Every year, International Women's Day gives us a chance to pause and celebrate the women doing brilliant things around us. This year, we're keeping it close to home.

At HowNow, we're lucky to work alongside some seriously talented women and today we're shining a light on exactly what they've been up to. From hosting podcasts to passing exams, building partnerships to driving innovation, the women at HowNow are busy doing cool things.

So we thought, why not celebrate it?

Before we dive in, here's what our VP of People, Pauline, has to say about the idea of give to get and why it matters more than ever.

Pauline Taylor, VP of People

Pauline is our VP of People and the new host of the L&D Disrupt Podcast. Taking on a brand new challenge in front of an audience isn't easy but Pauline didn't let the nerves win. She backed herself, leaned into the discomfort and treated it as exactly what it was: an opportunity to grow.
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Lia Ferreira, Assistant Management Accountant

Lia recently passed her second AAT Level 3 assessment and the way she talks about it says everything.

"I am where I am today because, earlier in my journey, a team of women believed in me, allowing me to step into the world of accounting. They made me feel that my curiosity and thirst for knowledge were something to be proud of, and supported me every step of the way whilst I studied for AAT Level 2."

That's not just a professional win. That's the kind of progress that changes the direction of someone's life.
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Stephanie Deakins, Learning Content Specialist

"As a Learning Content Specialist, my role truly revolves around building meaningful connections and trusting partnerships. Throughout my career I often felt behind and sometimes admittedly a little directionless as I didn't follow a traditional academic route but I found my greatest learnings through others.

I credit so much of my journey of development to inspiring women I've worked with and sought advice from. An important achievement for me personally has been learning to shift my mindset and actively challenging myself to combat my own imposter syndrome. I've felt empowered to step out of my comfort zone gradually. This collective support from both women and male allies gave me the space to find my voice and take on new challenges on my own terms, turning once-daunting hurdles into manageable milestones."
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Georgia Inwood, Marketing Coordinator

"When I joined HowNow, I was pretty shy, but excited to learn. What made the difference was the trust, support and encouragement I received from both the women and men around me, including our senior leadership team. Their guidance helped me build confidence and celebrate my wins along the way.

Over the past year, I've taken on more responsibilities and grown into owning our events strategy. From negotiating deals, coached by strong women in my team, to orchestrating large-scale events where I run team briefings, coordinate multiple stakeholders and ensure strong execution. These opportunities have stretched me, sharpened my leadership skills and allowed me to make a tangible impact for the company.

This journey wouldn't have been possible without allies across the company and industry who believed in me and offered guidance."
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Ishika Dixit, UI/UX Designer

"It actually started with an article I read on LinkedIn about how AI could change the way designers prototype and test products. I was quite sceptical at first. I wasn't sure if it was really possible or just another tech trend.

But curiosity got the better of me. I started exploring different AI tools and cloud models to see whether they could actually help make the design and prototyping process faster and easier. Around the same time, the company was going through a redesign, and that gave me the idea to apply these experiments to our design system. What started as a small personal experiment slowly evolved into building a full prototype workflow using AI.

I spent several weeks working on it, trying to build something that would remove friction from the design process and make product testing much faster. Now the team can generate and test ideas much more quickly without needing to manually build prototypes every time.

For me, growth comes from experimentation, and HowNow gives me the space and trust to explore ideas and turn them into things that genuinely help the team."
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Naaz Sameja, People Advisor

"There are quite a few things I feel proud of during my time here. One of the biggest has been scaling the team. When I joined, we had around 30 people in the Mumbai office. The team is now 83% bigger. I've had the opportunity to hire for several crucial roles across functions, and I'm especially proud of the impact the new hires have made on HowNow

Building, scaling and supporting the team independently has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding and it's allowed me to take full ownership of shaping the people function locally.

I'm also embedding myself into operations work. Coming from a pure recruitment background, this pushed me to grow, learn quickly and contribute more strategically to the business beyond just hiring.

