Power Skills, Global Academies and Transforming L&D at Merlin with Rob Peacock

In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Rob Peacock, Director of Leadership & Learning at Merlin Entertainments, to discuss the transformation journey of the global learning function. They look at the disconnect between legacy training methods and the "hands-on" reality of managing a commercial P&L, while tackling the question of how to select and deliver "power skills" that genuinely serve a young, frontline workforce. They also explore how senior leaders are being embedded as active role models across the organization, the friction encountered when transitioning from local teams to global academies and the specific metrics needed to remain accountable and valued in 2026.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

Merlin shifted from fragmented, locally driven L&D to global academies to build consistent leadership, enterprise capabilities, and democratised learning at scale. Including academies that target specific roles or departments e.g. engineers.

A sharp focus on a few power skills, including storytelling, great conversations and  business partnering drives frontline performance and long‑term careers far more than catalogues of courses. Those soft but powerful skills work for a lifetime.

Storytelling is treated as a core power skill because it makes everything else work better: presentations, influencing, leadership, and guest experience all become more effective when people can tell simple, human, memorable stories.

A shared high‑performing team model combined with diagnostics drives systemic change and shows you where you need to focus next.

L&D leaders must lean into discomfort, own their expertise with executives, and relentlessly tie learning to business impact.  

BEST MOMENTS

“The goal is great leaders, not great leadership development.”