The Learning & Development Podcast: The #1 L&D Show

In this episode, David James is joined by Larry Durham, President of St. Charles Consulting Group, and Jonathan Eighteen, Global Head of Consulting and Advisory Services at NIIT, to explore the findings of the 2026 Learning Transformation Benchmark. Together, they examine why L&D is entering a period of structural rebuild as the environment it was originally designed for ceases to exist.

Larry and Jonathan reflect on the growing gap between organizational ambition and actual system readiness, highlighting how AI intensifies the need for learning to operate as enterprise infrastructure. They discuss the shift toward "invisible L&D," the necessity of moving skills from static taxonomies to active tools for workforce planning, and how L&D must evolve from a delivery engine into a strategic architect of performance to have a real business impact in an AI-accelerated world.



KEY TAKEAWAYS

· Currently, the real gap is misaligned systems, governance, and funding.

· As AI takes over declarative and procedural work, L&D must shift from compliance and content to performance, judgement, and stakeholder capability.

· AI collapses design and development effort; the opportunity is to reinvest at the edges in performance consulting, measurement, and capability architecture. It gives us more impact.

· Owning the organisation’s capability operating system is L&D’s path to lasting relevance in an AI‑driven workplace.

BEST MOMENTS

“The ambition is really clear. It's just the execution, the systems, and the governance that are holding people back.”

“I think it (AI) inverts it, and it maybe even flattens the bell curve.”

“If we don't have a seat going forward, it's because we didn't either take it or we didn't show up.”



Read the 2026 Learning Transformation Benchmark report for yourself, here: https://www.niit.com/en/learning-outsourcing/news-details/niitmts-stcharles-announce-2026-global-learning-transformation-benchmark-survey-report/



Larry Durham Bio

Larry Durham has spent 30 years helping organizations strengthen talent development, partnering with global professional services firms and Fortune 500 companies to deliver measurable business outcomes. He has worked in more than 30 countries as a consultant, facilitator, and speaker. Larry is President of St. Charles Consulting Group and previously led PwC's Learning Practice within Human Capital Advisory Services.

His recent work includes developing AI strategies for learning organizations, redesigning learning operating models, and aligning learning with business, diversity, and performance goals. Larry hosts The HIVE podcast, co-authored The Talent-Fueled Enterprise, and is currently co-authoring The Judgment Void: How AI is Dismantling the One Human Capability It Cannot Replace.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrydurham



Jonathan Eighteen Bio

Jonathan Eighteen is a transformation expert who helps leading organizations evolve learning, leadership, and talent strategies to improve performance. He has worked across complex public and private sector organizations in the UK, US, and globally, with deep expertise in learning operating models and organizational transformation.

He has led large-scale learning function transformations, including strategy, governance, restructuring, technology modernization, and managed services transitions. Jonathan also helped lead Deloitte's research on skills-based organizations and later commissioned NIIT research on skills. He has since advised multiple organizations on designing and implementing skills-based talent strategies.



https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-eighteen-5293396/



VALUABLE RESOURCES

· https://twitter.com/davidinlearning

· https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin

· https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective

· L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home



This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Tracie Cantu to discuss her book Running L&D Like a Business. Tracie shares the L&D leadership experience that shaped her perspective and what compelled her to write the book.

They explore what it truly means to run L&D like a business and why this mindset is so often missing, before diving into the Learning Operations Business Model and its four core components, and the three buckets of the Learning Operations Blueprint. Tracie unpacks the important distinction between the "customer" and the "consumer" of learning, explains what good governance looks like without it becoming bureaucracy, and makes the case for prioritising people and process before technology.

Tracie also shares her advocacy for a go-to-market strategy for internal learning initiatives and closes with practical advice for listeners on where and how to begin applying these frameworks in their own organisations.

Take your L&D to the next level

Take advantage of thousands of hours of analysis. Hundreds of conversations with industry innovators and 25+ years of hands-on global L&D leadership.

It's all distilled into one framework to help you level up L&D. Access the L&D Maturity Model here - https://360learning.com/maturity-model

KEY TAKEAWAYS

L&D’s challenge isn’t talent or effort, it´s a weak operating model - regardless of the industry. Treating L&D as a business function is what fixes this problem.

Every initiative must tie clearly to helping the organisation make money, save money or reduce risk, while still delivering a fit‑for‑purpose learner experience.

High‑impact programmes are launched, not just built apply go‑to‑market thinking, marketing assets and find champions to demonstrate the benefits so that your great work doesn’t become shelfware.

