CLN's Top 25 L&D Influencers of 2025

Josh Bersin

Josh Bersin is the Founder and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, a Global Industry Analyst, and a LinkedIn Top Voice. He is also a keynote speaker who advises HR teams and vendors, striving to help HR professionals maintain and develop expertise.

Julie Dirksen

Julie Dirksen is the author of Design For How People Learn and a learning strategy consultant at Usable Learning. She is a thought leader and speaker focused on learning strategy and design.

Brandon Carson

Brandon Carson is the Chief Learning Officer at Docebo, an author, and the founder of L&D Cares. He has built learning strategies at top enterprises for over 20 years.

Elliott Masie

Elliott Masie is the Chair of the MASIE Learning Foundation and a Tony-nominated Broadway producer. He is a lifelong innovator in the EdTech and eLearning space.

Michelle Ockers

Michelle Ockers is the Chief Learning Strategist at Learning Uncut and a podcast host. She focuses on empowering L&D professionals to drive business value, including learning measurement tied to business outcomes.

Arkesh Mishra

Arkesh Mishra is the Head of People for Walmart U.S. Tech. He strives to make people strategy a key lever of business growth.

Kason Morris

Kason Morris is a LinkedIn Top Voice and the Global Director of Future of Work and Skills-Based Organization Strategy at Merck. He is also the founder of Kason Morris & Co., with a focus on skills and the future of work.

Jane Hart

Jane Hart is the creator and producer of the “Top 100 Tools of Learning” survey. She is a former speaker, writer, and modern workplace learning adviser, and the former founder of the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies.

Fred Page

Fred Page is the Global Program Lead for the SAP Academy for Customer Success. His work focuses on fostering inclusive environments, empowering teams, and encouraging thought leadership.

Al Dea

Al Dea is a LinkedIn Top Voice and founder of The Edge of Work. He is a consultant focused on elevating leadership development, training managers, and upskilling talent in key power skills and human capabilities.

Nick Shackleton-Jones

Nick Shackleton-Jones is the CEO and Founder of Shackleton Consulting and the author and creator of the 5Di© approach. His work includes award-winning people development strategy, innovation, and learning content.

Marissa Andrada

Marissa Andrada is the Chief Culture Officer at WUF WORLD and a Board Director and Committee Chair at Krispy Kreme. With 30 years of experience and former roles as Chief People Officer at iconic brands, she focuses on culture, kindness, and helping organizations grow and deliver results.

Naphtali Bryant

Naphtali Bryant is a LinkedIn Top Voice and the Managing Principal and Executive & Talent Development Strategist at RAC Leadership. He is a strategist, executive coach, LinkedIn Learning author, and focuses on helping teams adapt, innovate, and “lift the room.”

Karl Kapp

Karl Kapp is a consultant focused on the convergence of learning, technology, and business, and a professor at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. He is the founder of the L&D Mentor Academy and co-founded Enterprise Game Stack to advance engaging gamification experiences.

Cammy Bean

Cammy Bean is the author of The Accidental Instructional Designer: Learning Design for the Digital Age and an Account Director at Kineo. She has been developing digital learning solutions for over 25 years.

Donald H. Taylor

Donald H. Taylor is the founder and lead researcher of The L&D Survey Series and the Network Chair at Emerge Education. He has held roles in learning, skills, and technology since the mid-1980s.

Clark Quinn

Clark Quinn is the Executive Director of Quinnovation and the author of multiple books. He works as a consultant and speaker focused on evidence-based practices from the cognitive and learning sciences.

Brent Schlenker

Brent Schlenker is a strategy consultant who runs cybersecurity awareness and training at Schlenker Group. His work centers on designing and implementing comprehensive learning ecosystems.

Janice Robinson-Burns

Janice Robinson-Burns is the U.S. Managing Partner at Skill Collective, a LightCast company, and the Founder & CEO of Janice Robinson Burns LLC. Her mission is to increase economic equality, talent sustainability, and career fulfillment through talent and people transformation.

John Leh

John Leh is the CEO of Talented Learning and a learning systems industry analyst and consultant. He is also a podcaster and blogger who reviews learning solutions and advises buyers.

Christopher Lind

Christopher Lind is the Founder and Chief AI Strategist at Christopher Lind Co. and a LinkedIn Top Voice. He promotes a digital-first, human-centered approach that empowers organizations to succeed in today’s technology-driven world.

Kelly Palmer

Kelly Palmer is the former CLO at LinkedIn and Yahoo!, an author, and a keynote speaker. She focuses on global upskilling and is a champion of lifelong learning.

Cara North

Cara North is the VP of Product Management at JPMorgan Chase and the author of Learning Experience Design Essentials. She has built learning strategies across higher education, corporate environments, and consulting.

Dr. Brigette Hyacinth

Dr. Brigette Hyacinth is the CEO and Founder of Leadership EQ and a bestselling author of six books focused on leadership. She is also a keynote speaker with over 4 million followers on LinkedIn.

David James

David James is the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and host of The Learning & Development Podcast, the #1 most downloaded podcast in L&D. He focuses on helping L&D functions drive measurable impact.