L&D Disrupt

HowNow

The world and the L&D space are changing faster than ever, but are you evolving with it? L&D Disrupt brings you tactical advice, proven tactics and honest experiences from people in the industry, helping you drive more impact every day. Every Monday join Nelson Sivalingam for the podcast that's powered by HowNow, to empower every L&D professional.

  1. 5d ago

    Product-Led HR: Building High-Performance Teams with Better Metrics & AI | L&D Disrupt | Episode 106

    In this episode of L&D Disrupt, host Pauline Taylor, VP of People at HowNow, sits down with Daniel Gualdino, Head of Head of People, Talent & Culture at Oatly, to explore why HR should start thinking more like a product team. Daniel explains what Product-Led HR really means: designing employee experiences around people's needs, using data to drive decisions, and measuring success through business outcomes, not vanity metrics. Together, they unpack how People teams can move beyond reactive policies and administrative work to become strategic business partners. Daniel shares why mapping the entire employee journey is key to identifying moments that matter, how to combine qualitative and quantitative data to tell a compelling business story, and why understanding how the business makes money is essential for earning a seat at the table. The conversation also explores where AI can create genuine value for HR, why critical thinking and context still matter, and what defines a truly high-performance culture. From psychological safety and continuous feedback to recognition and manager effectiveness, Daniel explains why great managers remain one of the biggest drivers of organisational success. Daniel's hot take? Put people before processes, and processes before tools. 00:00 Rethinking People Strategy01:27 Meet Daniel Gualdino02:18 From Psychology to HR04:12 What Product-Led HR Means06:42 People, Processes, Then Tools08:16 Metrics That Matter11:16 Mapping the Employee Journey14:41 AI Hype vs Fundamentals17:36 Discovery Through Data21:15 Getting Comfortable With Analytics25:40 The Future of Traditional HR26:13 Elevating the People Function26:43 How AI Changes HR's Value27:08 Building a Product Mindset28:55 Earning a Strategic Seat30:17 Defining High Performance31:35 Goals, Feedback & Psychological Safety35:04 Why Managers Matter Most39:31 AI Coaching for Managers42:42 Next Disruptions Ahead46:44 Unlearning & Closing Thoughts

  2. Jul 10

    Beyond the Career Ladder: Talent & High Performance at British Airways EuroFlyer| L&D Disrupt | Episode 105

    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 Holliday00:38 Squiggly HR Journey02:22 Post COVID Work Shift03:50 Rethinking L&D Programs05:33 Managing Generations06:48 Platforms Not Programs08:51 Reverse Mentoring AI11:50 BA Mentoring Culture14:32 Culture Champions Inclusion16:55 Career Shapes Explained17:19 Beyond Nine Box20:17 Owning Your Career21:37 Career Shapes In Action22:23 Career Shapes Coaching24:55 Quiz To Career Paths27:16 Growth Without Promotion32:02 High Performance Culture35:27 Making Goals Work39:09 Final Advice And Wrap

  3. Jul 3

    AI Beyond the Hype: What L&D Needs to Get Right About Performance, Skills and the Future of Work | L&D Disrupt | Episode 104

    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 Gaps01:32 Welcome and Introductions02:44 What's Wrong With L&D04:00 Link Learning to Performance06:17 Managers Enable Application08:02 AI Beyond the Hype10:13 AI Cheating and Trust13:55 Human First AI Second18:57 Common AI Mistakes23:04 Protect Entry Level Skills26:52 Skills Based Organisations30:11 Reorgs and Future Skills33:17 Future Role of L&D35:58 Stop Vanity Metrics37:42 Closing Thanks

  4. Jun 29

    From Barista to Boardroom: How Costa Coffee Built a Learning Culture That Drives Real Business Impact | L&D Disrupt | Episode 103

    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

    From Barista to Boardroom: How Costa Coffee Built a Learning Culture That Drives Real Business Impact | L&D Disrupt | Episode 103

  5. Jun 22

    How to Build Capability Frameworks, Prove L&D ROI, and Scale Mentorship | L&D Disrupt | Episode 102

    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

  6. Mar 9

    Unlocking Potential: The Power of L&D in Business Outcomes | L&D Disrupt | Episode 101

    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

    Unlocking Potential: The Power of L&D in Business Outcomes | L&D Disrupt | Episode 101

  7. Feb 12

    Inside L&D teams that get results | L&D Disrupt | Episode 100

    🎉 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

  8. Jan 23

    L&D Disrupt Live: What will actually matter in L&D in 2026? | L&D Disrupt | Episode 99

    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

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About

The world and the L&D space are changing faster than ever, but are you evolving with it? L&D Disrupt brings you tactical advice, proven tactics and honest experiences from people in the industry, helping you drive more impact every day. Every Monday join Nelson Sivalingam for the podcast that's powered by HowNow, to empower every L&D professional.

Information

  • Creator
    HowNow
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    167
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © HowNow
  • Show Website
    L&D Disrupt

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