Independent Professionals
TJ interviews: VP of AI, Joseph Leslie
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 and turn bold ideas into meaningful transformation at scale Training Journal: Tell us more about your background – you were based in the UK for some time and now in the US, right? Joseph Leslie: Indeed! I started in L&D…
How to turn conversations about stress into meaningful interventions in the workplace
Stress is everywhere, particularly in today’s working environment. And when someone finally speaks up, what a manager says next can change everything. Joseph Conway explains why giving managers the tools and confidence to handle tough conversations isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a business-critical skill that can protect employees’ wellbeing and performance Stress has been widely described as a modern-day epidemic – and the research is stacking up to prove just how true this is. According to Mental Health UK’s Burnout Report…
Why AI coaching for soft skills fails without the right data
AI coaching sounds clever. But most tools fall flat when it comes to soft skills. Why? As Petr Kanaev explains, it’s not just about algorithms, it’s about data. Without context, outcomes and expert input, the feedback fails. The good news? With the right foundation, AI can help your employees grow AI-powered coaching tools are gaining traction in workplace learning – especially as organisations seek scalable ways to develop soft skills in hybrid and remote settings. From conversational agents to automated feedback platforms,…
Designing for growth and outcomes: How the legal sector is rethinking the role of the office
The legal office is getting a glow-up. From hybrid work hacks to smarter spaces that impress clients and keep staff happy, Adrian Gleeson explores how law firms are rethinking their environments. This isn’t about adding beanbags and pool tables. It’s about designing spaces that drive performance, loyalty and long-term success Like many other sectors, law firms are facing pressure to perform on more fronts than ever – in attracting and retaining top talent, meeting hybrid working expectations, strengthening client relationships,…
Creating interactive learning experiences with AI
AI is revolutionising how we learn. From branching scenarios to digital avatars and virtual coaches, Marlon Fuentes explores how personalisation, interactivity and neuroscience are combining to create more effective training. The future of learning isn’t just digital, it’s intelligent, immersive and evolving as fast as the workplace. Are you ready? The future of work is being reshaped by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, necessitating continuous learning and adaptation. By 2030, while automation is projected to displace 92…
Forget AI efficiency — creativity is the real workplace edge
As AI transforms the workplace, the spotlight shifts to soft skills — creativity, empathy and adaptability — that machines can’t replicate. L&D professionals play a vital role in nurturing uniquely human traits, preparing employees to keep pace with change, and to thrive in it. The future of work is deeply, defiantly human. AI may be changing the game, shaking up the way we work and making everything more efficient, but here’s the thing: the more AI takes over the routine,…
Proving learning’s worth in volatile tech environments
Catherine Dock explores how L&D can demonstrate its value and measure impact in fast-moving, complex technology environments. From stakeholder engagement to meaningful metrics, she outlines practical strategies for aligning L&D with business outcomes—and why communities, clarity, and curiosity are key to making an impact that stakeholders notice and trust. One of the hardest things in Learning and Development is to justify the real impact of learning on organisations and strategies to stakeholders. We know how powerful showing the return on…
Spotting the risk from within: why training matters when tackling the insider threat
Employees can be your strongest defence… or your greatest vulnerability. As insider threats rise, cybersecurity issues grow and bottom lines are hit, L&D leaders have a crucial role in shifting culture and building resilience within. Rachael Tiffen explores how strategic training can turn awareness into action – before risks become headlines. In today’s fast-paced, digitally interconnected business landscape, fraudulent threats are no longer limited to external hackers or sophisticated criminal networks. Increasingly, danger lies within an organisation’s own walls. Insider…
Behind the scenes of planning a new learning event: Last update before the fun!
With just a couple of weeks to go, Kirsty Lewis shares the emotional highs, financial lows and last-minute wins as SOFest edges closer. From surprise sponsors to sparkly outfit dilemmas, here’s a raw and real behind-the-scenes glimpse at the planning, panicking and reality of building a learning festival from scratch When I started writing these blogs for TJ they were a retro of the month before, the activities, the highlights and lows of SOFest. As we are drawing closer to…
Unlocking frontline performance: The next evolution in enterprise learning
The hidden majority that is underserved by traditional L&D efforts are the frontline workers that power most industries. This partner article explores how compliance training, mobile learning, and early development can evolve from tick-box exercises into performance drivers that unlock skills, boost retention, and helping build smarter, more agile teams. Frontline workers, those who serve customers, operate machinery, move goods, and support communities, make up around 80% of the global workforce. Yet, they remain underrepresented in corporate learning strategies, which…
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