The Future of Learning, Talent, and Leadership

The world of corporate learning, talent, and leadership is undergoing a period of intense transformation. As organisations strive to build resilient workforces and agile leaders, Chief Learning Officers and Heads of Talent, and Leadership face an array of challenges and opportunities.

The conversations at iVentiv’s recent Learning Futures sessions in Atlanta and Paris highlight the pressing themes that are shaping the future of workplace learning. Leadership and Executive Development, Reskilling and Upskilling, AI, and Learning Culture were the four most popular priorities identified by Global Heads of Learning at iVentiv events in 2024, so it’s no surprise to see all four represented in the top priorities of attendees at last month’s events as well.

These sessions, attended by senior learning executives, surfaced key trends, strategic shifts, and organisational imperatives that will define 2025 and beyond. The full executive summary is available for you to read on iVentiv’s Global Learning Network iKnow now.

Leadership & Executive Development: A Strategic Business Imperative

Leadership and Executive Development remain at the forefront of corporate priorities. This was top of mind for 56% of attendees in Paris, and in Atlanta, we saw this climb to 62%. According to participants at both sessions, businesses are increasingly aligning leadership programs with organisational strategy, ensuring leaders are equipped to drive transformation.

Key themes from the discussions included:

  • Visionary Thinking & Agility: Leaders, they said, must anticipate industry shifts and embrace an adaptive mindset.
  • Data-Driven Decision-Making: Balancing data insights with qualitative perspectives remains a challenge, but is critical for leadership effectiveness.
  • Peer-to-Peer Learning & Mentorship: Continuous leadership refinement comes from structured mentorship programs and experiential learning opportunities, say many.

Notably, the debate continues around whether Leadership Development should lead or support business strategy. However, what is clear, based on the outcomes of the conversations, is that CLOs feel leadership initiatives need to evolve beyond traditional approaches and focus on practical, real-world applications.

Reskilling & Upskilling: Crucial for Workforce Transformation

For 52% of leaders in Paris, and 48% of leaders in Atlanta, ‘reskilling and upskilling’ is a topic that continues to resonate. Organisations are experiencing accelerated demand for new skills, learning leaders recognise that the shelf-life of skills is shortening, and there is a growing urgency to embed reskilling and upskilling into the corporate agenda.

Findings from last month’s Executive Knowledge Exchanges suggest that a successful skills strategy hinges on:

  • Clear Skill Taxonomies: Defining skill frameworks and competencies aligned with business objectives.
  • Data-Driven Learning Strategies: Leveraging workforce analytics to assess capability gaps and forecast future skill needs.
  • Embedded Learning in Workflows: Shifting from standalone training initiatives to an integrated skills development culture.

Future-focused skills development, experts say, is not just about keeping pace with change—it is about ensuring workforce adaptability in the face of uncertainty.

Artificial Intelligence in Learning: Balancing Innovation with Ethics

Although AI is the third-most selected topic overall for both cohorts, at 56% the raw percentage is notably higher in France. The group was no more tech-driven than those who gathered in Atlanta, but the high percentage may reflect a genuine drive among French businesses to get ahead with AI, with more than one respondent referring to company-wide technology drives or, in one case, “AI transformation”. 

AI is reshaping the Learning landscape, but its successful integration, for Heads of Learning, requires strategic foresight. Leaders discussed how AI is revolutionising corporate learning and identified key priorities for 2025:

  • Ethical AI Deployment: Maintaining human-centric learning while embracing automation and efficiency.
  • AI-Driven Skills Mapping: Personalising learning experiences through AI-powered skill tagging.
  • Reallocating Freed-Up Capacity: Using AI to automate routine tasks and allow L&D teams to focus on higher-value initiatives.

The use of AI-driven leadership simulations is also growing, providing leaders with immersive, real-world experiences to refine decision-making. Insights from an exclusive session led by iVentiv partner Abilitie shed light on how simulations are transforming leadership learning. They mentioned:

  • AI-Powered Decision-Making: Enabling leaders to test strategies in risk-free environments.
  • Team-Based Challenges: Offering dynamic, real-world business scenarios to build leadership confidence.
  • Blending Technology with Human Interaction: Ensuring that AI enhances leadership learning rather than replacing human judgment.

