What does it really mean to run L&D like a business—and is that even the right goal?
In this episode, David sits down with Ryan Austin, CEO of Cognota, to challenge the clichés and dig into what it actually takes to make Learning & Development a strategic partner. From shifting governance models to aligning with real business outcomes, Ryan shares how L&D can evolve from a support function to a source of measurable impact.
They also explore how AI is reshaping operations, the pitfalls of over-indexing on metrics like completion rates, and why chasing ROI might be missing the point.
Join us as we discuss:
– Why “run L&D like a business” needs a serious rethink
– The difference between being a partner vs. an internal service provider
– How L&D leaders can earn their seat at the table through alignment and access to data
– The smart way to integrate AI in learning ops without scaling bad habits