BEST MOMENTS

"Our job is to help them make money, save money, and reduce risk - if we´re not, then it´s not aligned to the business goals."

"Build it and they will come. That is bulls**t. They will not come....because we are not marketing it."

"We should be anchoring every training we have to that high customer value."

Tracie Cantu Bio

Tracie Cantu, MHRM, CPTD is a recognised expert in learning operations and technology with more than two decades of experience leading and transforming enterprise L&D functions. Her career spans aviation, government, retail, and tech, including senior roles such as Director of Learning Technology at Whole Foods Market (Amazon), Head of Learning Ecosystems at Meta, and L&D leadership at Atlassian. Today she serves as CEO and Chief Learning Strategist at Your CLO, where she partners with CHROs, COOs, and senior L&D leaders to modernise learning operations, optimise technology ecosystems, and implement scalable processes that drive measurable business impact. A sought-after international speaker, Tracie regularly presents at major industry events including ATD and Learning Technologies UK. She is the author of Running L&D Like a Business

https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciemcantu/

https://www.yourclo.net/

Running L&D Like a Business Book - https://www.yourclo.net/running-l-d-like-a-business

VALUABLE RESOURCES

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

ABOUT THE HOST

David James

David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa.

As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D.

CONTACT METHOD

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin

L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective

Blog: https://360learning.com/blog

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by JD Dillon to celebrate the launch of his new book, The Frontline Enablement Playbook. They explore why the traditional L&D toolkit often fails the deskless workforce and how JD’s experience at Disney helped shape a more grounded, practical philosophy for supporting those whose "office" is a shop floor, a hospital wing, or a delivery vehicle.

JD reflects on the shift from digital accessibility to true operational enablement, arguing that L&D must stop asking how to get workers onto a desktop and start asking how to deliver value in the flow of demanding, high-pressure work. They delve into the impact of AI on frontline development, the necessity of data-driven strategies, and how to empower overstretched frontline managers to support their teams. JD provides a roadmap for evolving L&D from a corporate function into a vital support system that recognises skills, respects time, and drives genuine organisational performance.

Take your L&D to the next level

Take advantage of thousands of hours of analysis. Hundreds of conversations with industry innovators and 25+ years of hands-on global L&D leadership.

It's all distilled into one framework to help you level up L&D. Access the L&D Maturity Model here - https://360learning.com/maturity-model

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Frontline enablement means shifting L&D’s focus from learning outputs to helping people do their jobs in time‑starved, heavily measured operations.  


Build genuine community - start by helping overwhelmed managers succeed.  


Technology and AI only add value when they’re grounded in real workflows, hardware constraints, and operational data.  


Leverage the rich data around frontline roles.

BEST MOMENTS

“I'm not here to help people learn, I'm here to help people do - to help the organisation achieve by the everyday performance of the people who are doing the heavy lifting.”

“The strongest frontline teams work in service of one another, in service of a shared success, in service of a pride in doing the job well and doing the job well together.”

JD Dillon Bio

JD Dillon began his career on the frontline, leading teams in theme parks, movie theatres, and contact centres. These roles shaped his understanding of how people learn, perform, and succeed in fast-paced environments.

Over the past 25 years, JD has become a leading voice in frontline enablement, holding operations, marketing, and talent development roles with global organisations including Disney, AMC, and Kaplan. He has helped shape strategy, technology, and services that empower millions of frontline workers across industries such as retail, food service, hospitality, logistics, and financial services.

A respected author, content creator, and keynote speaker, JD advises organisations on frontline performance strategy, ecosystem design, and AI-enabled solutions. His latest book, The Frontline Enablement Playbook – Equip Your Deskless Workforce to Power Organizational Performance, is a blueprint for rethinking how organisations engage and empower deskless workers.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jddillon/

Frontline Enablement Playbook - Equip Your Deskless Workforce to Power Organiaztional Performance,

https://jddillon.com/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

ABOUT THE HOST

David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 

As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 

CONTACT


https://twitter.com/davidinlearning


https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin


https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Egle Vinauskaite to discuss the launch of her highly anticipated follow-up to the ‘Race for Impact’ report. They explore the core objectives behind this new research and the methodology Egle used to capture the reality of today's learning landscape.

Egle reflects on the "Transformation Triangle" - a core concept of the report - unpacking its components and arguing for a definitive move away from traditional, legacy training models. They delve into the practicalities of how L&D leaders can navigate these strategic paths, the organizational blockers or "drags" that routinely stall progress, and what it truly means when Egle writes that "influence is not a consolation prize." Egle provides a roadmap for teams facing leadership pushback, offering actionable advice on how to break out of a strictly content-focused lane and elevate L&D into a high-impact, influential business driver.

