The Assembly

Эпизоды

• 
  The L&D Nobody Has to Show Up For with Emma Ackers 17.08.2026 32мин

  Most L&D is built for a captive audience: employees who have to attend whether the training is any good or not. Emma Ackers builds for the opposite, an audience that can walk away. Her learners are external insurance brokers, free to ignore her work entirely, and that one difference sharpens how she designs it.Adam Lacey sits down with Emma Ackers, Learning and Development Manager at Aviva and President of the Insurance Institute of Manchester. Emma is not a typical in-house L&D lead. She designs learning for Aviva's broker partners, the firms who sell insurance out in the market. It is offered to those brokers as a service, which means they only take it up if it genuinely helps them.With 21 years in insurance, starting out as a broker herself before moving into learning, Emma knows first-hand the day job her learners are trying to do.She explains why the first question is always the business problem the broker is facing and never the course itself, the ambassador model she uses to test an idea with a trusted group of brokers before rolling it out to everyone, and why she judges success by whether people apply the learning back at work more than by how many turned up.What you'll learn:Why building for an audience that can walk away makes learning sharper and more useful for everyoneHow starting from the business problem, rather than the training, builds the value in from the first conversationThe ambassador model: testing a new idea with a trusted group of customers before you roll it out to everyoneWhy the best insurance professionals need both technical knowledge and people skills, and how Emma develops bothHow volunteering, including leading the Insurance Institute of Manchester, builds skills your day job never will🔗 Connect with EmmaLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaackers/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe're always keen to hear what's resonating or what you're seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Stop Proving Value. Start Being Valuable with Tom McDowall 03.08.2026 43мин

  If the value conversation happens at the end of your projects, the only question left is how to justify what you have already built.Adam sits down with Tom McDowall, who through Evolve LD helps organisations upskill their L&D, training and HR teams in practical ways of working, to unpack a distinction that changes how a function operates: the difference between proving you were valuable after the fact and asking how you can be valuable before anything gets made.From managing a sales team, to delivering the same induction week after week for a year and a half, to leading digital teams and chairing the Learning Network, Tom brings a practitioner's lens to measurement, with a fully worked example and real numbers to go with it.He breaks down the metric chain that connects an intervention to a board-level objective, why line managers are already doing the observation L&D is not capturing, and where AI has finally become good enough to do the statistical work.What you'll learn: Why proving value after the fact is a conversation no other business function has to have, and what to ask instead How to build a metric chain from intervention to behaviour to KPI to organisational objective, and how certain you should expect to be at each link Why every learning asset needs a sunset date, and how zombie content survives in most catalogues How to get closer to your own business, from reading the annual report to what to say when you ask for an hour of the C-suite's time🔗 Connect with Tom LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcdowall/📮 The Assembly Debrief A short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with us We're always keen to hear what's resonating or what you're seeing in your world. Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble You Learning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & Data This podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  The Science of How We Actually Learn with Tessa Forshaw, PhD 27.07.2026 43мин

  If your learning programmes are built on instinct and inherited habits, the science of how the brain actually learns changes what good design looks like.Brigid McCormack sits down with Tessa Forshaw, a cognitive scientist who studies how we work, learn and create, to unpack what neuroscience reveals about how adults really learn, and the myths still shaping L&D.A cognitive scientist, award-winning designer, TEDx speaker and co-author of Innovation-ish, Tessa co-founded the Next Level Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and teaches at Harvard's Division of Continuing Education and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She spent more than a decade designing corporate L&D before going back to study how the brain learns, and now brings that science back to real teams.She breaks down why learning styles do not hold up, why nobody can multitask and how memory really works, then turns the science into practical design: learning that is deep, durable and practiced.What you'll learn:Why the learning styles myth falls apart under the science, and how to match the method to the content rather than the personWhy nobody can truly multitask, and the switching costs that break focus every time a learner dips into the side chatHow memory really works, and why retrieval practice beats leaving recall to chanceThe groove in the sand model for building deep and durable learning through effort and desirable difficultyWhy the strongest L&D leaders are moving from content provider to strategic advisor as AI automates the rest🔗 Connect with Tessa ForshawLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessaforshaw/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe're always keen to hear what's resonating or what you're seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Sell the Problem, Not the Programme with Lori Anne Powell 20.07.2026 36мин

