From Stage to Strategy: Michael Strawbridge on Confidence, Curiosity and Community in L&D

The Secrets of Learning & Development

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S3 E8: In this engaging episode, Valerie and Julia are joined by Michael Strawbridge, Global Head of Community at the Learning and Performance Institute, whose unique journey from professional actor to L&D leader offers rich insights into confidence, connection and the power of asking questions.
Michael shares how his stage training continues to shape his approach to public speaking, virtual engagement and leadership presence. He reflects on the transferable skills that have allowed him to build trust with global audiences, and how he uses curiosity as a compass in both community-building and learning design.
From hosting high-impact webinars to shaping global conversations, Michael reveals what makes a professional community thrive and why meaningful exchange, not job titles, builds lasting partnerships. We also explore current L&D challenges, including AI, impact measurement and leadership development, and why some conversations still haven’t moved on.
A thought-provoking conversation for anyone working through the evolving learning landscape.

Key Takeaways
Confidence is built through preparation, not personality Michael draws on his acting background to highlight how knowing your message and treating every engagement like a performance helps overcome nerves, even for introverts. It's not about being extroverted, it's about being ready.
Meaningful professional communities are built on genuine conversation – Rather than leading with job titles or sales pitches, Michael emphasises the importance of curiosity and human connection. The most valuable exchanges often come from informal, agenda-free conversations.

Guest Information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-strawbridge-flpi-filp-ba-hons-66793331/ [email protected]
https://www.thelpi.org/

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פרקים

1. From Stage to Strategy: Michael Strawbridge on Confidence, Curiosity and Community in L&D (00:00:00)

2. Introduction (00:02:42)

3. What inspired that transition (00:04:01)

4. What skills have been the most valuable (00:05:27)

5. "I am naturally quite introvert" (00:07:35)

6. What makes a community successful (00:10:57)

7. Just have conversations with the person, not the job title (00:16:23)

8. What are your thoughts on the biggest challenges (00:18:44)