ATD Accidental Trainer

Author: ATD

ATD Accidental Trainer is an ATD podcast featuring bimonthly interviews with industry experts who share stories and tips about how to grow your training career. Hosted by Alexandria Clapp, ATD Accidental Trainer covers trends, strategies, and actionable information for talent development professionals.
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Genres: Business, Careers, Education, How To

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Trends That Will Reshape Learning in 2026 with Lori Niles-Hofmann
Episode 3
Wednesday, 25 February, 2026

Lori Niles-Hoffmann, senior learning strategist, co-founder of 8Levers, and longtime voice in the L&D space, explores the trends shaping talent development this year. Her 2026 predictions focus on the future of learning: the decline of one-size-fits-all courses, the rise of AI tutors and performance support, and how personalized, contextual learning will reshape the learner experience. In this episode, Lori challenges the hype around generative AI, highlights the growing importance of agents and workflow redesign, and explains why L&D must prepare now to stay strategically relevant. The conversation also tackles ethics, data privacy, and employee trust, along with the emotional reality many professionals feel amid rapid change. Lori reminds us that while technology evolves, human skills, classroom connection, and empathy remain essential. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorinileshofmann/ Website: https://www.loriniles.com/ Business Website: https://www.8levers.com/