  If your L&D team keeps landing the last seat at the table, the way in is to get close to the commercial reality of the business.Brigid McCormack sits down with Lori Anne Powell, leadership development consultant and co-founder of LVL London, to unpack how L&D earns influence the way any function does: with credibility, trust and results the business can see.Lori began her career at Harrods and went on to lead learning and development across Europe, the Middle East and Africa as Director of L&D at Tiffany & Co., supporting multi-territory teams at scale. She brings a commercial, human-centred lens to how learning drives performance in premium service environments.She breaks down how to build a commercial mindset in L&D, how to influence stakeholders when you do not hold budget or authority, and what luxury retail's high-stakes shop floor teaches every learning leader.What you'll learn:Why the most impactful learning creates a pull rather than a push, and how to build that appetiteHow to influence without authority by diagnosing before you prescribe, and making the stakeholder part of the solutionWhat it means to be the commercial thinking partner, and how to reverse engineer learning from sales, retention and developmentWhy the shop floor is where strategy meets reality, and how to close the friction between it and head officeThe skills for life that retail builds better than anywhere: presence, reading a room and recovering from rejection🔗 Connect with Lori Anne PowellLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-powell/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe're always keen to hear what's resonating or what you're seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Leadership Is Judgment in Action With Amy Smith 13.07.2026 34мин

  If your leaders keep asking for the perfect words before every difficult conversation, what they are missing is not a better script. It is confidence in their own judgment.Brigid McCormack sits down with Amy Smith, Inclusion Campaign Manager at Business in the Community, to unpack person-centred leadership: the idea that fairness does not necessarily mean sameness, that leaders shape people's experience of work and not just their performance, and that inclusion is a leadership challenge rather than a language one.With over seven years designing and delivering culture, engagement, belonging and workplace wellbeing initiatives across complex organisations, Amy brings a lens shaped by her own lived experience, being mixed race, neurodivergent and moving continents, to how leaders create dignity at work.She breaks down the psychological contract and why neglecting it surfaces later as lost trust, innovation and retention, the three-part toolkit she leans on in place of a script, and how DEI work is changing as leaders try to sustain connection and fairness in a more polarised environment.What you'll learn:Why fairness does not necessarily mean sameness, and what person-centred leadership looks like in practiceThe cost of promoting leaders on technical expertise alone, and why it only shows up later in trust, innovation and retentionHow leaders weaken the psychological contract without noticing, and why picking apart superficial details signals that uncertainty is unsafeThe three things in Amy's leadership toolkit in place of a script: accountability, change capability and capacity buildingWhy AI can hand you a script but not judgment, and how to interview, develop and measure for the skill that matters🔗 Connect with AmyLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-smith-yprofile/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe're always keen to hear what's resonating or what you're seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Why People Don't Use the Learning You Buy With Michelle Hazelton 29.06.2026 44мин

  You can buy great content, roll it out properly, and still watch most of your people never touch it. Michelle Hazelton explains why, and the reason is simpler than motivation.Adam sits down with Michelle Hazelton, former MD of Anders Pink (acquired by Go1) and now content lead at Access Learning, part of the Access Group, to unpack the shift reshaping learning technology: from learning as a place you go to, to support that finds you in the flow of work.With more than a decade at the sharp end of learning technology, from startups to a 1.2 billion pound software group, Michelle brings a rare both-sides-of-the-table view, having been acquired herself and now helping assess acquisitions.She breaks down why most L&D tech gets bought the wrong way round, what genuine learning in the flow of work actually looks like, and why even the smartest AI still needs a human in the loop.What you'll learn:Why you should choose a vendor on your biggest challenges, not their feature list, and the one roadmap question that reveals who is really aheadWhat "learning in the flow of work" finally looks like in practice, using Access's navigator screen as a live exampleWhy human in the loop stays non-negotiable when AI can confidently produce biased or wrong contentHow AI agents are taking manual curation off L&D's plate, shown through a real performance-management workflowThe career advice Michelle gives anyone entering L&D, starting with a history lesson🔗 Connect with MichelleLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellehazelton/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe're always keen to hear what's resonating or what you're seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Stop Starting from L&D With Anne-Marie Burbidge 23.06.2026 42мин

