Voices of the Learning Network
Get ready for "Voices of the Learning Network", from The Learning Network! Tune in to hear straight from our members, and industry partners, and keep up with what happening in the Network and the wider Learning and Development industry!
Voices of the Learning Network is the official podcast of The Learning Network. We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) and exist solely to support you as a learning professional – so whether you are a seasoned professional or have just entered the field, the Learning Network exists to help you no matter what stage of your career you’re in.
We like to think we have something for everyone – our community includes instructional designers, trainers, developers, technologists, consultants, strategists, freelancers and industry leaders.
Voices of the Learning Network
From Training Requests to Performance Impact
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What happens when learning professionals stop acting as order takers and start becoming performance consultants?
In this episode of Voices of The Learning Network, host Arash Rezaei-Mazinani shares his journey into Learning and Development, from mentoring colleagues in customer service to leading learning solutions in complex business environments.
Arash reflects on what first attracted him to L&D and why, years later, he still finds the profession endlessly rewarding. For him, the work combines curiosity, creativity, and practical problem-solving in ways few careers can.
The conversation explores how stakeholder expectations change when organisations move from large corporate environments to more performance-driven models. Arash explains how shifts in business priorities can create opportunities for L&D professionals to move beyond fulfilling training requests and instead focus on improving performance, driving business outcomes, and helping teams execute more effectively.
Bill and Arash also discuss the growing importance of experimentation in workplace learning. With content creation becoming faster, cheaper, and more accessible than ever, learning teams have greater freedom to test ideas, iterate quickly, and discover what works. However, Arash argues that successful experimentation still starts with research, data, and a clear understanding of the problem being solved.
The discussion also highlights the value of professional communities, mentoring, and peer learning. As a Director at The Learning Network, Arash shares how initiatives such as mentoring programmes, webinars, Mastery Days, and the annual Connect conference help learning professionals build meaningful relationships and continue developing throughout their careers.
In this episode:
- How Arash transitioned from customer service mentoring into Learning & Development
- Why curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving remain essential L&D skills
- The difference between delivering training and improving performance
- How performance consulting changes stakeholder conversations
- Why business outcomes should shape learning strategy
- Creating safe environments for experimentation and innovation
- The importance of research before launching learning initiatives
- Lessons from mentoring and being mentored
- How The Learning Network supports professional growth
- What makes Connect one of the most valuable networking events for learning professionals
About Arash Rezaei-Mazinani
Arash Rezaei-Mazinani is Learning Solutions Manager at Aggreko and serves as a Director at The Learning Network. He is passionate about helping organisations improve performance through effective learning strategies and creating opportunities for learning professionals to connect, develop, and thrive.
Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/