The Secrets of Learning & Development
Our podcast is designed for business leaders, managers, consultants, industry experts, and individuals who are passionate about driving change and promoting growth in their organisations or personal development.
Each episode will delve into crucial topics such as mindset recalibration, visibility, and strategic planning. We will have insightful conversations about change management and innovative initiatives that can transform your approach to learning and development.
Our aim is to equip you with valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance your leadership skills, business acumen, and personal growth. We are focusing on our leaders and professional guests' unique journeys and the key moments that have shaped their careers. We are passionate about sharing stories that inspire, educate, and ignite a spark within our listeners
Join us on this journey as we unlock the secrets to success in the dynamic world of learning and development.
Stay tuned and get ready to be inspired!
Host Information:
Julia Bend
Executive Career Coach
https://www.premier-coaching.co.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bend-premier-coaching
Valerie Merrill
Learning & Development Trainer & Advisor
https://www.merrillconsultants.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrillvalerie/
The Secrets of Learning & Development
Redefining Learning: Donald Taylor on Networks, Technology, and the Future of L&D
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you!
S2:E4
In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Julia and Valerie welcome Donald Taylor, Chair of the Learning Technologies Conference and a pioneering thought leader in the L&D field. With a career spanning decades, Donald reflects on how his early decisions and experiences shaped his approach to integrating technology with learning and building meaningful professional networks.
Donald delves into the evolving role of L&D professionals, highlighting the shift from traditional course delivery to a broader focus on performance, knowledge sharing, and leveraging AI to transform the workplace. He shares powerful lessons on staying adaptable, the importance of giving value to professional networks, and how to tackle the overwhelm brought by rapid technological advancements.
Through captivating stories, including a pivotal decision to remain in the L&D field during the dot-com boom, Donald underscores the value of experimentation, strategic thinking, and the need for L&D professionals to redefine their impact in a technology-driven world. Whether you're an L&D professional, a leader, or someone keen to understand the future of learning, Donald’s insights are sure to inspire and inform.
Key Takeaways
The Power of Strategic Networking:
Donald highlights the importance of building and maintaining deep professional networks, emphasising that relationships require reciprocity and value creation. He shares how a pivotal moment during the dot-com boom led him to recognise the irreplaceable capital of strong, trusted connections, which ultimately shaped the trajectory of his career.
Evolving the Role of L&D Professionals:
Donald discusses the shift from traditional content delivery to a broader focus on enabling performance and leveraging technology. He stresses the need for L&D professionals to adapt by embracing AI, data-driven insights, and new approaches to learning that go beyond creating content, positioning them as strategic partners in organisational growth.
Guest Information:
https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/
Podcast nominations 2025
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