  If your L&D work feels invisible to business leadership, the problem might be where you're starting from.Brigid sits down with Anne-Marie Burbidge, founder of Spark L&D Consultancy and fractional Head of L&D, to unpack the mindset shift that changes everything: stop leading with what L&D can offer, and start from what the business actually needs. With 20+ years across HR and L&D in organisations of all shapes and sizes, Anne-Marie brings a sharp, practical lens to where L&D functions get stuck and how to move.She breaks down how to connect your work to the metrics that matter to leadership, why manager development remains one of the most under-supported moments in any organisation, and how to shift from reactive training deliverer to trusted business partner.What you'll learn:Why starting from L&D and pitching outward is the wrong direction and how to flip itHow to use business metrics and people data to identify where L&D will have real impactWhy the manager transition from individual contributor to people leader needs far more support than most organisations give itHow to build influence with the C-suite by speaking their language, not yoursThe mindset shift that unlocks everything else🔗 Connect with Anne-MarieLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-marieburbidge/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  The Messy Middle: Why Your Managers Are Flying Blind With John Gregg 16.06.2026 38мин

  Your senior leaders get coaching. Your early careers get apprenticeships. But the managers actually running your organisation day-to-day? They're on their own.John Gregg has spent over 20 years in L&D and OD across commercial, regulated and nonprofit sectors - most recently as Head of Learning and OD at Alzheimer's Research UK. With a small team and a tight budget, he built a management development programme that made it to the finals of the Learning Excellence Awards, competing with some of the biggest names in the industry.In this episode, John shares what it takes to develop the managers everyone else overlooks, prove L&D's impact when scrutiny is high and shift from a cost centre to a genuine performance function.What you'll learn:Why your mid-level managers are the engine room of your organisation and what a programme that actually develops them looks like in practiceHow to shift from a cost centre to a performance function and the language change that makes it stickWhy psychological safety isn't a course and how to build it incrementally across onboarding, appraisals, policies and everyday cultureThe "Big Four" stakeholder model and why misreading each group's agenda is where most L&D impact gets lostWhere AI is genuinely moving the needle in L&D right now and where the hype is running ahead of the realityFour pieces of advice for anyone starting out or levelling up in the profession🔗 Connect with JohnLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gregg-fcipd/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Why Your EDI and L&D Functions Are Fighting the Same Battle, Separately? With Shannon Rivers 09.06.2026 43мин

  You've run the awareness session. The feedback was strong. People were nodding. And then... nothing changed. If that sounds familiar, it's not because your programme was wrong. It's because awareness alone doesn't change behaviour. Conditions do.Brigid sits down with Shannon Rivers, organisational development strategist, consultant and Director of Social Enterprise, Social Responsibility and Change. With over 12 years of experience helping organisations move beyond tick-box exercises, Shannon applies a Black, queer, and womanist liberatory lens to embed anti-oppressive practices into how organisations operate. Starting her career in marketing, she quickly realised that if you want to change what shows up externally, you have to address the internal culture first.Shannon argues that EDI and L&D are working towards the same goal: behaviour change. Keeping them in separate silos limits the impact of both. She explores why many EDI initiatives stall, what actually drives culture change and how L&D leaders can secure buy-in from senior stakeholders without compromising their values.If you're trying to make learning stick or embed inclusion beyond a one-off programme, this episode will change how you think about both.What you'll learn:Why EDI is scaffolding, not a separate workstream and what happens when it's treated as oneThe real reason learning sessions generate great feedback but little behaviour changeWhat actually works: line managers, action learning sets, accountability and designing for how people engageHow to build the business case for EDI and L&D investment, including the often-overlooked social returnWhy organisations mirror the external world and what that means for learning culture designShannon's marketing-inspired internal communications framework: problem, position, proposalOne mindset shift for L&D and EDI professionals who feel they need to do more🔗 Connect with ShannonLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonbethanyrivers/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Building the L&D Team of the Future with Simon Gibson of Center Parcs 02.06.2026 41мин

