The Strategic L&D Podcast

In this episode, we welcome Michelle Parry-Slater – L&D Director for Kairos Modern Learning and author of ‘The Learning and Development Handbook’. Michelle and Blake discuss building a productive learning culture, how to play into an engaged audience before intervention, and the power of trust and vulnerability in L&D to deliver business impact. You can learn more about Kairos Modern Learning here: https://www.kairosmodernlearning.co.uk/ You can also check out Michelle’s book here: https://thelndhandbook.com/ -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function. It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases.

Today we welcome Kevin M Yates, the L&D Detective who solves measurement mysteries. Kevin and Blake discuss overcoming the perception issue of L&D, transitioning L&D from being reactive to proactive, getting optimal impact by mixing human performance and business performance metrics, and how it’s the volume of content linked to your performance metrics that matter rather than the volume of content overall. You can connect with Kevin via his L&D Detective website: https://kevinmyates.com/ -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function. It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases.

In this episode we welcome Guy W Wallace, a Performance Analyst and Instructional Architect for Enterprise Learning & Instructional Development. Guy and Blake discuss aligning L&D and business strategy by putting a governance board in place with the CEO, creating advisory councils with specific people leaders to ensure alignment, and how to get the attention, acceptance and demand from business executives. You can connect with Guy via his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guywwallace/ -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function. It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases.

In this episode we welcome Rick Jacobs, Principal Consultant at Jacobs, et al – a full service performance consultancy and training organisation. Rick and Blake discuss why you should look outside your business to find what a high-performing L&D department looks like (don’t silo yourself), Rick’s eight point structure to optimally deliver training, and how a codified knowledge of the business lets you truly measure training as opposed to just independent will.   You can learn more about Rick’s company on his website: https://www.jacobsetal.com/ -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function.  It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases. Want more strategic L&D content? Check out Acorn Labs: https://acornlms.com/enterprise-learning-management

In this episode, we’re joined by Keith Meyerson – Director of Talent Management at POWDR. Keith and Blake discuss the need for stakeholder buy-in to deliver results in L&D, diagnosing L&D problems based on the symptoms stakeholders describe and how to use a needs analysis to move from being a transactional cost centre to a true business partner.    You can connect with Keith via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithmeyerson/ -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function. It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases. Want more strategic L&D content? Check out Acorn Labs: https://acornlms.com/enterprise-learning-management

This week we’re joined by Rita Slogrove, Learning and Organisational Development Manager at Fletcher Building.  Blake and Rita discuss defining how L&D deliver on business outcomes (both business improvement and people uplift), the power of piloting programs first, and how to give learners freedom within a framework. -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function. It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases. Want more strategic L&D content? Check out Acorn Labs: https://acornlms.com/enterprise-learning-management

This week’s guest in Marco Hönig, Global Capability Development Director at DSS+. Blake and Marco discuss how to evolve learning strategies during business change, why defining competencies and technical skills allows you to focus on impactful learning, and how defining capabilities and competencies brings benefits down the line, even if it all seems theoretical at first.    You can connect with Marco on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcohoenig/ -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function. It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases. Want more strategic L&D content? Check out Acorn Labs: https://acornlms.com/enterprise-learning-management

In this episode. Blake is joined by Josh Cardoz – an independent Digital Learning Strategist with over a decade’s experience helping organisations go digital the right way. Blake chats with Josh about why designing with a digital mindset enables you to scale your learning at speed, how you can empower stakeholders by thinking of learning data as a conversation with learners, and the important role digital learning plays in capability building.  Josh is also the creator and producer of Digital Learning Done Right – an audio series catered to supporting digital learning leaders and their organisational strategies: https://www.digitallearningdoneright.com/ -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function. It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business. Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases. Want more strategic L&D content? Check out Acorn Labs: https://acornlms.com/enterprise-learning-management

In this episode, Blake chats with Holly Cook, Founder and Director of North. North aims to develop courageous leaders, shape united teams, and secure impressive performance. Blake and Holly talk about what we need to do to fulfil our organisation purpose, the key to striking a balance between self-directed and guided learning, and how to prioritise, plan and persuade in an L&D budget session.    You can connect with Holly via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-cook-5a641993/ -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function.  It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business.   Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases. Want more strategic L&D content? Check out Acorn Labs: https://acornlms.com/enterprise-learning-management

We're joined by Dan Gallagher, an experienced L&D professional. Blake talks with Dan about how mindset is key to aligning performance and strategy within L&D, how accountability helps improve learning impact by up to 70%, and why being called a ‘performance team’ better shows what you do.    You can connect with Dan via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-gallagher-acipd/ -- The Strategic L&D Podcast ventures through what L&D key opinion leaders are doing today to ensure they are delivering a strategically impactful L&D function.   It covers everything from aligning learning strategy to business strategy, what learning strategies best remedy identified organisation under-performance, how to execute on leading practices in L&D strategy and how to ensure L&D is seen as a strategic partner to the business.   Subscribe to stay up to date with the latest podcast releases.    Want more strategic L&D content? Check out Acorn Labs: https://acornlms.com/enterprise-learning-management