The landscape of learning and development (L&D) is ever-evolving. Staying current with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices keeps us on top of our game.
Who better to learn from than the leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of L&D? We've compiled a list of 19 influential professionals to follow on LinkedIn to stay ahead of the curve in the L&D world.
1. Anamaria Dorgo
Anamaria Dorgo, founder of L&D Shakers, is all about community-driven learning. She shares insights on social learning, community building, and peer-to-peer learning models that foster a collaborative learning environment.
2. Hadiya Nuriddin
Hadiya Nuriddin is an award-winning talent development professional. In addition to over 20 years of experience in L&D, she’s written and contributed to several books, teaches for a Master of Science in Learning Design & Technology program, and facilitates several workshops for the Association for Talent Development (ATD). On LinkedIn, Hadiya shares workshops and events, and publishes a weekly newsletter.
3. Lavinia Mehedințu
Co-founder of Offbeat, Lavinia Mehedințu, is a key voice in the L&D community. She writes about L&D trends, social learning, and behavior change, providing valuable insights for anyone looking to advance their L&D career.
4. Christopher Lind
Christopher is currently Chief Learning Officer at ChenMed. He’s also the host of weekly Learning Tech Talks on LinkedIn. Christopher posts regularly about digital transformation and the future of work, highlighting a number of other voices in the industry.
5. Ajay Jacob
After nearly two decades in L&D, Ajay Jacob specializes in learning strategy, platforms, and design. He helps organizations shift from traditional training to performance support, focusing on skills application and continuous improvement. Ajay is also an avid storyteller—you’ll love reading his posts on LinkedIn.
6. Laura Overton
Laura is one of those people who’s done it all. For 15 years, she led a global research program on how learning innovation delivers business value. Since 2004, she’s authored or co-authored 70+ major research reports and 300 articles for industry publications. She posts about the future of learning and workplace development.
7. Michelle Ockers
Michelle Ockers is an L&D strategist and host of the Learning Uncut podcast. She regularly posts about the strategy and how-to’s of creating great learning solutions, frameworks, and teams.
8. Holly MacDonald
Holly MacDonald is a learning strategist with a focus on performance improvement. Her posts often cover practical approaches to designing effective learning solutions and the importance of aligning learning with business goals.
9. Dr. Ajit Kumar Kar
Dr. Ajit Kumar Kar models what it means to be a lifelong learner, continuously learning and leveraging those insights for people development. He shares insights on the latest trends in digital learning and how he’s applying those in his role as Deputy General Manager, Learning & Development.
10. Hannah Clark
Hannah Clark is the Marketing Director at MAAS Marketing and the host of the Marketing for Learning Podcast. Hannah is passionate about helping L&D professionals market and promote their content to learners—driving adoption and engagement.
(Listen to Hannah share her favorite L&D marketing tips on this Underscore webinar: Unleashing the Power of Marketing for Education Programs.)
11. Ashley Sinclair
Ashley Sinclair is a marketing expert turned L&D advocate at MAAS Marketing (with Hannah!). She writes about the intersection of marketing and learning, offering unique perspectives on learner engagement and communication strategies.
12. Dr. Heidi Kirby
Heidi Kirby is a passionate L&D consultant with 10+ years of experience taking learning solutions from conception to launch. Through The Bloc Podcast and her content site, Useful Stuff, Heidi shares practical tips on instructional design, learning strategy, and how to create effective and engaging learning experiences.
13. Helen Marshall
Helen Marshall is the Chief Learning Officer at Thrive. With a focus on the intersection of technology and learning, Helen shares valuable insights on digital learning strategies, innovation in L&D, and the future of workplace learning. Follow her for practical advice on implementing digital learning solutions and staying ahead of industry trends.
14. Lauren Waldman
Lauren Waldman, also known as the "Learning Pirate," is a neuroscience-based learning strategist. She brings a unique perspective to the L&D field by integrating neuroscience principles into learning design. Lauren regularly posts about brain-based learning, cognitive science, and how to create effective learning experiences that align with how our brains naturally learn.
15. Nadia Johnson
Nadia Johnson is a passionate Learning Designer. With a Master's in Instructional Design and Technology, Nadia has worked within EdTech and educational publishing to create content and learning experiences for over 1 million learners and educators. As the host of The EdUp EdTech Podcast, she stays current with education and technology trends. Follow her for insights on innovative, inclusive learning experiences, and the impact of instructional technology on education.
16. Holly Owens
Holly Owens is an experienced instructional designer and educator. She’s also an Adjunct Instructor at Touro University’s Graduate School of Technology. As the host of the EdUp EdTech podcast, she shares the latest EdTech tools and trends. Follow her for insights on online learning and educational technology.
(You can hear my journey from K-12 to corporate L&D in this episode of the EdUp EdTech podcast.)
17. Nicole Harris
Nicole Harris is a Learning Strategist and Chief Learning Officer at Nicole Harris Learning Solutions, LLC. With a master's degree in Instructional Design and Technology, Nicole specializes in creating custom, hands-on learning experiences that drive business results, bridge skill gaps, and elevate human performance. Follow her for insights on innovative learning strategies.
18. Dave McAlinden
Dave McAlinden is an Associate Director of Instructional Design & Media at Columbia University School of Professional Studies. He talks largely about instructional design models, theories, and frameworks. If you’re interested in diving deeper into multimedia learning, cognitive psychology, behavior change, and learning transfer, give Dave a follow!
19. Connie Malamed
Connie Malamed is an expert in visual design for learning and eLearning. She’s the founder of Mastering Instructional Design, an international community of people growing in instructional design skills. She regularly shares tips on instructional design, visual communication, and how to create effective learning materials.
A big thank you to these L&D practitioners and thought leaders who generously share their experiences for us to learn from.
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