  Adam sits down with Simon Gibson, the Talent Director at Center Parcs and former Group Head of L&D at M&S, to get brutally honest about what's holding L&D back and what high-performing teams do differently.With a career spanning banking, retail, nuclear decommissioning and hospitality, Simon has a rare cross-industry perspective: if you don't understand how your business makes money, you're probably doing nice things that don't matter.They cover how to diagnose the right problems, build a commercial business case, and tell stories that earn influence which includes a standout M&S example where fixing a policy search issue saved 5,000 managers 30 minutes a month and unlocked a multi-million pound productivity win. They also tackle the deskless workforce problem: most L&D solutions are built for people with desks and diaries, and frontline teams deserve better.If you want to sharpen your commercial edge and prove your worth - this one's for you.🔗Connect with SimonLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongibsonlearning/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. 👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The AssemblyLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn. 
• 
  If They Can't See It, They Can't Do It: Scaffolded Learning That Actually Sticks. With Stephanie Alayyoubi-Trattles 26.05.2026 35мин

  Most people don't fail because they're incapable. They fail because the support disappears too early.Brigid sits down with  Stephanie Alayyoubi-Trattles, founder of Kyoshi Consulting, to explore what it actually takes to build learning that drives measurable change.Stephanie has spent over a decade leading learning strategy and design across EdTech unicorn Multiverse, London Business School, and global organisations. She began her career in the classroom, and she makes a compelling case that the teaching frameworks we left behind in education are exactly what corporate L&D is missing.At the centre of the conversation is the gradual release of responsibility: I do, we do, you do. Stephanie unpacks what this looks like in practice inside an organisation, how to model best practice before expecting people to replicate it, and why most programmes skip the very steps that make learning stick. She also shares how to build the wider ecosystem around a training programme, from communities of practice and peer feedback to manager reinforcement in the flow of work.She doesn't shy away from the harder conversation either. L&D teams too often operate as order takers, delivering ad hoc content that isn't tied to business priorities. Steph's challenge is to pause, get a seat at the table, and design with intention so that learning creates real capability, not just compliance.If you're designing, running, or rethinking how learning lands in your organisation, this episode will give you a sharper, more grounded way to approach it.What you'll takeaway from this episode:What the gradual release of responsibility looks like in practice and why it works just as well for an 8-year-old as a 48-year-oldWhy people cannot do what they haven't seen and how to audit your existing programmes for this blind spotThe two traps that stop L&D from modelling best practice: the curse of knowledge and imposter syndrome and how to overcome bothHow to build a competency framework that defines best practice before you design a single piece of learningWhat scaffolding looks like inside a real organisation with a detailed example from Stephanie's time at MultiverseWhy communities of practice and mentorship are the parts of the learning ecosystem that create lasting capabilityHow to build a learning culture where people don't just attend, they queue up to get inThe first practical step for any L&D team ready to start integrating this approach🔗 Connect with Stephanie LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-trattles/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Most manager development programmes are well-designed. They just weren't built for how humans actually behave. With Farley Thomas 19.05.2026 28мин

