Category Interviews

From four walls to open fields: What SOFest taught us about connection and curiosity

School of Facilitation Festival 2025 - a tent with people standing around in sunshine.

TJ Editor Jo Cook takes us inside SOFest — the joyful, curious, and beautifully unorthodox learning festival in a field. With sessions ranging from AI coaching to human design, wild swimming to silent discos, this is professional development done differently…

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TJ interviews: VP of AI, Joseph Leslie 

Joseph Leslie - white man standing in a doorway, wearing a blue suit jacket.

Degreed’s Conor Gilligan discusses skills to enable AI-driven transformation with Joseph Leslie, Vice-President of AI at Golin. From upskilling 100,000 employees to embedding AI in global strategy, Joseph reveals how blending tech with business challenges can fuel creativity, close skill gaps…

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Why human connection matters in training videos

Man Video Conference At Logistics Warehouse

Do people really want AI avatars, or to understand why their compliance videos are important? Amy Cassciotti explains In this insightful interview, Amy Casciotti, Vice President of HR at TechSmith, shares her expert perspective on creating engaging and effective training…

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TJ interviews: Thought Industries CEO, Robin Wadsworth 

Robin Wadsworth

This chat is about industry insights on learning platforms and AI in the e-learning space Training Journal: Thought Industries describes itself as an external enterprise learning platform for customer, partner, and professional training. The market for learning platforms is still…

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TJ interviews: L&D Trend Catcher, Ger Driesen 

Ger Driesen - white male with grey hair, wearing a suit, smiling.

A trend what? Trend watching is easy, it’s what you do that makes the difference and Ger Driesen explains to Jo just what is involves Training Journal: What is a trend catcher and what does it involve?  Ger Driesen: Trend-watching…

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TJ interviews: Cognitive neuroscientist and C-suite mentor Dr Lynda Shaw

Dr Lynda Shaw by photographer Pennie Withers - white woman with blond hair relaxing on a chair

How can leaders use neuroscience and psychology to improve business? Dr Lynda Shaw shares insights from her expertise in cognitive neuroscience and psychology and experiences as an adventurer in Antarctica trekker of mountains in six of seven continents Training Journal:…

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TJ interviews: CEO and sales transformation expert Matt Webb

Matt Webb headshot - white male wearing a suit, smiling at camera

Jo asks Matt Webb to reveal the modern secrets to improving your organisation’s sales technique Training Journal: A lot of people have a specific, negative, impression of someone who is trying to sell them something. You promote “sustainable selling”, what…

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TJ interviews: Head of HR Laura Maffucci

Laura Maffucci headshot - woman smiling with long dark hair.

Jo gets the lowdown from Laura Maffucci on AI’s game-changing impact on talent management strategies Training Journal: You are Head of HR at G-P. What does your role entail and what strategic tips can you share for L&D professionals? Laura:…

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TJ interviews: Authors Tracey Camilleri, Samantha Rockey and Robin Dunbar

Authors Camilleri, Rockey and Dunbar who wrote The Social Brain. Two females and a male standing in a library, smartly dressed, black and white photo.

Jo speaks with authors of The Social Brain about group dynamics, human connection and thriving together Training Journal to all: Why come together to write a book about the social brain, and what does that mean? All: We come from different disciplines…

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TJ interviews: L&D strategist, author and speaker Paul Matthews

Paul Matthews, white male in a suit

Today is the 25th anniversary of People Alchemy: Jo interviews founder and CEO Paul Matthews Training Journal: What was different in L&D 25 years ago? Paul Matthews: 25 years ago, the range of things that L&D got involved with was…

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