This shift towards experiential, scenario-based learning underscores a growing demand for practical, high-impact leadership development. One recurring theme was the importance of AI augmentation rather than replacement—ensuring that technology enhances rather than diminishes human engagement.

The Future of Work: Organisational Learning at the Speed of Change

Learning culture has taken the top spot on the priority list for 60% of attendees from our Paris cohort. They said that, to thrive in an era of disruption, organisations must ensure that their learning ecosystems evolve faster than the external environment.

Insights from the iVentiv community pointed to key strategies for achieving this:

  • Fostering a Culture of Curiosity: Creating an environment where learning is continuous and self-directed.
  • Measurement & Impact: Implementing robust metrics to assess the ROI of learning initiatives.
  • Strategic Agility: Embedding learning within business strategy to ensure responsiveness to emerging trends.

Participants also highlighted a paradox: while leaders often question L&D’s impact, they also acknowledge that organisational learning is essential for future resilience. Bridging this gap, the groups said, requires L&D teams to integrate business-first metrics and demonstrate tangible value.

What’s Next for Learning, Talent, and Leadership?

The themes emerging from iVentiv’s Learning Futures exchanges in Atlanta and Paris highlight a transformative moment for corporate Learning, Talent, and Leadership teams.
CLOs and senior leaders are grappling with rapid technological change, shifting workforce expectations, and increasing demands for business alignment.

To navigate this evolving landscape, the experts at both events suggested that organisations must:

  • Align skills strategy with business needs using clear competency frameworks.
  • Enhance Leadership Development with data-driven and qualitative insights.
  • Scale AI-driven solutions through strategic vendor partnerships.
  • Build a learning culture that balances structure with adaptability.

The biggest takeaway from conversations across both events was that the future of Learning & Development will not be defined by incremental improvements—it will be shaped by bold, strategic shifts that reimagine the role of Learning in business success.

As we move into 2025, one thing is certain: the conversation around Learning, Talent, and Leadership is just getting started.

Read the full summary and more in this series on iKnow now.

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“You need to change the people, and changing the people goes through leadership.”
– Christophe Vanden Eede, Global Head of Talent Management, bpostgroup

As the demands on global organisations evolve in the face of disruption, digitalisation, and competitive reinvention, Christophe Vanden Eede’s work at bpostgroup offers a powerful case study in how leadership can catalyse transformation, not just through top-down mandates but by reshaping the very DNA of leadership across every layer of the organisation.

In a recent conversation with iVentiv, Christophe reflected on the seismic changes taking place within the Belgian postal service and how he’s leading an integrated transformation strategy rooted in leadership behaviour.

Christophe will be leading the conversation at Learning Futures Eindhoven on 10-11 June. Watch our interview and get involved, now.

The work of the Chief Learning Officer has always been dynamic. But the conversations captured across iVentiv sessions in Cologne, New York, London, and Copenhagen suggest we’ve entered a new inflection point—one where learning is more visible, more measurable, and more central to strategy than ever before.

This isn’t about checking-off trends. It’s about what’s happening right now inside global organisations that are restructuring the way they define skills, leadership, culture, and capability. Across breakout conversations, fireside chats, and iVentiv’s trademark Collaborative Café, senior learning leaders have reflected openly on what’s working, what’s evolving, and what’s next.

Read on for a detailed and nuanced synthesis—an exploration of facts that are shaping the L&D profession in real time.

“Are we spending too little on L&D?”

If you’re in a senior role in Learning & Development, you probably spend a lot of time worrying about this question. It’s a question that resurfaces in nearly every budget review and vendor conversation in the Learning space. 

Whether you’re setting your internal strategy or shaping the offering of a learning solution, the benchmark for a “good” L&D budget has never been more important — or harder to pin down.

That’s why we put together the iVentiv L&D Budget Report 2025: to provide a clearer picture of what companies are actually spending on L&D today — and what those numbers really say about priorities, value, and the future of work.

Based on responses from 126 senior L&D leaders across global organisations, the report dives into both total budget figures and spend-per-employee breakdowns. 

The headline? L&D budgeting is anything but standard.

Download the report now.

At a time when organisations across the world are rethinking the way they develop and retain talent, Sandvik is taking a holistic, integrated approach to talent optimisation. 