  Adam sits down with Farley Thomas, CEO of Manageable, the global manager development platform he co-founded in 2020, to explore why manager development so often falls short and what it takes to build something that sticks.After a decade in investment banking at HSBC, Farley trained as a coach and spent years advising CEOs before spotting that managers were one of the most underserved populations in any organisation. Manageable was built to fix that.Farley breaks down eight pieces of the manager development puzzle, from building genuine learning habits to using AI as a safe practice environment for difficult conversations. He also tackles the cohort versus individual learning debate and explains why most organisations are getting both wrong.If you are designing, running, or rethinking a manager programme, this episode will give you a sharper framework to work from.What you'll learn:The eight pieces of the manager development puzzle and why most programmes only tackle two or threeWhy cutting practice from your programme is the most expensive corner you can cutHow to make cohort-based learning genuinely valuable rather than logistically painfulWhat scaffolding actually means and how it builds lasting learning habitsWhere AI fits into manager development and where it falls shortThree practical tips for any new or aspiring manager just starting out🔗 Connect with FarleyLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/farleythomas/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise.👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The AssemblyLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
• 
  Your middle managers are not underperforming. They are under-resourced. With Toluwa Hughes 12.05.2026 47мин

  Brigid sits down with Toluwa Hughes, behavioural scientist, two-times TEDx speaker, and founder of Zoah Consultancy, to explore why the manager layer is so often the most overlooked group in any organisation and what L&D can do about it right now.Toluwa has coached over 4,000 leaders across the UN in East Africa, tech scale-ups, and global enterprises including HSBC, Dell, and Alzheimer's Society. Her work sits at the intersection of behavioural science and real-world leadership pressure - helping managers stay steady through growth, change, and AI adoption.In this episode, she breaks down the hidden cost of ignoring middle managers from the two things their role actually demands (translation and emotional regulation) to why high performers are the ones most quietly burning out. She also challenges L&D teams to stop asking managers what training they need, and start asking better questions entirely.If you work with or support managers, this episode will sharpen how you think about development, wellbeing, and where L&D can have the most impact.What you'll learn:Why middle managers carry more than any job description acknowledges and why they rarely say soThe two types of managerial silence, and how to tell them apartWhy 82% of managers step into leadership with no formal training and what that actually costsHow mindset, not skills, determines behaviour under pressureThe three things L&D already has that are more valuable than budget permission, proximity, and trustWhy leadership development and wellbeing must be the same conversationThe questions that surface what managers are really carrying🔗 Connect with Toluwa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toluwa-oyeleye/Zoah Consultancy: https://www.zoahconsultancy.co.uk📬 The Assembly Debrief A short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletter👋 Come and connect with us We're always keen to hear what's resonating or what you're seeing in your world. Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/ Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble You Learning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For privacy information visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy
• 
  How Do You Build Critical Thinking, Curiosity, and Better Decision-Making in an AI-Driven World? With Liggy Webb 05.05.2026 43мин

  In this episode, Adam sits down with Liggy Webb to explore how L&D leaders can equip their people with the human skills that matter most - cutting through noise, thinking clearly, and performing in a complex environment.Liggy, a behavioural skills specialist and author, shares practical ways to develop an “inquiring mind” - from building self-awareness and asking better questions, to strengthening curiosity and critical thinking.Together, they unpack how learning can move beyond information and focus on how people think, decide, and act - offering simple, actionable ways to navigate today’s fast-changing world.If you’re looking to future-proof your workforce or build stronger thinking skills, this episode will give you practical ways to move forward.Episode breakdown:(00:00) Introduction to Inquiring Minds(02:00) Why critical thinking matters more than ever(04:00) The nine skills of an inquiring mind(05:00) Self-awareness and feedback(09:00) Cultivating curiosity(12:00) Lifelong learning in a changing world(16:00) The power of human conversations(21:00) Asking better questions(26:00) Critical thinking vs emotional reactions(31:00) Distilling complexity(34:00) Problem solving and decision making🔗 Connect with LiggyLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/liggyw/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise.👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The AssemblyLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  How do you prove the value of L&D in a business that sees it as a cost, not a driver of performance? With Jade Rogers 28.04.2026 29мин

