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The 2026 Learning and Development Global Sentiment Survey is here, and lead researcher and author Donald H. Taylor joins us to unpack insights from more than 3,500 L&D professionals worldwide. This year’s survey shows rising pressure to demonstrate value, evolving perspectives on AI, and the challenges shaping the future of the profession.

 

Show Notes:

Donald Taylor discusses what this year’s results reveal about the state of L&D and why the future of L&D may depend on stronger relationships, smarter use of data, and a willingness to rethink familiar approaches.

• L&D leaders are being asked to do more with less. Don said budget pressure remains a major theme, with many professionals focused on proving value while protecting their teams and resources.
• AI is still dominant, but the conversation is maturing. Don noted that AI is no longer just about faster content creation. More leaders are thinking about how it can support skills, practice, simulation, and new kinds of learning experiences.
• Showing value is now a top concern. According to Don, this has risen to an all-time high, driven in part by concern over jobs, budgets, and the need to connect learning more clearly to performance.
• Data matters, but relationships matter just as much. Don emphasized that L&D cannot make better use of data without building trust and relationships across the organization. Access to useful business data depends on those connections.
• The most confident L&D leaders are better networked. Don observed that the people most ready to take action and try new things are often the ones with stronger internal and external networks to support them.
   

Read the 2026 Global L&D Sentiment Survey

Powered by Learning earned Awards of Distinction in the Podcast/Audio and Business Podcast categories from The Communicator Awards and a Gold and Silver Davey Award. The podcast is also named to Feedspot's Top 40 L&D podcasts and Training Industry’s Ultimate L&D Podcast Guide.