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2025 was a year of highs, lows, and plenty of hype in the world of L&D. From the rise of skills-based practices to AI adoption, L&D leaders navigated a rapidly evolving landscape where relevance and impact were under the microscope.
We recently hosted a webinar with industry experts sharing their reflections on the trends that shaped the year.
Insights from the panel:
- Nelson Sivalingam, CEO and Co-founder of HowNow, globally recognised for reimagining how L&D drives business impact.
- Andy Lancaster, award-winning L&D thought leader and Chief Learning Officer at Reimagine People Development, shaping measurable learning outcomes across the globe.
- Stella Collins, internationally acclaimed learning strategist, translating neuroscience, AI, and technology into practical learning that drives performance.
- Ross Garner, award-winning learning experience designer and podcast host, crafting learner-centric solutions that transform organisations.
Here’s a concise review of the winners, losers, and overhyped trends in L&D for 2025.
The Winners of 2025
Skills & Evidence-Based Practice
2025 saw clear winners in L&D - trends that delivered tangible value and showed real progress. From skills and evidence-based practice to systemic thinking and AI adoption, these areas stood out as game-changers for learning leaders.
Skills & Evidence-Based Practice
Skills and research-backed approaches emerged as major winners. L&D leaders are increasingly moving beyond assumptions and buzzwords, focusing instead on measurable capabilities.
Nelson Sivalingam, CEO of HowNow, highlighted the growing emphasis on skills:
"For me, it is actually skills... we're really starting to get the maximum value out of it, and it was a winner for the progress it made in 2025."
Andy Lancaster, Chief Learning Officer at Reimagine People Development, noted the rise of evidence-based thinking:
"I've seen an increase in the use of evidence-based research... more people interrogating, contextualising, using research in their work... get away from just crazy ideas, and actually get some research-based thinking behind what we do."
Together, these insights point to a shift towards credible, outcomes-focused L&D - learning that builds real skills, backed by research and evidence.
Systemic Thinking & Business Connection
Another winner in 2025 was the move beyond the L&D silo, with leaders thinking more strategically about how learning supports the wider business.
Andy Lancaster explained:
"The biggest winner... I'm going to go systemic thinking. At last, at last, we're beginning to think beyond the L&D silo."
Stella Collins, international learning strategist, reinforced this point:
"People are really beginning to think about... how do we actually help people to do their jobs better?... that connection into the business. What's the business need?"
By linking learning initiatives to real business outcomes, L&D is gaining credibility and showing measurable value across organisations.
AI Adoption
AI moved from experimentation to practical implementation, becoming a tool for delivering learning and value at work.
Ross Garner, learning experience designer, observed:
"AI is obviously... of 2025... we had 50% of respondents now actively using AI rather than experimenting with it... it's now being used to actually deliver learning, or deliver value at work."
This shift shows that AI is no longer just a novelty; it’s becoming a practical, performance-enhancing tool in the L&D toolkit.
The Losers of 2025
While 2025 had its wins, some trends stumbled, revealing challenges that L&D leaders must address. From fading DEI initiatives to outdated metrics and talent struggles, these areas marked a step back for the profession.
DEI & ESG Initiatives
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and ESG initiatives lost momentum in 2025, raising concerns about L&D’s role in driving meaningful cultural change.
Ross Garner, learning experience designer, lamented:
"The heartbreaking answer... DEI and ESG... have completely disappeared... it's a real shame."
Nelson Sivalingam, CEO of HowNow, added:
"I think it was put in for largely political reasons, and it was taken out for largely political reasons."
This decline signals a potential step back in embedding these important principles into learning strategies, highlighting the need for L&D to stay committed to social impact and organisational responsibility.
Completion Rates as a Key Metric
Another losing trend was the over-reliance on completion rates as a measure of learning impact.
Andy Lancaster, Chief Learning Officer at Reimagine People Development, explained:
"The big loser is that completion is no longer seen as an indicator of impact... the visibility of value goes way beyond completion metrics."
Stella Collins, international learning strategist, agreed:
"Completion rates are still being asked for because they are super easy to measure, but they are not the answer."
This reflects a broader shift toward evaluating learning through meaningful outcomes, rather than surface-level metrics that don’t tell the full story.
L&D’s Relevance & Talent
Finally, L&D’s influence and its talent pipeline faced challenges in 2025.
Nelson Sivalingam noted:
"Execs really don't see L&D as a part of the solution to a business problem."
Stella Collins added:
"Some of the people in L&D, who are fantastic at their jobs, have been replaced."
These insights highlight the ongoing need to prove the strategic value of L&D and ensure that top talent is recognised, nurtured, and retained.
The Overhyped Trends of 2025
Not every trend lived up to its promise in 2025. Some areas were overhyped, showing that even the most exciting innovations need careful implementation and realistic expectations.
AI’s Unfulfilled Promise
While AI adoption grew, certain claims around personalisation and impact didn’t match reality.
Stella Collins, international learning strategist, reflected:
"The biggest hype... AI personalisation... all it seems to be is you might get asked a few questions... but actually, you still end up doing the same as everybody else."
Ross Garner, learning experience designer, added:
"Overhyped for me... is AI... in a year's time, there's not going to be any work for me to do. That has not been my experience."
Nelson Sivalingam, CEO of HowNow, agreed:
"The overhyped trend was actually AI literacy programs... very generic... piece of training program."
These insights show that while AI is a powerful tool, its potential is often overstated, and leaders should focus on practical applications that deliver real value.
Skills Frameworks
Skills frameworks also received more hype than substance.
Andy Lancaster, Chief Learning Officer at Reimagine People Development, observed:
"It breaks my heart, but I'm gonna say overhyped on skills frameworks... we are in danger of just jumping on the latest bandwagon."
Nelson Sivalingam added:
"The hype part is the skills-based organisation... by the time everyone figures out how to become an SBO, it'll no longer be relevant, because AI would have found a better way."
The lesson here is clear: frameworks need careful planning and strategic intent, rather than being adopted because they’re trendy.
Conclusion
2025 was a year of significant progress, painful lessons, and cautionary tales for L&D. Skills, systemic thinking, and AI adoption stood out as winners, while DEI initiatives, completion metrics, and L&D’s strategic relevance showed vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, some overhyped trends, particularly around AI personalisation and skills frameworks, highlighted the need for careful, evidence-based implementation.
As we move into 2026, L&D leaders must focus on tangible value, align with business outcomes, and harness technology thoughtfully—not just follow the hype.
You can watch the full webinar recording here:
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