Eva Wikmark Walin, Global Head of Employee Experience at Sandvik, sat down with iVentiv’s Content Manager, Hannah Hoey, to reflect on how the Swedish engineering company is building a connected talent ecosystem, and what others can learn from their journey.

Watch our interview with Eva now to see how you could optimise your talent strategy.
 

In a special episode of The Learning Hack Podcast, recorded live at iVentiv’s Learning Futures London Executive Knowledge Exchange at the Shell headquarters, host John Helmer spoke to three of the leading minds in L&D. 

Against the backdrop of a world that feels more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) than ever, this episode explores how organisations are rising to meet the pace of change, and what it really takes to thrive in 2025 and beyond.

Featuring expert insights from:

  • Kevin Oakes, CEO of the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) and author of Cultural Renovation
  • Kim McMurdo, Head of Organisational Development, Standard Chartered
  • Terry Jones, Head of International Talent Development at Palo Alto Networks

this episode delves deep into the core themes shaping today’s workplace: transforming culture, fostering team-centric leadership in an age of hyper-individualism, and harnessing AI to elevate - not replace - human capability.

Whether you're leading a learning function, evolving your company’s culture, or rethinking the role of performance in a tech-driven age, this episode is a must-listen. Find it here and read on to learn more.

“Learning doesn't necessarily have to just be the partner,” says Stacey VanderHeiden Güney, Global Head of Learning at ArcelorMittal University. “It can actually, I think, be the futurist.”

In an era of relentless disruption and global complexity, Learning is no longer a support function – according to Stacey and many Heads of L&D, it’s a strategic lever for transformation. In this conversation with iVentiv, Stacey shares how the world’s leading steel company, ArcelorMittal, is building a future-ready workforce through agile, scalable, and human-centred learning strategies.

Read more and watch our interview with Stacey now.

In the fast-paced world of Learning, Talent, and Executive Development, finding the right events to attend can be overwhelming. Your inbox is overflowing with conference invites, your calendar is packed, and the challenge remains, which events are truly worth your time?

Enter iVentiv, a global leader in Executive Knowledge Exchanges. In 2025, iVentiv is bringing invaluable conversations directly to you, hosted by top global organisations such as Citi, Shell, KPMG, AXA, Bosch, Visa and more.

If you’re seeking more than just another conference, iVentiv’s events are designed to deliver real impact. Read this blog to find out why an iVentiv event should be on your calendar this year.

As digital transformation reshapes the corporate landscape, organisations are rethinking how they manage talent and skills. At E.ON, AI is at the heart of this evolution, revolutionising skill management, employee development, and internal mobility.

Markéta Alešová, Vice President of Global Talent and Diversity, shares how E.ON is leveraging AI to create a more transparent, skills-based workforce while balancing technological innovation with cultural transformation.

Watch our interview with Markéta now to explore how AI-driven insights, an employee-centric approach, and a shift toward an opportunity marketplace are shaping the future of Talent Management at E.ON.

The world of corporate learning, talent, and leadership is undergoing a period of intense transformation. As organisations strive to build resilient workforces and agile leaders, Chief Learning Officers and Heads of Talent, and Leadership face an array of challenges and opportunities.

The conversations at iVentiv’s recent Learning Futures sessions in Atlanta and Paris highlight the pressing themes that are shaping the future of workplace learning. Leadership and Executive Development, Reskilling and Upskilling, AI, and Learning Culture were the four most popular priorities identified by Global Heads of Learning at iVentiv events in 2024, so it’s no surprise to see all four represented in the top priorities of attendees at last month’s events as well.

These sessions, attended by senior learning executives, surfaced key trends, strategic shifts, and organisational imperatives that will define 2025 and beyond. Read all about what's top of your mind for your peers here.

For more than 50% of the iVentiv community, ‘Reskilling and Upskilling’ is a topic that remains top-of mind as we push ahead into 2025 – an increase of almost ten percentage points from a year ago according to the iVentiv Pulse, which tracks the priorities of Global Heads of Learning and Talent.

What questions have your peers been asking?

  • ‘How do we establish a skills-based framework?’
  • ‘How do we successfully upskill an organisation with skills for today and tomorrow?’
  • ‘How do we upskill and reskill our workforce to become future-ready?’

This blog dives into the topic of skills-based organisations (SBOs), pulling from the insights of some of the most influential voices in Learning, Talent, and Executive Development. Read it now.

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