lead well.

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How to Make a LeaderBy Big Think+