Creativity and innovation
The five habits of world-class learners
Most people mistake activity for learning, yet those who do it well, treat it as daily discipline. Charlie Curson shares five habits that accelerate growth: curiosity, embracing productive discomfort, reflecting before reacting, learning from diverse voices, and acting fast to turn experimentation into insight and sharper strategic judgement over time. Most of us stopped learning the moment we left school – or so we think. We attend courses, read the odd book and sit through training sessions. But real learning,…
Is your organisation truly data-driven – or just investing in tech?
Drawing on award-winning examples from healthcare, justice, media and policing, Jake O’Gorman argues that data-driven transformation depends on people, not platforms. He writes about why leaders must prioritise data quality, skills and ethical governance and shares stories that start with real problems, build confidence to turn evidence into everyday decisions. Despite billions invested in digital transformation, far too many organisations confuse technology spend with evidence-based leadership. In my roles at Corndel, from leading on Data and AI Strategy to serving…
From vendor to value partner: Turning learning conversations into real impact
External training providers face cultural barriers, politics and self-doubt when pushing for real impact. This conversation uncovers how to secure supervisor buy in, differentiate your offer, harness digital nudges, and use AI as a practice partner so that learning translates into behaviour change and business value inside modern organisations today. This discussion explores how external training providers move from delivering isolated events to shaping real organisational impact. It tackles the fear of challenging clients, the politics around “admitting we missed…
TJ podcast: Beyond courses: How AI transforms L&D into a strategic business partnership – episode 328
In this episode, Josh Bersin, Erica Farmer and Laura Overton join Jo Cook to unpack how AI is shifting L&D from static courses to adaptive support. They explore dynamic content, practice with AI coaching, and why learning teams must redefine impact in terms of performance, relevance, and real business value. Key takeaways: Created by CleanVoice Podcast summary: Created by CleanVoice and edited by ChatGPT Jo Cook, Erica Farmer, and Josh Bersin explore how AI is reshaping learning and development from…
From slow lanes to sprints: how Agile transformed our L&D delivery
Doubling output without burning out, Nassia Katroutsou shares how Agile project management reshaped her L&D team’s approach to course creation. Through clear preparation, sprint cycles and regular SME feedback, they boosted speed and quality, proving that with the right mindset, even small teams can deliver big, sustainably and with impact. When I first took over a small team of instructional designers, our content delivery cycles were slow and unpredictable. The company’s products and processes were complex, the audiences incredibly diverse…
Finally, a conference for self-employed folk in L&D!
The inaugural Free Spirits LIVE! virtual event next month is designed for L&D independent L&D professionals who crave connection, clarity and practical support. With a lively online community, real-time sessions and a laser focus on freelance life, it promises something different – and genuinely useful – for those building a solo business. If you’ve ever been to a conference and thought, “well what about the freelancers?”, we’ve got you covered. Free Spirits LIVE! is the very first conference from Kim…
L&D teams as agility champions in the age of disruption
Tristan Boutros argues that agility is no longer a niche methodology, but a core skillset for everyone. With AI reshaping work at speed, L&D leaders must embed iterative practices, real-time feedback, and shared ownership into learning strategies, ensuring teams can adapt, grow, and succeed in an era of constant disruption. L&D and HR can no longer rely on static training programs or traditional upskilling models. With AI accelerating the pace of change and disrupting how we work and learn, L&D…
Breathe new life into learning with video
Learners crave stimulation and engagement, not repetition. Video can transform dry documents into engaging, memorable experiences, but only when used strategically. Matthew Pierce explains how L&D teams can pinpoint the right text content, craft effective videos, and boost learning retention while building on what already works in existing training programmes. An active brain is closely tied to better memory and sharper cognitive function, and that activity thrives on variety and stimulation. When the mind is fully engaged, learning sticks. But…
From fintech to founder: one woman’s mission to rewrite the rules
Danai Antoniou, co-founder and Chief Scientist at Gradient Labs, shares hard-won insights from her journey through systemic bias in tech. From salary transparency to challenging microaggressions, she outlines the practical changes leaders can make now to support the next generation, and ensure equity is built into every level of leadership. I’m a woman in a senior tech leadership role and faced my share of systemic bias. Now, as a founder, I’m making sure the next generation faces less of it.…
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…
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