Running L&D Like a Startup: AY Founders Adam & Rich unpack the mindset to increase influence & real learning impact

In this special episode, Assemble You Co-Founders Adam Lacey and Richard Ward step out from behind the interview chair for a raw, founder-to-founder conversation - sharing the practical lessons from building Assemble You that L&D leaders can apply immediately to increase adoption, influence stakeholders and drive behavioural change.Instead of theory or frameworks, this episode is built from real experience: testing ideas fast, getting buy-in, marketing learning internally, and building the conditions where development actually sticks.Adam and Rich explore what happens when L&D is run with a startup mindset - agile, learner-led, problem-focused and impact-driven. They break down the lessons, mistakes and mindset shifts that helped Assemble You scale audio-based learning into hundreds of organisations, and how the same thinking can help you accelerate progress with limited resource.In this episode, you’ll learn:- How to validate learning needs like a product team- Why managers - not content - often determine adoption- How to build internal champions who spread learning for you- Simple internal branding tactics that boost visibility- The power of minimal viable learning vs. over-engineering- How to influence stakeholders and stay strategic under pressure- Where to focus first when resource is tight- Why psychological safety fuels experimentation and growth- How to turn requests into patterns - and patterns into strategyIf you want your learning initiatives to spread faster, embed deeper and demonstrate value sooner, this one is worth your time. It’s an honest behind-the-scenes conversation designed to give L&D leaders clarity, confidence and practical shortcuts they can use straight away.If you love podcast-style learning, Assemble You gives you ready-to-use, audio-first courses that slot straight into your learning strategy.Help your workforce build practical skills - communication, productivity, leadership and more - with engaging content people actually want to listen to. Explore assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.