As organisations grapple with the accelerating pace of change, L&D leaders face a remarkable challenge: building a nimble, data-informed learning culture that can keep skills and capabilities aligned with evolving business needs. In this episode of The Unforgettable Learning Podcast, Lori Niles-Hofmann, co-founder of NilesNolen and renowned learning strategist, provides her analysis of the evolving role of skills in the workplace. 

Lori makes a compelling case for why organisations must evolve from rigid job roles to become "skills-based" - fluidly assembling teams by matching people's skills to dynamic project requirements. We discuss the emerging role of the Chief Skills Officer: as strategic skill scouts and curators, CSOs look for upcoming capability gaps and own their organisations’s ability to upskill their workforce proactively. 

To meet this change head on, Lori discusses building the right type of learning culture - one where leadership provides time, psychological safety and dedicated "learning spaces" for employees to build new skills through applied practice. With candor and expertise, she outlines concrete strategies for shifting workplace mindsets around learning. 

For L&D innovators exploring what’s next for their organisations, this episode offers a thought-provoking vision for the direction learning is headed and puts forward some key points to consider when preparing for a skills-based future.