The Assembly

In this excellent interview, Brigid sits down with Dan Philips. Dan is a highly experienced L&D consultant with a deep background in psychology and behavioural change. For the last 15 years, he has specialised in using the Insights Discovery model to help individuals, teams, and leaders improve their self-awareness, communication, and collaboration. In this episode, Dan provides a masterclass...

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Sybrand Oudega. Sybrand is a global learning and talent development leader with 25 years of international experience at iconic brands like Nokia, Microsoft, and Adidas . As the former Senior Director of the Global Sales Academy at Adidas, he was responsible for the skills and performance of over 35,000 employees across 75 countries and 37 languages....

In this excellent interview, Brigid sits down with Nahdia Khan. Nahdia is a strategic advisor and purpose-driven leader with over 20 years of experience in digital learning, public policy, and executive education. As the former Chief Impact Officer at Mind Tools, she has deep expertise in transforming customer relationships into vibrant communities of practice that drive both engagement and commer...

The Summer of Learning: Building an AI-Ready, Experimental Culture at Immediate with Kathryn Swandale In this fascinating interview, Adam is joined by  Kathryn (Katie) Swandale , Senior Learning and Development Partner at Immediate . Immediate is a major publishing group known for brands like Radio Times , Good Food , and BBC Gardeners’ World . With over a decade of experience designing and delive...

In this excellent interview, Brigid sits down with Lindsey Coode and Funmi O'Dell of Learning Pool. Lindsey is Learning Pool’s Director of Content Software, with over 25 years of experience in learning design and technology. Funmi is a Product Manager at Learning Pool, specializing in shaping impactful digital learning and compliance solutions with a deep background in product development and UX d...

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with digitial learning industry leader, Peter Riber. Peter is the Head of New Tech and Digital Learning Solutions at Novo Nordisk and is known for being at the forefront of technological innovation in L&D. Over the last two years, he and his team have pivoted to building and deploying internal Generative AI agents to tackle long-standing challenges i...

In this excellent interview, Brigid sits down with Lavinia Mehedințu of Offbeat. Lavinia is a co-founder and Learning Architect at Offbeat, with 12 years of experience designing learning experiences and career development programs. She specialises in applying adult learning principles to help L&D professionals connect, collaborate, and grow. In this episode, Lavinia challenges the popular buzz...

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Pooja Shemar. Pooja is a senior L&D leader and passionate mental health advocate with over 20 years of experience, including 17 years driving transformation at Microsoft. Fuelled by her own personal journey, Pooja is on a mission to normalise conversations around mental health in the workplace, creating environments where people can truly thrive...

In this excellent interview, Brigid sits down with Jayne Mather. Jayne is an author, consultant, and expert in technology adoption, focusing on digital transformation and intelligent automation. She is the author of Humans and AI: The Future of Work and Super User Networks for Software Projects and specialises in helping businesses integrate emerging technologies to deliver long-term value. In thi...

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Dwayne Britton of DayWon. Dwayne is a seasoned expert in learning, brand, and culture with over 15 years of experience at iconic, people-first companies like Apple, Lululemon, and On . Now, through his consultancy, DayWon, he helps growing organisations align their learning initiatives with their unique brand culture. In this episode, Dwayne draws o...

In this excellent interview, Brigid sits down with Barry Ryan of Thirst. Barry is a seasoned marketer turned L&D advocate and is the Head of Marketing at Thirst, the learning platform built for SMEs. With a deep background in B2B marketing, Barry is on a mission to help L&D teams think more like marketers to drive real impact and boost learner engagement. In this episode, Barry talks Brigi...

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Sarah Clayton Jones. Sarah is the Founder and CEO of Read to Lead , an organisation that delivers book-inspired peer learning experiences to develop human-skilled leaders and connected teams. With over 20 years of experience leading teams at global organisations, including VW and Accenture, Sarah is an ICF-accredited performance coach, facilitator,...

