How Lastminute.com Aligns L&D with Business Goals, AI & Meaningful Metrics | L&D Disrupt | Episode 107

What happens when L&D stops thinking like a support function and starts thinking like the business?In this episode of L&D Disrupt, Kelsey Botne from HowNow is joined by Elizabeth Chaloner, Head of Learning & Talent Development at Lastminute.com, to explore what it really takes to align learning with business priorities.Elizabeth shares why L&D professionals should see themselves as business people with L&D expertise not the other way around, and explains how this mindset shift changes everything from stakeholder conversations to measuring success. Using her memorable "pastry chef" analogy, she discusses why understanding the outcome should always come before designing the solution.The conversation also explores how AI is helping L&D teams work smarter, from analysing qualitative feedback and performance reviews to building assessments and sense-checking strategy. Elizabeth explains why capability metrics, behaviour change and business outcomes matter far more than course completions and learning hours.If you're looking to increase L&D's influence, prove impact, and use AI in practical ways, this episode is packed with actionable insights.In this episode, you'll learn:Why L&D needs to think like the businessHow to become a strategic partner instead of an order takerWhich learning metrics leaders actually care aboutPractical ways to use AI in L&D beyond content creationHow to measure capability and behaviour changeWhy shipping quickly often beats waiting for perfectionHow to build a culture of continuous learning during constant changeTimestamps:00:00 Why L&D Must Think Like the Business01:22 Meet Your Host01:44 Elizabeth's Career Journey02:19 Becoming a Business Partner03:31 The Pastry Chef Analogy04:44 Listening for Business Strategy05:52 Using AI as a Strategic Coach06:40 Navigating Barriers & Trade-offs08:13 Showing Value Early11:15 The Metrics That Really Matter13:42 Empowering Your Team16:01 Growing While Delivering17:20 Leading Through Constant Change18:31 Progress Over Perfection19:04 Forecasting with Data20:23 Building a Learning Mindset22:31 Making Time to Learn24:29 Staying Curious About AI25:43 From Learning Content to Behaviour Change28:00 Balancing Learning with Business Priorities29:08 AI for Learning Insights30:59 Avoiding AI Distractions32:17 Hot Takes & Closing Thoughts