Hi folks,
Welcome to the very first edition of The Learning Stack 2.0. Until now this has been a side project where I share some of my thoughts on learning, learning technology and other connected topics. Now it is transitioning into something more.
If you saw my post on LinkedIn, you know the “what”: I’ve launched my own consultancy and media business, The Learning Stack. If you didn’t, you can read it here.
But you subscribed for the “why.”
My time leading Customer and Partner at Spryker recently came to a close, and like any big change, it forced a moment of reflection - do I look for another role in the same space, do I look to transition to working for a learning tech company, is there another opportunity? As I thought about what could be next, the decision was surprisingly easy.
Why? Because for 30 years, I’ve been wrestling with the same, persistent frustration. A frustration I’m willing to bet you feel, too.
It’s the gap between the promise of technology and the reality of implementation.
It’s that feeling you get in your stomach when you’re sitting in a demo for a $100k+ learning platform, watching a slick “AI-powered” feature that you know will never get used.
It’s the frustration of investing in a new tool, only to see it become a glorified PDF library.
It’s the pressure from the C-suite to “prove the ROI” of learning, while we’re stuck handing them... completion rates?
We’ve all been there. We’ve all seen the promise of transformation, and we’ve all been let down by the reality of clunky software, poor adoption, and a strategic disconnect.
That gap is why I’m building The Learning Stack.
I’m not building The Learning Stack just to be another name on a list of consultancies. This is my personal answer to that 30-year frustration. I’m building The Learning Stack to be the trusted, independent voice I wish I’d had in my corner.
My mission is simple: bring clarity and honesty to the complex world of learning tech.
1. For Learning Leaders: I’m not here to sell you a tool. I’m here to be your “in-the-trenches” partner. I’ve been in your shoes. I’ll be offering independent consultancy and analysis to help you cut through the noise, ask the right questions, and make smarter, more confident technology decisions.
2. For Tech Partners: Let’s be honest: your tech is probably great, but your buyers are skeptical (for all the reasons above). I’ll be creating in-depth, authentic content, from deep-dive YouTube reviews to strategic guides. I want to provide an authentic bridge between you and the decision-makers who need your solution. No marketing fluff.
But here’s the most important part...
I’m not going to do this like a typical consultant, dropping in from an ivory tower.
One of the core principles of The Learning Stack is building in public.
I believe transparency is the best teacher. So, I’m going to share the entire journey of building this business from scratch. You’ll see the wins, the challenges, the pivots, and the lessons learned. You’ll see the tech I choose (and why), the content that works (and the content that bombs), and the strategic thinking behind it all.
This newsletter is the “home base” for that journey.
This is a huge step for me and my family, who have been my rock in all of this. It’s exciting, a little terrifying, and the most ‘right’ thing I’ve felt in a long time. I’m not just launching a business; I’m betting on a new, more transparent way of doing business.
I’d be honoured if you’d follow along.
But I don’t want this to be a broadcast. I want it to be a conversation, and it starts with you.
So, I have a question for you: When you think about the persistent frustrations in learning tech, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
Hit reply and let me know. I read every single email.
Thank you for being here. I’m so glad we’re on this journey together. Thank you to all of the people I have talked to over the last few weeks - the support has been fantastic, and I have lots of things in the pipeline. Watch this space!