AXIOM Insights Learning and Development Podcast

AI tools are already in your team's hands — the question is whether your organization is managing that well, or just hoping for the best. In this episode, we sit down with three practitioners who use AI daily in very different corners of L&D and workforce operations to talk about what's actually working, where the tools still fall short, and how to build the governance and critical-thinking skills your organization needs to use AI responsibly. We cover practical, hands-on use cases, from Copilot in Excel and Outlook, to agentic AI piloted on a real-world grant review workflow, along with lessons learned about data cleaning surprises, AI source citations that can't be trusted at face value, and in total, explore when and how it's appropriate to lean on AI and when it isn't. Joining host Scott Rutherford for this episode are Mateland Mays, who runs an instructional design and workforce development consultancy and has spent the past year deliberately integrating AI into her practice as a trusted working partner; Jamie Storella, a Microsoft Office Master Instructor and owner of Launch, a Boston-area computer training and consulting firm, who teaches Copilot to dozens of classes a year; and Bethany Warburton, a senior IT project manager at Brown University who has spent the past year piloting AI across the university's administrative operations.

In this episode of the AXIOM Insights Learning and Development Podcast, we speak with Dr. Tessa Forshaw of the Harvard Graduate School of Education about what learning and development can learn from cognitive science. The conversation explores why employee learning often falls short when it is treated primarily as content delivery, course completion, or a one-time event. Dr. Forshaw explains why learning should be understood as a neurobiological process, why learning transfer must be designed for before performance is measured, and how L&D teams can become stronger strategic advisors inside the business. The discussion also covers several practical challenges facing learning leaders today, including how to respond when executives ask for unrealistic training outcomes, how to evaluate frameworks and models with a more critical eye, and how to separate useful heuristics from unsupported neuromyths. The discussion includes thoughtful commentary on learning styles, personality assessments, metacognition, situated learning, productive struggle, and learning through the flow of work. This episode is especially relevant for L&D leaders, instructional designers, workforce learning professionals, HR leaders, and talent development teams who want to strengthen the connection between learning, behavior change, and business performance. Listen for practical insight on: How L&D can move from order-taking to strategic advisory Why learning transfer should be treated as a design responsibility How metacognition can help both learners and learning professionals Why some popular learning models should be used carefully How cognitive science can help L&D teams build credibility with business leaders

What happens after a learning ecosystem goes live? In the final episode of this three-part AXIOM Insights Podcast series, Scott Rutherford and Tom Decker discuss launch, adoption, stakeholder management, and the future of learning technology strategy. Tom shares lessons learned from managing enterprise rollout and user adoption, including how to keep leadership engaged, how to support decentralized learning teams, and why successful learner experiences should feel intuitive and familiar to employees. The conversation also explores the future relationship between L&D and technical teams, including the growing importance of “build and buy” strategies that combine internal engineering capabilities with external learning technology platforms. Topics include: • Enterprise learning rollout • Learning platform adoption • User adoption strategy • Learning ecosystem governance • Personalized learning experiences • Build versus buy learning technology • Learning and development innovation • Future of workplace learning and L&D technology

How do you actually build a learning ecosystem once the strategy is defined? In part two of this AXIOM Insights Podcast series, Scott Rutherford continues the conversation with Tom Decker, focusing on the practical and technical realities of building a modern learning experience. Tom explains how his team approached the learner experience, structured the platform architecture, and developed a modular ecosystem designed to evolve over time. The discussion explores how organizations can identify project team members, including ways to position learning technology initiatives as career growth opportunities for engineers and technical staff inside the business. The episode also dives into integrations, APIs, data standards, modular design, and the importance of building flexible infrastructure that can adapt as business needs change. Topics include: • Learning experience platform design • Modular learning ecosystems • L&D and engineering collaboration • Learning technology integrations • APIs and learning data standards • Enterprise learning architecture • Employee learning experience • Agile learning technology development

What does a modern learning ecosystem actually look like, and how do L&D leaders begin building one inside a real organization? In part one of this three-part AXIOM Insights Podcast series, Scott Rutherford speaks with Tom Decker about the strategy behind building an integrated learning ecosystem for employee training and workforce development. The conversation explores how organizations move beyond disconnected learning tools toward a unified learner experience that supports personalization, data visibility, and measurable business outcomes. Tom discusses how to define the objectives of a learning ecosystem initiative, how to identify the right mix of internal resources and external vendors, and how to build support among executives, stakeholders, and business leaders. The episode also examines the importance of prototypes, internal advocacy, and change management when introducing large-scale learning technology initiatives. Topics include: • Learning ecosystem strategy • Learning technology modernization • LXP and LMS strategy • Employee training platforms • Learning and development leadership • Stakeholder buy-in and change management • Enterprise learning strategy • Learning experience design

Generations of technical communicators, engineers, and technical trainers have passed along versions of the famous Encabulator spoofs. In this special episode of the podcast, we take a look at the history of this meme as it has evolved over more than eight decades since the first version was published in a British technical journal in 1944. For AXIOM's take on the spoof - our Strategic Learning Encabulator - visit our page at learningencabulator.com. For more links, visit the episode page for this episode at axiomlearningsolutions.com/podcast.

