Exposing L&D’s Operating Model: Navigating the Most Significant Disruption in L&D History with Tom Kupetis and Brandon Dickens
Show notes
In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Tom Kupetis and Brandon Dickens to explore how AI is revealing deep-seated flaws in the traditional L&D operating model. They discuss why the industry’s long-standing reliance on static content and "one size fits all" curricula is no longer fit for purpose in a world where expertise is now available on tap.
Tom and Brandon reflect on the shift from managing content production to facilitating "action learning," where L&D practitioners must act more like business consultants to drive real performance change. They delve into the return of the apprenticeship model - now enabled at scale through AI - and how the role of L&D must evolve from a reactive cost centre into a high-value sensing engine that predicts and solves business failures in real-time.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
L&D will have to stop being course producers and become performance partners. Working directly alongside the people who do the jobs to build apprenticeship-style coaching using AI.
L&D must be deeply embedded in the business, driven by data and learning science, and judged on measurable performance outcomes, not on volume of training.
BEST MOMENTS
“Gen AI is … putting expertise on tap, basically.”
“When you're trying to get a team to really adopt AI and champion it … you have to create that aha moment.”
"If every L&D employee had the anthropic kind of ecosystem at their disposal, it would 10x what they're doing."
GUEST BIOS
Tom Kupetis, Executive Vice President, St. Charles Consulting Group
Tom has 20+ years’ experience delivering management consulting and learning solutions to Fortune 500 organisations. A results-focused advisor, he partners with senior leaders to link learning directly to business outcomes such as strategic transformation, risk reduction, revenue growth, and speed to profit. As Executive Vice President, Tom leads new client acquisition and firm growth, shaping St. Charles’ client‑centric go‑to‑market strategy and positioning in strategic learning services.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-a-kupetis-ii-5a427b3/
Brandon Dickens, Vice President for Advanced Solutions, NIIT
Brandon is Vice President for Advanced Solutions at NIIT, where he leads AI-powered learning innovation for Fortune 500 clients. He focuses on AI coaching systems, adaptive simulations and performance platforms that shift L&D from content delivery to measurable business impact. Brandon helped create NIIT’s Modal AI Coach framework and “Judy,” an AI activity generator and coach for K-12 teachers built with The Writing Revolution. He co-authored The Transcendence Doctrine series, arguing that AI ends the business case for content-centric learning and forces L&D to prove value through performance.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandondickens/
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523
https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home
ABOUT THE HOST
David James
David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa.
As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D.
CONTACT METHOD
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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