  In this episode, Brigid sits down with Jade Rogers to unpack how learning and development leaders can build influence, demonstrate impact, and secure a more strategic role within their organisations.Jade, an L&D professional in a tech consultancy, describes her role as “the bridge between potential and performance” - but like many in the field, she’s had to navigate the challenge of making that value visible.Together, they explore practical ways to reposition L&D - from using storytelling to demonstrate ROI, to speaking the language of senior leaders and aligning more closely with business goals.They also go deeper into the realities of organisational change. Jade shares her experience navigating multiple rounds of redundancies—what it does to culture, trust, and morale - and how L&D professionals can support others while managing their own resilience.If you’re trying to increase your influence, communicate your value more effectively, or navigate uncertainty in your organisation, this episode will give you practical ways to move forward.Episode breakdown:(00:00) From youth work to L&D(02:30) Why L&D is misunderstood(04:30) Storytelling as ROI(06:30) The link between L&D and culture(08:00) Why L&D is at risk during redundancies(10:00) Speaking the language of leadership(12:00) Progress over perfection(14:00) The emotional impact of change(17:00) Rebuilding trust and culture(20:00) Meeting people where they are(22:00) Turning insight into action(25:00) Building resilience at work(28:00) Communicating your value🔗 Connect with JadeLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaderogers/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode—designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise.https://www.assembleyou.com/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward – https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The AssemblyLearning that feels more like great content than training—explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work.https://www.assembleyou.com/Privacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Award-Winning L&D at Qatar Airways: Gary Clarke's Blueprint for Success 21.04.2026 31мин

  Adam sits down with Gary Clarke, former Group Head of Learning & Development at Qatar Airways, for a candid conversation spanning 20+ years of global L&D leadership - from starting in the British Army at 16 to leading functions at BlackRock, Capita, and Qatar Airways.Gary delivers a masterclass on managing a complex, geographically dispersed L&D function. He shares the real work behind building a high-performing, award-winning team - uniting a fragmented function post-COVID, running internal learning conferences with 270 attendees, and creating a culture where cleaners and café staff get recognised alongside senior leaders. He also gives sharp, practical advice on what it means to truly understand your business - and why that skill separates good L&D professionals from great ones.He takes us through:Managing Global Complexity: Leading an 80-person L&D team responsible for the capability strategy of 65,000 employees. Overseeing learning technology, digital content, leadership pipelines, and highly regulated operational training across 170 international stations.Rebuilding Team Culture: The impact that fostering a culture of trust and psychological safety can have, and how in enabled people to innovate.Fostering Connection: To build community, Gary introduced cross-departmental "Lunch and Learns" , "potluck" meals and internal learning conferences. Inclusive Recognition: Gary highlights the importance of recognising the entire workforce. He implemented peer-nominated awards, including a "Pay It Forward" trophy for acts of kindness outside the workplace.Connect with Gary LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/garyclarke21/The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise.Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  How do you move L&D from delivering training to driving real performance in an AI-powered world? with Yousaf Khan 14.04.2026 46мин