In many organizations, conversations about workplace culture and employee engagement are often framed as “soft” issues. But what if investing in people is actually one of the most direct paths to stronger business performance? In this episode of the AXIOM Insights Learning & Development Podcast, Scott Rutherford speaks with Dr. Angela Jackson, lecturer at Harvard University and research director at the Future Forward Institute, about the ideas behind her book The Win-Win Workplace. Drawing on more than a decade of research and analysis of over 1,200 organizations, Dr. Jackson explores how companies that intentionally listen to employees, invest in human skills, and build high-trust teams often outperform their peers. The conversation examines the concept of “worker voice” and why it has become a critical leadership capability in today’s workplace. Dr. Jackson explains how organizations that actively listen to employees—and act on what they hear—create stronger engagement, higher productivity, and measurable business results. She also discusses the growing role of trust as organizations navigate AI adoption, rapid technological change, and evolving expectations around leadership and work. For learning and development leaders, the discussion highlights practical ways to move beyond traditional training initiatives and take a more strategic role in the business. Dr. Jackson shares examples of how organizations are using data, small pilot programs, and targeted leadership development—particularly for middle managers—to strengthen performance and improve workplace outcomes. Key topics include: What research across 1,200 companies reveals about high-performing workplaces Why employee voice and trust are becoming strategic drivers of performance The role of human skills in an increasingly technology-driven workplace Practical ways L&D and HR leaders can use data and experimentation to influence business strategy If you are responsible for learning, talent development, or organizational performance, this conversation offers a research-grounded perspective on how people strategy and business results are more closely connected than many leaders realize. Links to learn more about Dr. Jackson's work can be found on the episode page, at  axiomlearningsolutions.com/podcast.

In this episode, we share findings and observations based on the Pulse of the L&D Practice research. Based on data gathered from learning and development professionals in the second half of 2025, this report explores the profession's view on the business and economic outlook affecting organizational learning in 2026. To download the complete report, visit the episode page for this podcast at https://axiomlearningsolutions.com/podcast

The Human Side of Platform Rollouts How to turn large-scale system rollouts into lasting performance improvement.   When an organization decides to implement a new enterprise system—an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tool, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, or a claims and billing solution—the technology itself is rarely the hardest part. The true challenge lies in adoption: getting people to understand, embrace, and use the system effectively in their day-to-day work. In this episode of the AXIOM Insights Learning & Development Podcast, we speak with David Kaiser, senior learning consultant and change leader, about how to make large-scale system rollouts succeed by focusing on people and process, not just technology. Drawing on experience from multiple Fortune 500 implementations, David explains how to connect the who and the why behind change to the what and how of project execution. The conversation explores the mechanics of building role-based training plans tied to system access, establishing feedback loops between trainers and system owners, and creating a champions network that sustains adoption long after the go-live date. David shares how well-designed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can measure impact through real-world metrics like error reduction and efficiency gains, and how clear governance, version control, and rapid response mechanisms keep projects agile and responsive. Most importantly, the discussion reframes leadership’s role during a rollout, from one of control and risk avoidance to one of empowerment and trust. By fostering psychological safety and aligning teams around shared purpose, organizations can turn stressful implementations into opportunities for growth, innovation, and engagement. Whether you work in Learning and Development (L&D), Information Technology (IT), or Operations, this episode offers a practical, human-centered playbook for system rollouts that deliver measurable results and lasting cultural change.

On this episode of the AXIOM Insights Learning and Development Podcast, host Scott Rutherford speaks with Jenessa Dowe Jacobs about what it takes to build an L&D function from scratch. Jenessa shares her framework of the “three Ps” (People, Process, Products) plus a crucial fourth—Politics—along with strategies for securing early wins and stakeholder alignment. She also explains how to turn grassroots learning into a sustainable system, apply Jim Collins’ Hedgehog Concept to culture, and position AI as a tool that frees L&D professionals to focus on people. This conversation is a practical guide for anyone looking to launch or refresh an L&D function that drives real business impact.