A big milestone for me was the effort that went into us receiving our first Mumbai recognition: 'Best Startup to Work For 2025'. Being part of building the culture and employer brand that led to that recognition was incredibly fulfilling."
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‍Akshita Mehta, RevOps Manager

"My journey started in fashion by choice but after graduation and joining my first role, I realised I was drawn to how companies function, the systems they use and the data they review to make strategic decisions. Slowly and steadily I upskilled myself and pivoted to Revenue Operations.

I love this job because I help leadership make decisions based on data and facts in order to achieve company goals. I create processes and systems that help revenue-generating teams focus on the customer rather than manual work. I'm especially excited by the developments happening in AI and how its use in my field is shifting from a cost-saving narrative to one of measurable growth and operating leverage. AI is a powerful tool for operations.

Doing the right thing and standing up for what you believe in, no matter the consequences which is something I learned from my father. His integrity and character were unshaken despite all the pressures that surrounded him. His answer was always: 'I cannot betray my values and morals.' That has left a lasting impression on me."
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Kelsey Botne, Learning and Performance Lead

"Being a learning lead means helping organisations connect learning to real work. I'm most interested in moving away from pure content consumption and designing learning that actually changes how people think, decide and perform.

I've been lucky to work with incredible women throughout my career who have challenged ideas, shared their knowledge generously and supported others to grow. They've shaped how I think about leadership in learning and push others to be collaborative, curious and focused on impact.

What excites me about the future is how learning is becoming more embedded in work itself. Platforms like HowNow make it easier to bring the right knowledge to people when they need it and that's where learning really starts to make a difference."

And, this is just a snapshot. We're incredibly proud of every single one of them.

From podcast hosting to professional milestones, partnership building to AI innovation, the women at HowNow are doing a lot, and doing it brilliantly. 

If this has got you thinking about joining a team like ours, check out our current vacancies.

We want you to join our journey.

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.
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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.
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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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You can watch the full webinar recording here:

World of Learning London is one of our favourite L&D events.

Each year it brings great discussions, bold ideas and new connections with fellow learning professionals.

We’ll be there for both days: on stage, in workshops, and by stand E90. If you’re heading to the summit this year, we’d love to see you.

While many discussions focus on what L&D could look like in the future, we’re obsessed with something far more practical: What will actually help you do your job better when you’re back at your desk?

That question shapes everything we’re bringing to World of Learning London 2026, from the sessions we’re running to the conversations we’re having on the stand.

Here are 7 reasons to come and find HowNow at stand E90. 👇
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1. Join us for an extra special live L&D Disrupt recording

📅 Day 1 | 10:30 – 11:00 Main stage
L&D Disrupt Live: Inside L&D Teams That Get Results

This will not be your average keynote. This will be a raw, on-stage recording of HowNow’s L&D Disrupt podcast, hosted by our CEO and Learning at Speed author, Nelson Sivalingam.

He will be joined by 4 incredible L&D leaders who are turning strategy into impact by:
→ Building L&D functions from scratch
→ Scaling learning without scaling admin
→ Proving learning’s commercial value

P.s you can subscribe to the L&D Disrupt podcast here.

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2. Hear from HowNow customers who are seeing real, business results

Meet the organisations using learning to boost capability, performance, and commercial impact and ask them your questions directly.

Some of the leaders joining us include:

• Tara Ryan-Tedford: Learning and Development Lead, AND Digital
  Learn how they cut L&D curation time by 50%, reduced onboarding admin by 75%, and enabled faster consultant productivity and service diversification.
  
  
• Joe Milton: Learning and Development Manager, Centrick
  Learn how they built an L&D function from the ground up and delivered a 25% uplift in service quality.
  
  
• Penny Simpson: Senior Director of Global Development, InRiver
  Learn how they modernised certification to save 5 hours per session, increase delivery capacity, and create a scalable learner experience.
  
  
• Stephen Clarke: Head of Learning, Performance and Development, So Energy
  Learn how they ignited a learning culture to drive engagement, empowered managers with dashboards to track compliance, and mapped skills to roles to enable personalised learning, internal mobility, and skills-based hiring.
  
