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Podcast Episode

170: Rethinking Learning: Autonomy Over Content – James Swift

September 9, 2025
40min 35sec
170: Rethinking Learning: Autonomy Over Content – James Swift

Show Notes

When James Swift moved from Sales into his L&D role at Leyton UK, he started as many do—trusting the ‘L&D experts’, buying content, and chasing engagement. But it didn’t deliver results. So he flipped the script. In this episode, James shares how he built a culture of accountability, motivation, and autonomy—putting learners in charge of their own development. Discover how informal coaching evolved into a structured pathway, and why trusting people to learn their way outperformed content-driven solutions in driving real performance.

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Michelle Ockers
Your host

Michelle Ockers

An award-winning speaker, Michelle brings decades of learning and development experience as she interviews business leaders and learning professionals to uncover interesting stories, authentic conversations, and new insights.

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