The Secrets of Learning & Development

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S3 E3: In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we sit down with Cathy Hoy, a trailblazer in the L&D space with an impressive career spanning over 25 years at global giants like Tesco, Coca-Cola, and Expedia. Cathy shares her unconventional journey into L&D, the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership, and t...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! What if confidence isn’t the real issue? In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development , Valerie Merrill interviews Executive Career Transition Coach Julia Bend to unpack a common career assumption: “I just need more confidence.” But is that really what’s holding people back? Julia shares practical insights from coachi...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S3: In this episode, we meet the multifaceted Holly Worton – coach, author, shamanic practitioner and founder of North Downs Publishing. From quitting graduate school to running an eco hotel in Mexico, and later building a thriving publishing business in the UK, Holly shares the defining moments that shaped her unconventional career. She...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development , Valerie takes the lead as she and Julia explore the trends shaping L&D in 2025. From the rise of personalised learning and microlearning to the growing emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility, Valerie shares timely insights and practical examples that reflect a rapi...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S3 E1: What does it take to rise from financial devastation and build a thriving business? In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we welcome Sarah Pittendrigh award-winning entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and author of The ICAN Method. Sarah’s story is a testament to resilience. After facing bankruptcy and losing eve...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! This season hosts Valerie Merrill and Julia Bend, bring you fresh, thought-provoking conversations with the people shaping how we learn, lead and grow at work. From bold career moves to innovative approaches to leadership and development, each episode offers honest reflections, practical takeaways and new ways of thinking about success i...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S2 E:13 In this insightful episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and Valerie are joined by authors Brad Borkan and Holly Worton to discuss their collaborative book, Dynamic Alignment. Together, they unpack the eight-step process designed to help you uncover your passions, align with your true values and create a fulfillin...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S2:E12 In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Valerie and Julia are joined by Viktoria Kish, a global business consultant, entrepreneur, and connector with over 25 years of experience in international business education and leadership. Viktoria shares her remarkable journey from founding her first company in the Cz...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S2:E11 - In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development , hosts Julia and Valerie sit down with Douglas Lines, a seasoned chartered accountant and co-founder of IBEM Group, who has led transformative change across multiple continents and industries. With a career that spans corporate banking, cultural transformations, and ent...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development , the spotlight turns to our co-host Julia Bend as she unpacks the power of boundaries in leadership, coaching and life.  Together with Valerie Merrill, she explores why boundaries are so often misunderstood, and how setting them with intention can boost resilience, prevent...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S2:E10 In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Julia and Valerie are joined by Allegra Chapman, co-founder of Watch This Sp_ce, a consultancy dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in workplaces. Allegra shares her inspiring and non-linear career journey, beginning in the charity sector, moving th...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development , Julia and Valerie take a closer look at Curiosity, what it means, how it shows up in their work and why it matters more than ever. While they approach it from different angles, Julia through coaching and Valerie through IT training, they uncover how curiosity fuels deeper engagemen...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S2:E9 In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Valerie and Julia are joined by Ashley Brice, a former military police officer, police negotiator, and now a highly sought-after communication and leadership expert. Ashley’s journey spans from handling covert police operations and life-or-death hostage negotiations to t...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this reflective bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development , Valerie Merrill is joined by co-host and executive career transition coach Julia Bend to unpack the real impact of perception during times of change. It’s not just about your experience, it’s about how others interpret it. Julia shares practical insights on spo...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S2:E8 In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Julia and Valerie welcome Nicole Posner, an expert mediator and executive conflict coach. With a background in PR and psychology, Nicole shares how her early experiences in a toxic work environment inspired her to specialise in workplace conflict resolution and leadershi...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this special fireside edition of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia hands the mic to co-host Valerie Merrill for an expert deep dive into the world of bespoke training. If you’ve ever been involved in rolling out a customised system, you’ll know it’s far from straightforward. Valerie unpacks what really goes into training...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S2:E7 In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development , hosts Valerie and Julia welcome Brad Borkan, an author and decision-making expert with a unique approach to leadership inspired by history. Brad’s career spans from roles at tech giants like SAP and Oracle to becoming a published author, exploring how historical figures navig...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this special bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and co-host Valerie Merrill dive into the crucial topic of cyber security awareness for end users. With cyber threats evolving rapidly, understanding the risks and how to safeguard yourself is more important than ever. Valerie, an expert in workplace technolo...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this powerful episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we welcome  I. Stephanie Boyce, a trailblazer in the legal profession and a relentless advocate for social justice, equality, diversity, inclusion, and social mobility. As the first person of colour to become President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Stephanie&...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this special bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development , hosts Valerie Merrill and Julia Bend explore one of the most critical yet overlooked elements of career success, leveraging transferable skills. Whether you're considering a career shift or looking to elevate your leadership potential, recognising the skills...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S2:E5 - In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Julia and Valerie welcome Glen Williamson, a visionary sales coach with nearly four decades of experience. Glen has transformed the concept of selling, introducing an approach he calls coach-based selling, which combines human psychology with cutting-edge sales techniq...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development , Julia and Valerie explore Copilot for Microsoft 365 , an AI-powered assistant designed to help professionals work smarter, not harder. Valerie explains how M365 Copilot enhances productivity by automating repetitive tasks, managing emails, scheduling meetings, and improving col...

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...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this special bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development , Valerie and Julia shine a light on a career dilemma many professionals face but rarely discuss: the hidden costs of staying in a role for too long. What happens when comfort turns into stagnation? Julia, an Executive Career Transition Coach, shares real-life exper...

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S2:E3 - In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development hosts Valerie and Julia welcome Henriette Danel, an award-winning business coach, client attraction specialist, TEDx speaker, and host of the Entrepreneurial Success Podcast. Henriette shares her journey from interior design to business coaching, revealing how she transit...