  

And that’s just to name a few, but there will be many others popping by our stand too, so be sure to keep an eye out for more real-world L&D stories.

3. Practical conversations about connecting L&D to the business

A running theme across everything we’re doing at the show is helping you:

• Connect learning directly to business goals
• Reduce friction for learners and L&D teams
• Make capability growth visible and measurable

If you’re tired of constantly defending L&D or struggling to link learning activity to the outcomes leaders actually care about, this is for you.

Come meet our onsite team and see HowNow in action, including HowNow Guru, our AI learning coach that guides learners, personalises learning, and keeps growth measurable — all without adding extra admin.

Book your demo or one-to-one chat at the stand and see how we make L&D a business driver, not a cost centre.

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4. Join our happy hour to Sip and Learn.

📅 Day 1 | 15:15 – 15:45
RoundTable Theatre (Theatre 4)

This interactive session takes a real-world look at how learning fits into daily work (not how we wish it did).

We’ll explore:

• Why engagement drops when learning sits outside real work
• What “learning in the flow” looks like in practice
• How to meet learners where work actually happens

No sign up needed. Just come with questions, leave with practical ideas you can apply immediately back at your desk — all while enjoying a well-earned drink.

5. You’re invited to the HowNow House Party 

📅 Day 1 | 15:45 – 16:30
RoundTable Theatre (Theatre 4)

Sometimes the best learning happens off-stage. After a full day of sessions, we’re opening up space for proper conversation.

Expect:

• Great people – connect with fellow L&D leaders including some of our customers and partners.
• Honest discussions – share challenges and swap solutions. Debates welcome too. 
• Meet the HowNow team – hear how we help teams drive real results
• Drinks & nibbles – because good chats pair better with a snack

It’s informal, interactive, and full of insights you won’t find in a presentation.

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6. See how L&D can thrive in the AI era

📅 Day 2 | 11:15 – 11:45
The New Role of L&D: 7 Transformations for the AI Era
Speaker: Nelson Sivalingam, CEO, HowNow

AI is transforming the way we work but most learning strategies are still stuck in a world of courses, not capabilities.

In this session, Nelson will show you how to future-proof your L&D function by exploring:

• Why content alone isn’t the biggest opportunity (capability growth is)
• The 7 mindset shifts that forward-thinking L&D teams are already making
• How AI can deliver personalised learning, measurable skill progression, and coaching at scale
• Practical ways to link skill growth directly to business outcomes

This session is honest, grounded, and designed for leaders who want to stay relevant, not reactive in a world where AI is reshaping learning.

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7. Discover skills-based learning that actually sticks

📅 Day 2 | 13:15 – 13:45
RoundTable Theatre (Theatre 4)

SIP & LEARN: From content to capability

This interactive workshop explores how a skills-based approach keeps learning relevant, engaging, and measurable:

• Sustain engagement beyond the first click
• Make progression visible and motivating for learners
• Move L&D beyond “course completions” and into real capability growth

If you’re rethinking how learning is structured and want it to truly stick, this session is for you.

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Bonus: Swag that’s actually useful

We’re all about meaningful conversations and practical insights and yes, we’ve also got some thoughtful, usable goodies that you can take away. Just a small extra for stopping by stand E90.

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See you at World of Learning London 2026

World of Learning London 2026 is shaping up to be unmissable. From exploring how AI is transforming learning, to hearing from peers who are proving L&D’s business impact, to hands-on sessions showing skills-based learning in action, there’s something for every part of your L&D toolkit.

Don’t miss the chance to meet the HowNow team, ask your questions, and see firsthand how we help teams work smarter, not harder. Whether it’s a session on capability growth, a Sip & Learn workshop, or a chat at stand E90, these are insights and conversations you won’t find online.

If you’re serious about making learning count in 2026, make sure you stop by. You won’t want to miss the opportunities to learn, connect, and take ideas back to your team. FOMO is real!

🎟️ Haven't got a ticket? Register for free here. 🎟️