Take your L&D to the next level

Take advantage of thousands of hours of analysis. Hundreds of conversations with industry innovators and 25+ years of hands-on global L&D leadership.

It's all distilled into one framework to help you level up L&D. Access the L&D Maturity Model here - https://360learning.com/maturity-model

KEY TAKEAWAYS


AI is rapidly taking over traditional L&D tasks, so L&D must redefine their role rather than just produce content faster.


For L&D, the future lies in 3 areas: becoming a skills authority, an enablement partner and/or tackling performance as a systems problem.


L&D’s ability to change is shaped by the organisation around it. Reporting lines, what leaders expect from “the training team,” and the skills the L&D team has will all determine how far beyond content L&D can really move.


Building credibility by being involved early when business problems are defined, enables L&D to influence decisions and outcomes more powerfully.

BEST MOMENTS

“The transformation triangle is a strategic framework for L&D leaders…it maps the territory beyond content focused L&D.”

“Understand the boundaries that you're operating within. Not that you cannot massage those boundaries over time.”

Egle Vinauskaite Bio

Egle Vinauskaite brings extensive expertise in learning, behaviour, and technology, working with both global enterprises and emerging edtech innovators. Her background spans AI, XR, mobile learning, digital platforms, and blended learning design, giving her a unique perspective on how technology is reshaping organisational learning and the future of work. As both an advisor and researcher, she helps L&D teams integrate AI into their operations and prepare workforces with the skills needed for effective adoption. Blending rigorous research with hands-on application, Egle has a sharp view of how AI is redefining the role of L&D and creating new possibilities for learning in the workplace.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinauskaite/

http://nodes.works/

The Transformation Triangle report: https://www.nodes.works/transformation-triangle

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

ABOUT THE HOST

David James 

David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 

As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 

CONTACT METHOD 


 https://twitter.com/davidinlearning


https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin


https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective


https://360learning.com/blog


L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Kevin Black joins David to explore why leadership so often feels chaotic and why most leadership development fails to prepare leaders for that reality.

Together, they examine the gap between how leadership is taught and how it’s experienced, unpacking how leaders respond to pressure, uncertainty, and loss of control and why those responses can either escalate or stabilise chaos. Kevin shares insights from his research into leadership under pressure, introducing a more grounded way of understanding what effective leadership looks like when conditions are volatile and ambiguous.

The conversation also focuses on the role of Learning & Development. Kevin explains where traditional leadership programmes fall short, what L&D can do differently to prepare leaders for real-world complexity and how embracing chaos as a design constraint - not a flaw - can lead to more credible and impactful leadership development. If you’re responsible for developing leaders and questioning whether current approaches are enough, this episode is for you.

Take your L&D to the next level

Take advantage of thousands of hours of analysis. Hundreds of conversations with industry innovators and 25+ years of hands-on global L&D leadership.

It's all distilled into one framework to help you level up L&D. Access the L&D Maturity Model here - https://360learning.com/maturity-model

KEY TAKEAWAYS


If L&D keeps treating leadership as generic empathy and communication training, it leaves leaders under-skilled in critical thinking, planning, strategy execution, and behavioural adaptability – unprepared for the chaos they face.


Reconnect leadership to context, critical thinking, planning and behavioural adaptability, so leaders can recognise the patterns of chaos and work with it rather than be overwhelmed by it.

BEST MOMENTS

“Chaos is experienced at the individual level, but it's measured at the team level.”

“If leadership education is all people-oriented, and you're not learning how to critically think, plan, link your communication, then you are inviting people to go into behavioural overdrive.”

“You should have a direct line to the C suite... Don't be the handmaid of HR and just doing services.”

Kevin Black Bio

Kevin Black is globally recognised as a leadership strategist and researcher, specialising in how leaders perform under pressure and uncertainty. Drawing on six years of frontline experience in the U.S. Army, he helps organisations develop leaders who make better decisions, build resilient teams, and deliver results when traditional leadership models fall short. Kevin is also the author of Strength in Chaos (2025), which equips leaders with a practical framework for navigating complexity and driving performance in high-stakes environments.

You can follow and connect with Kevin via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Book: https://kevinblack.co/strength-in-chaos/

Website: https://kevinblack.co/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

ABOUT THE HOST

David James 

David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 

As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 

CONTACT METHOD 


Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin


L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective


Blog: https://360learning.com/blog


L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/