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
The MAYA Principle: Innovation People Will Actually Say Yes To
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Why do some ideas land effortlessly while others get rejected, even when they promise progress?
In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning & Development, Julia and Valerie explore the MAYA Principle, a design concept coined by Raymond Loewy that holds surprising relevance for business development, learning strategy and organisational change.
MAYA stands for Most Advanced Yet Acceptable, the idea that people are most likely to embrace new ideas when they feel innovative but still familiar. Valerie shares how this plays out in real L&D scenarios, from programme redesigns to digital transformation. Julia brings a fresh lens through thoughtful questions, exploring how language, framing and psychology all shape whether change is adopted or resisted.
If you’re designing, pitching or repositioning anything in your work, this short episode will help you think more strategically about how to gain buy-in without compromising on innovation.
We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development' Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025
A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our listeners for your encouragement, shares and support. It means the world.
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