Social learning as your ultimate trust builder with Sotos Poulimenos

#8 with Sotos Poulimenos, Head of Global Learning and Leadership Development at Dynatrace. In this episode, we challenge the traditional view of corporate learning as a series of isolated events or polished courses. Tune in to discover how to design cohort-based programs that prioritize peer connection, drive  behavioral change, and strengthen organizational trust.

Other themes in this episode include:

• L&D as a strategic demand center: Practical strategies for shifting the L&D team's positioning from a passive order taker to an active partner that business units actively seek out.
• Peer groups as your number one team: How structuring safe spaces for leaders of similar levels to share their struggles creates a powerful, sustainable peer-to-peer support system.
• Continuous journeys as the end of one-offs: How to design structured learning journeys using the "before, during, and after" framework rather than relying on disconnected virtual workshops.
• Polished content as a trust leak: Why overly slick, hyper-produced training materials can trigger skepticism in learners and how embracing a more raw, authentic approach builds deeper engagement.

Chapters

• [00:00] Introduction to Sotos Polimenos
• [02:04] The best advice: Gratitude and luck
• [03:04] Cross-industry lessons on how humans learn
• [04:40] Overcoming skepticism toward social learning
• [05:48] The truth about ROI and quantitative vs. qualitative data
• [10:41] Adapting learning designs across global cultures
• [13:17] Harnessing the power of the peer group
• [17:10] Designing structured, action-oriented breakout sessions
• [21:48] Sustaining impact with the before, during, and after framework
• [24:46] Shifting from order taker to demand center
• [28:16] How cohort environments build organizational trust
• [31:06] Trust leaks: Polished content and adult-to-adult expectations
• [34:40] Balancing AI automation with human connection
• [35:00] Case study: The "circle of trust" in high-pressure healthcare
• [39:24] Crucial mindsets for future L&D leaders
• [43:13] Episode outro and community invite

Takeaways

• Speak the language of the business: To earn a seat at the table, L&D leaders must discard academic jargon and translate behavioral change into terms that business stakeholders actually care about.
• Treat corporate learners like adults: Avoid paternalistic policies or administrative threats to drive attendance; setting clear, professional expectations allows adult learners to self-select and commit fully.
• Leverage the power of human storytelling: While quantitative metrics matter to show long-term correlation, it is the profound, qualitative stories of human transformation that ultimately win executive buy-in.

Join the L&D Leaders Community at ldleaders.net — a trusted peer space for mid-to-senior professionals to connect, learn from each other’s real experiences, and strengthen collaborative learning in their organizations.