Learner Experience Evolution

Innovation, evolution, and humanity in L&D: we’ve talked all about these three things on our podcast so far. But something has been missing. There was a voice waiting to be heard. And Dana Durham, Learning & Design General Manager at Delta Air Lines, is here to share it — the words of learners across the world, and what it is they feel they truly need to succeed. During her conversation with Ron, Dana dives deeper into actions leaders can take to better immerse themselves in operations, uncover what learners need to thrive, foster cultures built on support and workplace safety, and design learning pathways that lead to more impactful outcomes.

Everyone knows that AI is an emerging, transformative force. But that’s not all. How learners actually learn is evolving this year, too. Join Ron Zamir and Jim Checketts, Sr. Learning & Development Manager at Nestlé, as they discuss the changes learning leaders can expect in the coming months — and how AI can be used as a catalyst for embracing disruption amidst these changes, elevating the L&D profession, and paving a new path for innovation that makes an impact on what it is learners actually need to success in 2026.

Everyone has a comfort zone. But what this comfort zone looks like is unique to you. So how can you push out of that comfort zone to do more, accomplish more, and grow in ways you’ve always wanted (but may have never thought possible)? Ron Zamir and Jessie Wirkus share their ideas in this thought-provoking, meaningful discussion for learning leaders. Listen in on the conversation to think deeper about what it means to identify your personal comfort zone—and stakeholders’ comfort zones—to streamline the design process, enhance the learning experience, heighten engagement, and revolutionize learning in new, success-driven ways. Takeaways:Curiosity is essential for understanding and innovating within comfort zones.Identifying comfort zones helps in determining the right innovations to pursue.Incremental innovation can be as impactful as big changes.AI can streamline the design process and enhance creativity.Effective learning experiences often require stepping outside traditional methods.Client engagement is crucial for successful learning design.Using data from learners can inform better design decisions.Innovation is about daring to do things differently, not just improving existing methods.Reflective activities can be enhanced through AI tools.Personal interests can lead to unique insights in learning design.

How do you earn a seat at the table as a learning leader? In this episode, Ron Zamir and Lori Niles-Hofmann reveal the secret: run your L&D like a business. Their insights help leaders take a proactive stance, govern AI use for enhanced personalization, balance context and content, and create critical connections with key stakeholders to establish a strategy capable of defending decisions with data and turning any L&D challenge into an opportunity.Top TakeawaysData is essential for proactive learning organizations.Structural challenges can be transformed into opportunities.Governance should focus on quality and outcomes, not control.Understanding the learning ecosystem is crucial for effective learning.Contextualizing learning is more important than just content delivery.Stakeholder management requires speaking their language and using data.AI has the potential to revolutionize learning experiences.Learning takes time and should be viewed as an investment.The current generation of learning professionals is open to innovative approaches.

Every industry has its own unique L&D challenges and opportunities. In healthcare, there’s a critical intersection between innovation and learning that, when embraced right, can be a valuable tool to improve outcomes. In this episode, Ron Zamir meets with Gina Montefusco, Sr. Director of Culture and Strategic Initiatives at UnitedHealth Group, to explore what it means to innovate and scale for a large healthcare organization—while engaging leadership, enhancing technology, and employing practical project planning strategies to make an impact.TakeawaysGina's journey from nursing to learning leadership showcases the importance of diverse experiences.Scaling innovation in healthcare requires balancing standard practices with new approaches.Engaging leadership is crucial for successful learning initiatives.Data-driven decision-making helps in navigating reactive expectations.Resistance can be a valuable source of feedback for improvement.Proactive planning is essential for effective project management.Understanding the end goals of training is key to success.Leveraging technology can enhance learning experiences significantly.Creating a culture of continuous learning is vital for organizational growth.Reflecting on past experiences can guide future career decisions.00:00 Introduction to Innovation in Learning03:09 Gina's Journey from Nursing to Learning Leadership05:53 Navigating Scale and Innovation in Healthcare08:40 Proactive vs Reactive Approaches in Learning11:28 Engaging Leadership for Successful Learning Initiatives14:01 Practical Tools for Project Planning in Learning16:24 Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Learning Experiences19:13 Reflections on a Learning Journey21:18 Outro with Art.mp4

L&D has a rich history, and yet, there’s always more to learn—and new ways to innovate—each day. With a surprise role switch, Michael Noble, EVP of AllenComm Advisory, has moved from interviewer to interviewee as he discusses how leaders can prepare for the future of L&D. His conversation with Ron Zamir highlights the importance of AI, governance strategies, using existing resources more effectively for cost savings, and even the shift from instructional methods of the past to what works best today. They also cover the skills L&D leaders need to invest in to stand apart as professionals in their industry over the coming years.Top TakeawaysAdvisory services focus on empowering clients to make informed decisions.Many organizations face redundancies in their tech stacks due to acquisitions.Governance is often misunderstood as compliance, but it can be empowering.AI is rapidly changing the landscape of learning technology.Organizations need to optimize their tech stacks to reduce costs.The importance of measurement and impact in L&D is crucial.Future L&D professionals should focus on adaptability and critical thinking.The shift from builder to editor reflects the evolving role of L&D professionals.Governance can create opportunities for innovation and growth in organizations.

In this episode of LX Evolution, host Michael Noble speaks with Ron Zamir, CEO of AllenComm, about the transformative impact of AI on the Learning and Development (L&D) industry. They discuss AllenComm's journey in integrating AI into their processes, the importance of exploration and discovery in AI implementation, and how to measure success and innovation. The conversation also covers the significance of governance in AI adoption, the challenges and opportunities in investing in AI technologies, and key takeaways for learning leaders navigating this evolving landscape.TakeawaysAI is a transformative force in the L&D industry.Exploration and discovery are crucial for effective AI implementation.Governance can accelerate AI adoption by building trust.Learning leaders must lean into existing technologies.Experimentation with AI tools is essential for innovation.Measuring success is key to understanding AI's impact.Client comfort zones must be understood and stretched.The barrier to entry for AI solutions is low.Investing in AI should focus on enhancing learning experiences.Don't hesitate to demand more from vendors.

What’s the secret to getting buy in and other support (so you don’t have to do it all yourself)? Michael Noble and Amanda Myton, Head of Learning and Development at Snowflake, discuss how AI and data-driven strategies can help. Especially today, when L&D teams are smaller than ever—but the asks have only gotten larger—being able to customize training and collaborate effectively across teams is critical to making your next initiative a success.Top TakeawaysThe team is building a leadership foundation with a people leader code. AI is being used to identify and level skills effectively. Organizational culture must be co-built, not just top-down. Building modular training programs allows for flexibility and reuse. Collaboration with stakeholders is crucial for success. Generative AI accelerates the creation of customized learning content. The future of learning involves creating tools for learners to develop themselves. Mentorship matching is being prototyped to enhance career development. The shift from traditional training models to more agile approaches is essential.