Gary Clarke, Qatar Airways: Leading the way in Talent & Leadership

<p>In this episode of Leadership Bites, I sit down with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyclarke21/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Gary Clarke,</a> Group Head of Learning and Development at <a href="https://www.qatarairways.com/en-gb/homepage.html?CID=SXGB23456843M&amp;account=Google-Europe-GB-EN-Brand&amp;campaign=Google%7CGB%7CBrand%7CHero%7CXXX%7CXXX%7CEN%7CEXT&amp;adgroup=Brand+Hero&amp;term=qatar+airways&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22700082936&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADex6O2Me0MPKn7ZSLrDW_UgFaoX8&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAzOXMBhASEiwAe14SafLykRErrm4175H8boqmb5UZC7zzrNKP100zILHMFxiRuJxA89VFGRoCFhMQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Qatar Airways</a>, based in Doha. </p><p>Gary leads group wide learning across a 65,000 person organisation, with a team of around 80, covering everything from operational training that keeps aircraft flying, to leadership and capability, learning tech, digital content, and vendor partnerships. Along the way, we get into what it really takes to run an internal learning function like a business, build credibility fast, and become the supplier of choice inside a complex, high pace, multi subsidiary organisation. </p><p>We talk about leading in a multicultural reality, the tension between standards and psychological safety, why bland harmony is a risk, and how to create a community of practice that pulls people together without forcing compliance. We also touch on AI and learning, not as a shiny distraction, but as a tool, while the real edge remains human connection, trust, and leadership craft. </p><p>If you care about culture in the real world, not the poster on the wall, this one will land. </p><p>Connect with me at livingbrave.com </p><p>Subscribe for more episodes and share this with someone who cares about doing leadership properly. </p><p>Chapters<br /> 00:00 Intro and welcome<br /> 00:29 Gary Clarke and Qatar Airways context<br /> 02:51 Scale, growth, and operational pace<br /> 05:03 What learning covers in an airline<br /> 08:57 Supplier of choice mindset for internal L and D<br /> 10:43 Quality, credibility, and Brandon Hall Awards<br /> 12:14 Centralised vs federated learning models<br /> 14:19 Building community through internal conferences<br /> 21:17 Multicultural leadership, standards, and integration<br /> 33:04 Clear standards, clear intention<br /> 34:03 Human centred leadership and psychological safety<br /> 49:13 AI, generational gaps, and learning strategy<