   In this episode, Brigid sits down with Yousaf Khan, an AI strategy and business transformation consultant, to explore how learning and development leaders can shift from knowledge delivery to measurable impact, and stay relevant as work evolves.Starting his career in L&D, Yousaf quickly recognised the gap between learning and real performance. Now working across strategy, performance, and AI, he helps organisations rethink how work actually gets done and where L&D can add the most value.Together, they unpack what it takes to reposition L&D as a driver of performance, from diagnosing the real problem to focusing on workflows over skills and using AI to enhance how work happens day-to-day.They also explore how AI is reshaping the workplace, and how L&D leaders can use it as a performance multiplier - boosting speed, capacity, and efficiency - without jumping to solutions before fully understanding the challenge.If you’re looking to move beyond traditional training, show real business impact, or better understand how AI is changing the role of L&D, this episode offers practical, thoughtful ways to rethink your approach.What You’ll Learn•     Why “skills” alone aren’t enough and why behaviour in context is the real measure of performance•     How to reposition L&D as a driver of performance by starting with workflows, not training briefs•     What the Fix, Enhance, Reimagine framework looks like in practice across different business functions•     How AI can augment work - speeding up research, proposals, follow-ups, and content - without replacing human judgment•     Why most organisations aren’t ready to use AI effectively yet, and what “fixing the foundations” actually means•     Practical questions L&D leaders can ask themselves this week to start identifying where AI could have real impact•     How the role of L&D shifts as AI takes on more of the diagnostic and data-gathering work 🔗 Connect with YousafLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousaf-khan-b36a0591/?originalSubdomain=aePerformance Intelligence AI - www.performanceintelligence.co📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise.https://www.assembleyou.com/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The AssemblyLearning that feels more like great content than training—explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work.https://www.assembleyou.com/Privacy & Data his podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  The Human Side of Change Management: Navigating Uncertainty at Work with Ket Patel 07.04.2026 25мин

  In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Ket Patel, the founder of Change Agitators and Assemble You Expert.Ket is a master change practitioner with over 20 years of experience, specialising in helping organisations navigate the uncertainty of scaling and modernising. Transitioning away from traditional, purely process-driven change management, Ket focuses deeply on the human and relational dynamics that dictate how groups respond to new organisational directions. He's worked with Assemble You on two series that support organisations, leaders, and individuals in managing change more effectively.In this episode, Ket unpacks the emotional reality of workplace transformations and shares practical frameworks to help leaders and teams navigate ambiguity, including:Combating "Ambient Fatigue": Ket explains that the most common reaction to a new corporate initiative is an eye roll, stemming from the "ambient fatigue" of being asked to adopt the next big thing before the previous change has even settled.Transferring Personal Resilience: While corporate change can feel frustrating because it is uninvited, Ket reminds listeners that every individual already possesses coping skills developed through personal life changes, like moving house or facing adversity. The Art of Honest Feedback: Creating a safe space does not mean a manager must action every piece of feedback they hear. It is about listening fairly, validating the employee's voice, and being honest that leadership must ultimately choose which feedback to implement.The Four Mindsets of Change: Ket shares his personal mental toolkit for enduring complex projects: Visionary Pragmatism, Sceptical Optimism, Belligerent Humility, and Persistent Humour.Cultivating Group Resilience: Resilience is highly effective as a collective trait, allowing the group to pick up an individual when they are struggling. Ket recommends having teams openly share their individual experiences with change to build empathy and shared strength.Connect with KetLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ketpatel-changeagitator/The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise. https://www.assembleyou.com/the-assembly/newsletterCome and Connect with UsWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The Assembly & Assemble YouLearning that feels more like great content than training. Explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work. https://www.assembleyou.comPrivacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://www.transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  Are your inclusion efforts driving real impact or just ticking boxes with Chris Shearer-Wright 31.03.2026 35мин