In this episode of The Assembly, host Brigid sits down with Susi Miller, an internationally recognised expert in e-learning accessibility and the award-winning author of Designing Accessible Learning Content . With over 30 years of experience, Susi breaks down the essentials of creating digital learning that is not just compliant, but truly inclusive and effective for all learners. Together, Brigi...

In this interview, Adam sits down with Will Thalheimer, a world-renowned expert in learning science, learning evaluation, and evidence-based practice in L&D. Will is the founder of Work-Learning Research, a respected speaker, and the creator of the Learning Transfer Evaluation Model (LTEM). He is also the author of Performance-Focused Learner Surveys and his latest release, The CEO’s Guide to...

In this episode of L&D 101 , host Brigid McCormack sits down with renowned senior learning strategist Lori Niles-Hofmann to demystify the big shifts shaping Learning and Development today. With over 25 years of experience across international banking, consulting, and marketing, Lori offers a compelling look into the evolving world of L&D—from digital acceleration to AI and skills-based tra...

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Jez Light of Ground Control. Jez is an award-winning learning leader, known for his transformational approach to L&D. He is Head of Learning and a member of the executive team at Ground Control, a national maintenance and construction company operating across the UK. Jez previously led learning for global brands including Phones4U and Superdry,...

In this debut episode of L&D 101 , host Brigid McCormack welcomes the inimitable John Helmer —podcast host, writer, and long-time learning industry figure—for a no-nonsense exploration of how the world of L&D has evolved over the past two decades. Drawing on his deep experience as a marketer, buyer, and thought leader, John shares practical advice on how to navigate the complex, often mess...

In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Ross Garner and Paul Buller of Mind Tools to explore one of the most pressing topics in L&D today: the role of AI in content creation and the future of learning. Ross is Chief Learning Officer at Mind Tools and a former Learning Designer of the Year. He’s also a long-time podcast host and co-author of the L&D Dispatch newsletter. Paul is Hea...

Welcome to the very first episode of The Assembly – the new voice of Assemble You. Formerly known as L&D Challenges , our rebranded podcast reflects a more inclusive, optimistic, and forward-thinking take on learning and development. In this episode, co-founders Richard Ward and Adam Lacey are joined by new co-host Brigid McCormack to walk you through what’s changing—and why. What’s new? We're...

Remember 'performance support'? Amid all the talk of AI, adaptive learning, and skills, it's kind of been forgotten. But not by us! Or by respondents to Don Taylor's Global Sentiment Survey , who ranked it 11th hottest trend this year (up two from last year). In the first of a two-part series of crossover episodes with our partner MindTools, Adam sits down with Ross G and Paul to discuss: What mak...

In this excellent interview, Adam chats with Director of Learning, Leadership, & Inclusion at Marston's, a leading UK pub operator with over 1,300 pubs and over 10,000 workers.  With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality sector, she is recognised as a senior L&D thought leader and a strong believer in fostering high-impact cultures where individuals feel deeply aligned with their...

In this fantastic interview, Adam chats with the Head of Learning Experience at Greene King Pub Company, Simon Cox. Si is a dynamic leader specialising in employee engagement and learning innovation, with over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. As Head of Learning Experience at Greene King Pub Company, Si oversees the design and delivery of impactful learning strategies for over 4...

In this exciting interview, Adam speaks with Natalie Newton the Early Careers Lead at Together Money.  Beginning her career in recruitment advertising, Natalie developed a passion for talent development and creating impactful early career experiences. She has over 25 years of experience in talent development and has been leading the early career strategy at Together Financial Services for the past...

In this insightful interview, Adam chats with the digital learning partner at River Island, Cameo Bondy.  Cameo is a passionate Learning and Development specialist with a strong track record in designing inclusive and engaging training programs. With experience in both retail and healthcare settings, Cameo is dedicated to fostering accessible learning experiences, championing neurodivergent educat...

Using Skill Sprints to Drive Individual-Lead Learning with Russell Woods In this excellent interview, Adam sits down with Russel Woods from Aster Group UK. Russell is the Learning and Development Partner for Aster Group. He has taken his experience from leading and developing organisations in the sports and social housing sectors into L&D and is now designing and delivering learning journeys w...