What Happens When Learning Hits the Heart Instead of the Head with Vanessa Trower
Most training fails because it forgets the human at the center.This episode dives deep into how learning becomes more than just training—it becomes an experience people want to be part of. Vanessa Trower, award-winning learning consultant and industry leader, shares her creative approach to designing programs that connect both to the heart and to business outcomes. From the power of storytelling to the importance of collaboration, her insights reveal how to create initiatives that don’t just tick boxes but truly move the needle.Along the way, Vanessa opens up about her proudest achievements, including winning L&D Professional of the Year, and even some epic failures—like the time an LMS mishap spammed an entire company. With humor, honesty, and practical wisdom, this conversation will leave you rethinking how learning works, what really matters, and how to design experiences people never forget.Key TakeawaysCreating learning that connects to both hearts and business outcomes is what makes programs stick.Collaboration and valuing other people’s strengths always lead to stronger results than going solo.Even mistakes and failures can become the spark for some of the best learning experiences.Timestamps[00:00] Introduction & Vanessa’s background[01:31] Why she focuses on meaningful learning experiences[03:20] What truly fires her up about L&D[05:20] Balancing creativity with business impact[07:11] Vanessa’s favorite campaign: “Homecoming”[11:06] Personal quirks: gestures, cooking, and food[13:36] Learning Spanish—and the reality of failure[15:55] Proudest career moments & major awards[20:47] Her worst L&D experience: the LMS email fiasco[29:01] Vanessa’s best advice for anyone starting in L&DLinksVanessa Trower on LinkedinNexperkTom Bailey on LinkedInTom Bailey Website
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33:35
Training Isn’t Broken… But You’re Using It Wrong with Tom Bailey
Training is the laziest—and often the worst—solution organizations reach for.Most organizations rush into training without asking the most important question: what’s the real problem we’re trying to solve? In this episode, Tom Bailey, a seasoned people development maverick, breaks down why traditional training often misses the mark—and what to do instead.Listeners will discover how to separate real skill gaps from deeper organizational issues, why performance consulting models are essential, and how to create measurable outcomes that actually change behavior. Whether you’re in HR, leadership, or team development, this episode will shift the way you think about learning forever.Key TakeawaysTraining requests often mask deeper issues like resources, management, or structure—not just skills gaps.Real people development starts by clarifying the exact behavior change or outcome desired.Using a performance consulting model helps diagnose, address, and measure what truly matters.Timestamps[00:00] Don’t jump straight into training[00:09] Why organizations default to “more training”[00:22] Asking the critical outcome question[00:36] When the issue isn’t training at all[00:52] Examples of hidden causes: resources, pay, shifts[01:05] Why L&D often misses the real gap[01:15] The trap of traditional schooling bias[01:25] What real learning and development should do[01:35] Using performance consulting to diagnose issues[01:45] How to measure behavior change that mattersLinksTom Bailey on LinkedInTom Bailey Website
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1:53
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1:53
What Actually Is L&D? Most People Get It Wrong with Tom Bailey
There I was, buried in a pile of buzzwords—‘capability,’ ‘instructional design,’ ‘OD’—wondering what L&D actually meant.Most people hear “learning and development” and immediately think of training sessions or workshops—but that’s only scratching the surface. In this episode, Tom Bailey, a passionate expert in people development, breaks down the real meaning of L&D and why it’s the most underleveraged tool in your company’s arsenal. From debunking the “training equals learning” myth to showcasing how L&D drives real business performance, this episode reframes how organizations should think about their people strategy.You’ll learn the broader toolkit behind successful L&D—from coaching and mentoring to experience-based learning—and how to apply it based on actual needs, not assumptions. If you’re tired of wasted training budgets and disengaged teams, this episode is the wake-up call that’ll help you build a smarter, more effective workplace.Key TakeawaysL&D is not just about training—it’s about driving real performance and behavioral change in teams and individuals.Training is only one part of a much broader toolkit that includes mentoring, resources, simulations, and more.To unlock L&D's true impact, organizations must shift from a content-focused approach to an outcome-based mindset.Timestamps[00:00] What is L&D and why it matters[00:23] The buzzword salad: how we confuse terms[00:55] L&D’s real goal: performance improvement[01:09] Where L&D sits in organizations[01:20] Why “training” is misunderstood[01:44] The true scope of L&D tools[01:58] Diagnosing the real issue behind performance gaps[02:10] Why L&D is crucial for organizational outcomes[02:25] Common misconceptions about “training”[02:45] The mindset shift L&D needs nowLinksTom Bailey on LinkedInTom Bailey Website