  Are your inclusion efforts driving real impact or just ticking boxes?In this episode, Brigid sits down with Chris Shearer-Wright, Senior EDI and Community Partnerships Manager at Oliver Bonas, to explore how L&D and EDI can work together to create more inclusive, effective workplaces.Starting his career on the shop floor in 2012, Chris has grown with Oliver Bonas through every stage of the business - from store manager to people team to leading EDI strategy. That ground-level experience gives him a distinctive lens on how inclusion shows up (or doesn’t) across both customer experience and internal culture. He describes inclusion as a “golden thread” that should run through everything — from hiring and store design to supplier relationships and product decisions.Together, Brigid and Chris unpack how to design inclusive learning that drives real impact, from acting as a “critical friend” to L&D, to building bespoke workshops rooted in genuine business challenges. They also explore the nuances of balancing a strong brand identity with the need for true inclusivity, and how EDI can be woven into an organisation’s culture from the very first conversation rather than bolted on at the end.In this episode, Chris shares practical insights on how EDI and L&D can work together, including:1. EDI as a Critical Friend to L&D: At Oliver BonasEDI works alongside L&D to challenge whether learning is truly accessible, inclusive, and designed for everyone - turning inclusion from intention into practice.2. Bespoke Over Generic: Tailored workshops rooted in real business conversations outperform off-the-shelf training. Chris highlights sessions on Culture Add vs. Fit, Equitable Decision Making, and Leading Multi-Generational Teams.3. Measuring Real Impact: The true success of EDI learning shows up in behaviour change - like managers applying lessons weeks later in difficult conversations - alongside formal metrics.4. Diversity Drives Performance: Diverse perspectives improve creativity, problem-solving, and productivity. For a design-led business like Oliver Bonas inclusion is a commercial advantage, not just a value.5. Start with Inclusion Early: Inclusion works best when embedded from the beginning of a process, not added at the final review stage - making outcomes stronger, faster, and more effective.🔗 Connect with ChrisLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-shearer-wright-087698118/📮 The Assembly DebriefA short, practical email unpacking the best ideas from each episode, designed for modern learning leaders who want insight without the noise.https://www.assembleyou.com/newsletter👋 Come and connect with usWe’re always keen to hear what’s resonating or what you’re seeing in your world.Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/Richard Ward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpward/More from The AssemblyLearning that feels more like great content than training—explore podcast-style lessons, video shorts, and series designed for real work.https://www.assembleyou.com/Privacy & DataThis podcast is hosted by Transistor. For more information on how your data is handled, please visit: https://transistor.fm/privacy/
• 
  From 9-to-5 to 24/7: How They Rolled Out Audio Learning at AO.com with Stephen Holderness 24.03.2026 30мин

  In this special live episode recorded at the Podcast Learning Festival, Adam speaks with Stephen Holderness, Learning and Development Lead for Digital Strategy and Growth at AO.com.Stephen shares his journey of transforming the digital learning offering at AO, a rapidly growing electrical retailer known for owning every part of its customer journey—from in-house legal teams to logistics networks and a massive fridge recycling plant. Recognising that traditional e-learning was not meeting the needs of this diverse, 3,000-strong workforce, Stephen pioneered the introduction of audio learning to the business.In this interview, Stephen offers a candid look at the successes, mistakes, and lessons learned from launching an audio learning initiative. He discusses:Listening to the Learner: Stephen's first step was to stop looking at what other companies were doing and instead ask AO employees what they actually wanted. A company-wide roadshow revealed a strong preference for audio formats and podcast-style learning, especially among neurodivergent staff who struggled with text-heavy e-learning.The Power of the Expert Voice: AO employees specifically requested to hear from verifiable experts rather than faceless, authorless e-learning modules. Knowing the source of the information added immediate credibility and trust to the content.Unlocking the "Commute Commute": By offering learning via a mobile app, AO inadvertently transformed its 9-to-5 learning culture into a 24/7 operation. The L&D Professional as Marketer: Stephen emphasises that simply having a content library is not enough; L&D must act like marketers. He advocates for relentless, multi-channel promotion, integrating audio into existing leadership programs, aligning content with internal awareness days, and leaning heavily on word-of-mouth advocacy from peers.Measuring Impact Through Stories: While AO uses quantitative data, Stephen argues that the most powerful ROI metric is qualitative storytelling. The fact that operational staff (who previously only completed mandatory compliance) are now voluntarily learning on their own time is a massive win that proves the "cost of inaction" was too high.Stephen offers a highly practical roadmap for any organisation considering audio learning. If you want to understand how to align your training formats with your employees' daily realities, this is a must-listen episode.Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn: Stephen HoldernessLooking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.