The Learning & Development Podcast: The #1 L&D Show

L&D Global Sentiment Survey 2026 Findings with Donald H Taylor

The Learning & Development Podcast: The #1 L&D Show

Show Notes

Since 2014, the L&D Global Sentiment Survey has been a barometer of what’s hot and what’s not in the Learning & Development profession, guiding people development professionals towards the trends that their peers are most concerned about. In this episode, Donald H Taylor takes a deep dive into the 2026 report and explores in conversation what we should all be taking note of.

Take your L&D to the next level

Take advantage of thousands of hours of analysis. Hundreds of conversations with industry innovators and 25+ years of hands-on global L&D leadership.

It's all distilled into one framework to help you level up L&D. Access the L&D Maturity Model here - https://360learning.com/maturity-model

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The strongest route to security and impact for L&D is finding real business problems through your network, then designing simple, targeted interventions that change behaviour and performance—whether or not the answer looks like traditional training.

L&D cannot afford to anchor it’s worth to content production. If it does it risks being commoditised instead of recognised for solving real business problems.

AI is more powerful than we thought, it is helping to deliver truly personalised training.

Microlearning may feel like “old news” in some markets, but the survey shows it’s still emerging and powerful elsewhere. A reminder that L&D practices move at very different speeds across the world.

BEST MOMENTS

“The future is going to belong to people who understood early on what worked and what didn't work.”

“The wrong turn is to go towards focusing on content.”

Donald H Taylor Bio

A recognised commentator and thinker in the fields of workplace learning and supporting technologies, Donald is committed to helping develop the learning and development profession.

Donald has chaired the Learning Technologies Conference in London since 2000 and writes and speaks world-wide about Learning and Development (L&D). His annual L&D Global Sentiment Survey, started in 2014, provides a unique perspective on L&D trends from over 100 countries. He chairs the Workforce Development board for VC firm Emerge Education, and invests in, and advises, several EdTech start-ups.

From 2010 to 2021, he chaired the Learning and Performance Institute. He is the author of Learning Technologies in the Workplace, a graduate of Oxford University and in 2016 was awarded an honorary doctorate by Middlesex University in recognition of his work developing the L&D profession.

You can follow and contact Donald via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/

L&D Global Sentiment Survey 2026: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2026/

Website: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

ABOUT THE HOST

David James

David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa.

As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D.

CONTACT METHOD

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin

L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective

Blog: https://360learning.com/blog

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

More from The Learning & Development Podcast: The #1 L&D Show

Oct 12, 2026

Andrew Jacobs joins the pod to explore what L&D is really for and why the profession's identity has to shift from producing courses to engineering performance.

Sep 28, 2026

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Danny Barrow, Lead Learning Program Manager at Ridgeline - an innovative Investment Management company - to explore how AI has reshaped what Danny believes his function is capable of delivering, and the practical, sometimes messy, process of turning that belief into something tangible. From solving live business needs to a project built for interns.

Sep 14, 2026

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David is joined by Erica Farmer to discuss her new book ‘AI for People Professionals: Understand How to Use Artificial Intelligence in Your HR Role.’

Aug 31, 2026

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Rob Peacock, Director of Leadership & Learning at Merlin Entertainments, to discuss the transformation journey of the global learning function. They look at the disconnect between legacy training methods and the "hands-on" reality of managing a commercial P&L, while tackling the question of how to select and deliver "power skills" that genuinely serve a young, frontline workforce. They also explore how senior leaders are being embedded as active role models across the organization, the friction encountered when transitioning from local teams to global academies and the specific metrics needed to remain accountable and valued in 2026.

Aug 17, 2026

Step inside the courtroom of Learning & Development, where long-held beliefs are called to the stand and only evidence, experience, and impact will determine the verdict.

See all episodes →