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2:33
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2:33
Addicted to Learning: How Games Hijack the Brain (In a Good Way) with Jean-Marie Guitera
“It was just paper on a screen”—Jean-Marie on the dark days of e-learning.What if training didn’t feel like training—but instead felt like a game, a story, or even a personal journey? In this episode, we explore how AI and immersive design are turning old-school e-learning into brain-igniting experiences. You’ll hear about what actually lights up the learner’s mind and how to rethink engagement from the ground up.Jean-Marie, CEO of Cognant AI and a veteran of marketing, gaming, and behavioral design, shares a radically human vision for development. From Burning Man insights to launching fragrances at L’Oréal, he connects tech, purpose, and creativity in a way that will challenge how you think about learning—forever.Key TakeawaysAI is finally capable of making learning experiences feel deeply personal, interactive, and unforgettable.Traditional e-learning methods fail because they ignore joy, play, and the human need for engagement.Tools like Ikigai help connect meaningful work to purposeful living—especially in leadership and development.Timestamps[00:00] The core philosophy behind fun, choice, and change[00:39] Jean-Marie’s background and mission with Cognant AI[01:02] Why most training fails—and how immersion changes everything[01:59] Gaming as the “MetaMedia” and its power in L&D[02:51] The AI revolution that’s finally making learning “stick”[03:58] What Corsican hand gestures taught about perspective[04:30] Learning music without learning theory—and what that means for L&D[05:14] The worst thing about early e-learning—and how AI is the antidote[07:40] Burning Man, Cory Doctorow, and digital ethics[10:47] Why Ikigai isn’t just philosophy—it’s a design blueprint for happinessLinksJean-Marie Guitera on LinkedinCognentAI WebsiteTom Bailey on LinkedInTom Bailey Website
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12:04
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12:04
What Happens When You Leave HR and Join the Business? With Dirk Rossey
You will never succeed in L&D if you don’t understand the business.What happens when a seasoned L&D leader is fired by HR but instantly rehired by the business? In this high-impact episode, we dive into the strategic, gritty, and sometimes controversial truths behind learning and development in the corporate world. This isn’t about theory—this is about what really works when you're trying to drive results, earn respect, and survive the shifting sands of internal politics.Dirk Rossi—former CHRO, private equity director, and ex-head of L&D for JP Morgan across Asia Pacific—shares stories that redefine what success looks like in the people development world. From firing 5,000 employees to sending ignored “Cassandra” warnings that proved true, his experience proves one thing: real influence comes from understanding the business better than HR does.Key TakeawaysTrue business credibility for L&D professionals comes only from stepping outside HR and diving into operational roles.Dirk’s proudest and most painful moments show how being too aligned with HR can cost you—and how the business often sees your value more clearly.The "Cassandra Emails" metaphor reminds us of the danger of foresight without influence in corporate environments.Timestamps[00:00] Why You Need to Leave L&D to Truly Succeed[00:00:42] Dirk Rossi’s International Career and Background[00:01:52] His Obsession With Business Results in L&D[00:02:28] Project Panter: The Most Successful L&D Campaign[00:03:23] The Hand Gesture That Changed His Divorce and Life[00:04:18] The One Skill Dirk Still Struggles With After 30 Years[00:04:50] Winning a Change Management Award for a Merger[00:05:12] Getting Fired by HR—Then Rehired by Business Heads[00:06:03] Cassandra Emails: Foresight With No Influence[00:07:00] Final Advice: Step Out of HR to Earn Real RespectLinksDirk Rossey on LinkedinTom Bailey on LinkedInTom Bailey Website
A short podcast allowing you to meet some of the brilliant folk driving people performance and development forward.
We do this in an informal and human way.
Our host Tom Bailey, award winning L&D leader and passionate maverick for all things development.
Join us as we ask just ten questions of some of the industries most innovative and interesting people.
New Zealand