Is L&D In An Existential Crisis? | EdTech Talks EP1
Mindset AI
44:02
Every other week, someone declares: “L&D is dead.” And yet…it’s still here. So is Learning & Development actually in crisis, or are we just addicted to dramatic headlines?
In this debut episode of EdTech Talks, hosts Lori Niles-Hofmann and Jack Houghton dive straight into the mess with Josh Squires, SVPof Strategy & Growth—a guy who’s scaled startups like Docebo to IPO, built a university in Malta (yes, really), and now cuts through the industry’s obsession with “AI-powered ecosystems” to get back to what actually matters: business impact.
This episode pulls no punches:
- Why L&D keeps failing to prove value to the business
- The jargon trap: SCORM, microlearning, “Netflix of learning,” and other buzzwords that refuse to die
- The rise of AI in learning tech—how to tell hype from reality in vendor demos
- What would really happen if L&D disappeared tomorrow
- Whether entire L&D departments could be automated (gulp)
And because it’s EdTech Talks, there’s banter, Maltese falcons, and a rapid-fire round that might just reveal too much about pineapple pizza preferences.
👉 If you’re tired of sugar-coated keynotes and want real talk on where learning is heading, save your seta now!
Spoiler alert: This webinar room will be full of take-with-you resources on top of the great discussion...
Speakers
Jack Houghton
Co-founder & CPO, Mindset AI
Jack Houghton is the Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of Mindset AI, where he helps SaaS companies embed AI agents natively into their products. He’s led Mindset AI to power AI experiences for 2,700+ organizations, including Training Industry, Fuse Universal, and SkillPath.
Before Mindset AI, Jack co-founded Half-Full, a platform connecting young people with employers, and his work has been recognized internationally — from speaking at the Global Young Leaders Summit in Beijing and Hong Kong to being honored by the UK Prime Minister.
Lori Niles-Hofmann
EdTech AI Strategist, 8levers
Lori Niles-Hofmann is a senior EdTech strategist and author of The Eight Levers of EdTech Transformation, with 25 years’ experience across banking, consulting, and marketing. She helps Fortune 500 CLOs turn complex digital learning and skills transformations into strategic growth, while advising EdTech vendors on product vision and investors on market opportunities.
Data-driven, ecosystem-focused, and unafraid of the bold, Lori is currently exploring the possibilities of Agentic AI.
Josh Squires
SVP of Strategy and Growth, Bongo
Josh Squires is SVP of Strategy and Growth at Bongo and a learning transformation leader with over 20 years in EdTech. He has scaled Docebo through IPO, driven international growth at Looop (exited to 360Learning), and now helps global organizations align learning strategy with business impact.
Replays
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44:02