Running L&D Like a Startup: AY Founders Adam & Rich unpack the mindset to increase influence & real learning impact

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The Assembly

Assemble You

91 episodes

4 days ago

The Assembly: Where L&D Minds Assemble The future of workplace learning doesn’t live in theory — it lives in lived experience, fresh research, and honest conversations. That’s what The Assembly delivers. Hosted by Adam Lacey, Co-Founder of Assemble You and digital learning veteran, and Brigid McCormack, a newcomer to the world of L&D, this is your go-to space for rich, real talk on what’s driving L&D forward. In each episode, you’ll find: Richer insights that go beyond surface-level tips to unpack what really works in learning today Expert perspectives from leaders shaping the L&D landscape Access to new research on tech, methods, and innovations defining tomorrow’s learning culture Practical strategies you can use right now to build essential skills like leadership, communication, and adaptability Whether you’re designing programs, shaping strategy, or driving culture change — if learning is your thing, this is your podcast. Formally known as L&D Challenges.

Self-Improvement

Education

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Self-Improvement

Education

Running L&D Like a Startup: AY Founders Adam & Rich unpack the mindset to increase influence & real learning impact

The Assembly

55 minutes

1 month ago

Running L&D Like a Startup: AY Founders Adam & Rich unpack the mindset to increase influence & real learning impact

In this special episode, Assemble You Co-Founders Adam Lacey and Richard Ward step out from behind the interview chair for a raw, founder-to-founder conversation - sharing the practical lessons from building Assemble You that L&D leaders can apply immediately to increase adoption, influence stakeholders and drive behavioural change.

Instead of theory or frameworks, this episode is built from real experience: testing ideas fast, getting buy-in, marketing learning internally, and building the conditions where development actually sticks.

Adam and Rich explore what happens when L&D is run with a startup mindset - agile, learner-led, problem-focused and impact-driven. They break down the lessons, mistakes and mindset shifts that helped Assemble You scale audio-based learning into hundreds of organisations, and how the same thinking can help you accelerate progress with limited resource.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- How to validate learning needs like a product team

- Why managers - not content - often determine adoption

- How to build internal champions who spread learning for you

- Simple internal branding tactics that boost visibility

- The power of minimal viable learning vs. over-engineering

- How to influence stakeholders and stay strategic under pressure

- Where to focus first when resource is tight

- Why psychological safety fuels experimentation and growth

- How to turn requests into patterns - and patterns into strategy

If you want your learning initiatives to spread faster, embed deeper and demonstrate value sooner, this one is worth your time. It’s an honest behind-the-scenes conversation designed to give L&D leaders clarity, confidence and practical shortcuts they can use straight away.

If you love podcast-style learning, Assemble You gives you ready-to-use, audio-first courses that slot straight into your learning strategy.

Help your workforce build practical skills - communication, productivity, leadership and more - with engaging content people actually want to listen to. Explore assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.