What happens when you let someone interview you on your own podcast and ask what you really think about L&D?

This episode dives into the real truth behind modern L&D, exploring what actually moves performance, what does not, and what most learning teams never say out loud. Listeners will hear how to shift from order taker to strategic partner, why measurement still gets ignored, and how to influence the business by talking the language senior leaders actually use. It is an honest, practical conversation that cuts through the fluff and gets to the heart of what makes L&D valuable.

Kirsty Lewis, award winning founder of School of Facilitation, takes over the microphone and interviews Tom Bailey, ATD award winner and recognised L&D leader. Together they explore the mindset, skills and experiences that shape a high performing people development function, from commercial acumen and internal selling to the influence of AI and the role of real world experiences. For anyone who wants to elevate their L&D impact, this conversation offers grounded insights and fresh thinking without the jargon.

Key Takeaways

1. I realised that the most powerful shift in my career happened when I stopped acting like an employee and started thinking like a consultant.
2. I learned that the vehicle does not matter as much as the outcome, and that measuring real performance is the thing most L&D teams skip.
3. I saw how much better my work became when I stayed connected to the outside world rather than repeating what had always been done.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Welcome to the takeover and setting the tone

[01:00] Why Tom hates being a podcast guest

[02:00] How Tom discovered his real motivation

[03:30] Why business knowledge matters for L&D

[05:15] Sales skills and commercial background shaping L&D success

[07:30] The hidden reality of internal selling in L&D

[09:00] Tom’s biggest soapbox about impact and measurement

[12:30] Why AI will disrupt instructional design

[15:00] The L&D experience that changed Tom’s career

[32:00] Tom’s biggest fails, best lessons and advice for practitioners

[40:00] Final reflections and why the L&D community matters

Links

• Kirsty Lewis on LinkedIn
• School of Facilitation
• Tom Bailey on LinkedIn
• Tom Bailey Website