L&D professionals champion learning, curiosity, and experimentation for others and yet our own ways of working can still rely on rigid plans, large launches, and the pressure to get things right the first time. What would change if we applied the same learning principles we advocate to our everyday work?

This keynote explores how to approach uncertainty with curiosity, learn in public, and lead like a scientist. Using the experimental mindset as a practical framework, this session reframes L&D as a practice of inquiry, helping practitioners lead change not by having all the answers, but by learning faster together.

What are the components of a learning ecosystem?

Johanna Bolin Tingvall will share her experience building learning cultures in fast-growing companies where learning and innovation go hand in hand. She will then bring this to life with a practical example that demonstrates how team development supports both.

As AI reshapes how work is created and delivered, learning teams have an opportunity to rethink their structure, not just their programs. This session shares an approach that blends learning expertise with embedded subject-matter experts, bringing learning closer to the product.

By hiring people who understand the business at its core, learning teams can build credibility, contribute to cross-functional strategy, and shift from support function to strategic partner. This way, relevance is not claimed. It is intentionally designed.

Success stories are great, but what about the programs that flop, the stakeholders who never buy-in, or the career moves that miss the mark?

Nick Bilotta (LX Manager, Discord) shares the toughest 18 months of his career—missteps, frustrations, and hard-won lessons. From late stakeholder engagement to misaligned programs, he unpacks why L&D initiatives fail—and how to build better ones. This session isn’t about just accepting failure, it’s about embracing and learning from it. Walk away with strategies for treating learning as a product, leveraging LLMs, and adapting when plans go sideways. Because trust me, we’ve all been there.