Transforming L&D: From A Reactive Service to a Strategic Driver with Geraldine Murphy
The Learning & Development Podcast: The #1 L&D ShowShow Notes
In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Geraldine Murphy to explore how learning can move from a reactive service to a strategic driver of business impact.
Geraldine shares how she built the foundations for transformation - introducing governance, process, and consistency - and shifted the culture from chasing “shiny new things” to making smarter decisions about building, borrowing, buying, or automating learning. She reflects on influencing stakeholders, the power of storytelling in driving change and the personal skills that mattered most throughout the journey.
This conversation is a guide for L&D professionals ready to tackle entrenched challenges, start making change even without formal permission and step confidently into a more strategic, impactful role.
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
Passion isn’t enough; without structure, governance and the right tools, L&D effort stays local and inefficient.
Data‑driven storytelling unlocks investment and permission to transform.
Governance, clear promises to the business, and knowing when to say “no” are central to leading large‑scale change.
L&D must link learning directly to productivity and business performance to escape being seen as simply a “nice to have.”
BEST MOMENTS
“We weren't doing technology for technology’s sake.”
“If your people aren't growing, then the business is not growing.”
“When you've got a vision to elevate L&D to be business savvy, accountable and impactful, it's not so difficult to bring senior stakeholders on board to help to shape that.”
“For the first time, we had one platform to rule them all.”
Geraldine Murphy Bio
Geraldine Murphy is an experienced Learning & Development leader, most recently Global Learning Experience Manager at HEINEKEN. In this role, she managed a broad global portfolio of learning tools and processes and worked with 85 decentralised learning teams to support the delivery of L&D for more than 90,000 employees worldwide. Alongside this, she served as a Global DEI Ambassador, contributing to the organisation’s diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda.
Geraldine began her career in education following her teacher training in 2009 and has since worked across further and higher education, publishing, and technology. Her work includes leading learning design for HE partnership programmes at a FTSE 100 publisher and consulting with organisations such as HSBC University (Global), FourthRev, Aula, Scribbr, Jisc and the University of Cambridge. She also sits on the advisory boards for SAP SuccessFactors and LinkedIn Learning.
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
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.
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.
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.’
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.
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.