Purpose, Curiosity, and Learning Culture

What does it take to build a learning culture that moves beyond buzzwords and actually changes how people work, grow, and lead?

In this episode of Voices of The Learning Network, host Bill Banham sits down with Alex Clark, Head of Culture and Learning at the Scouts, for a practical conversation about purpose-driven leadership, growth mindsets, and creating learning environments that help people thrive.

Alex shares his unconventional career journey from youth work into senior leadership, including the bold decision to apply for a chief executive role despite not having the traditional credentials many would consider essential. His story highlights the power of purpose, curiosity, and learning through experience as drivers of both personal and professional growth.

The discussion explores how leaders can create cultures where people are encouraged to stretch beyond their comfort zones, take on meaningful challenges, and learn by doing. Alex explains why growth mindset only becomes meaningful when organizations actively support responsible risk-taking and development opportunities.

Bill and Alex also unpack the practical realities of building a learning culture. They discuss the role curiosity plays in leadership effectiveness, why coaching conversations often deliver more value than simply giving instructions, and how organizations can connect learning initiatives directly to business and strategic outcomes.

Drawing on his experience at the Scouts, Alex offers unique insights into designing learning and development solutions for diverse audiences, balancing the needs of a relatively small staff population with a vast volunteer network. The conversation explores how organizations can maintain flexibility and autonomy while ensuring critical capabilities such as safeguarding, compliance, and risk management remain consistent.

Whether you're a learning leader, people manager, HR professional, or organizational development specialist, this episode offers practical ideas for building cultures where learning becomes part of everyday work.

In this episode:

• How purpose can guide career decisions and leadership growth
• The value of stretch opportunities and learning through experience
• Why curiosity is one of the most important leadership skills
• Building a growth mindset through action rather than slogans
• Creating coaching cultures instead of telling cultures
• Helping employees connect their role to organizational strategy
• Designing learning experiences for both employees and volunteers
• Balancing autonomy with essential compliance and safeguarding requirements
• Practical ways to strengthen learning culture and engagement
• Using a clear "North Star" to align people and performance

About Alex Clark

Alex Clark is Head of Culture and Learning at the Scouts, where he helps shape organizational culture, leadership development, learning strategy, and capability building across both staff and volunteer communities. He is passionate about purpose-driven leadership, coaching, and creating environments where people can learn, grow, and contribute their best work.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/