In this Brandon Hall Group™ Excellence at Work Podcast, Rachel Cooke, Chief Operating Officer at Brandon Hall Group, and Scott Kinney, CEO of NovoEd, explore how organizations can navigate volatility, build workforce capability at speed, and make smart, sustainable decisions about AI in learning and development.
To read the Executive Interview with Scott Kinney, click here.
Key Discussion Points:
- AI Is Not a Fad, It Is Truly Transformational: Scott draws a direct parallel between AI today and the internet in the late 1990s. While market hype will rise and fall and some companies will not survive the cycle, the underlying transformation is real and lasting. Just as internet-based technologies eventually became the fabric of daily life, AI will fundamentally reshape how organizations operate, learn, and grow.
- L&D Teams Are More Necessary Than Ever, Not Less: AI does not eliminate the need for learning professionals. In fact, large organizations need their L&D function more than ever to build programs that deploy AI tools responsibly, protect sensitive data, and ensure employees develop capabilities that are meaningful to the business, not just answers retrieved from a chatbot. The fundamentals of how adults learn still apply.
- The Right Ingredients Matter: Rachel’s analogy of a kitchen cupboard full of ingredients captures the challenge well. Having access to every AI tool available does not produce results. Knowing which tools work together, in which environments, and how to activate them for their fullest potential is what creates something truly valuable for the workforce.
- Capability Building Must Tie to Business Strategy: Generic AI content and off-the-shelf tools may work for smaller organizations, but large enterprises need learning that reflects their own content, their unique value proposition, and the specific direction the C-suite is trying to move the company. L&D leaders must be tech savvy enough to integrate systems while never losing sight of the human fundamentals of adult learning.
- Practice Is the Most Exciting Frontier in L&D Right Now: Scott identifies AI-enabled practice as one of the most compelling developments NovoEd is bringing to market. AI can now provide immediate, personalized feedback in soft skill areas like presentation, sales, and leadership in ways that feel safe and structured, while capturing data that benefits both the individual learner and the broader organization. This is something a chatbot simply cannot replicate.
- Coaching and Mentoring Will Evolve, Not Disappear: AI will disrupt certain coaching models, particularly more transactional or on-demand coaching platforms. But mentoring, which is deeply internal and relational, and high-stakes executive coaching will remain very human. The goal is not to replace these relationships but to scale the support around them.
- Caution and Progress Must Coexist: Organizations in regulated industries like financial services and healthcare face real risk if they move too fast with AI. At the same time, the benefits are enormous. The companies that will lead are those that develop a clear vision of what they are trying to accomplish, who their learners are, and how to assemble the right tools and partners to get there without exposing themselves to avoidable risk.
- The Golden Age of Learning Is Here for Those Ready to Lead It: Brandon Hall Group research shows that most organizations are still at the early stages of AI progression, with many sitting at levels one and two. The companies that move thoughtfully and progressively now will define what great looks like for everyone else. Scott is optimistic, and the conversation makes clear why.
The discussion is a grounding reminder that in a world of rapid disruption, the organizations that win will be those that pair bold ambition with disciplined execution, keep humans at the center of the learning experience, and choose partners who can help them navigate complexity without losing sight of what learning is ultimately for.
