#82 Curious About Learning, Curiosity, AI, Leadership, Talent & Women in Leadership

"L&D is dead - Long Live Learning" In this episode of The Curious Advantage Podcast, Simon Brown and Paul Ashcroft speak with Dr. Serena Gonsalves-Fersch, Global Head of Talent at SoftwareOne, to explore the intersection of curiosity, learning, leadership, and the future of work. Together, they unpack: The evolution of Learning & Development (L&D) The role of AI in shaping modern learning strategies The importance of women in leadership How talent management and organizational change go hand in hand Why agility and curiosity are critical skills for future-ready organizations Whether you're in leadership, L&D, HR, or talent development, this conversation offers fresh insights into the skills, mindsets, and strategies shaping high-performing, future-focused organisations. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Curiosity and Learning Leadership 02:42 The Evolution of Learning and Development 05:34 Rethinking Leadership Training 08:52 Agility in Learning Functions 11:36 Frameworks for Modern Learning 14:45 Building a Talent Pipeline 17:28 Integrating Learning with Business Needs 20:42 The Future of Learning and Development 27:14 The Connection Between Learning and Talent Management 33:44 Women in Learning Leadership: Bridging the Gap 38:06 AI's Impact on Learning and Development 44:42 Navigating Sensory Overload and Environmental Impact 50:24 The Future of Learning: Curiosity and Organizational Learning About The Curious Advantage Podcast Join the authors of The Curious Advantage in an exploration of how individuals and organizations can harness the power of curiosity to drive success in our new digital reality. In each episode, they engage in enlightening conversations with world-leading experts from a diversity of disciplines to bring to life the latest understanding of curiosity in a way that’s useful to anyone looking to embark on a journey of discovery, navigate challenges, and unlock opportunities. About The Curious Advantage Book The Curious Advantage is an exploration of the idea of Curiosity and its increasing importance for thriving in the digital age. Taking the widest possible exploration of things Curious – historical, contemporary, neuro-scientific, anthropological, behavioural, semantic and business-focused. At the heart of the book is our model of Curiosity, called ’Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’. This model provides individuals with a practical framework for how to be successfully Curious and use Curiosity as a power skill to unlock their own potential. To find out more visit: curiousadvantage.com Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is done by Danny Cross and video editing by Jessica Wickham.