While much of the L&D world is focused on AI, Andrew Lawson has doubled down on neuroscience and the results speak for themselves.

What makes learning truly stick?

In this episode of Rogue L&D, Tom Bailey sits down with 2026 AITD Learning and Development Professional of the Year, Andrew Lawson, to explore the neuroscience behind effective workplace learning.

Andrew shares his journey from struggling through school as a neurodiverse learner to becoming one of Australia's most respected L&D practitioners. He explains why he believes learning should be delivered in short, focused bursts, how neuroscience can dramatically improve learning transfer, and the six elements that underpin his learning design model.

The conversation covers facilitation, curiosity, performance consulting, workplace application, and why understanding the real business problem is often more important than delivering training.

Whether you're an L&D professional, facilitator, consultant or people leader, this episode offers practical insights into creating learning experiences that people actually remember and use.

Key Takeaways

1. Learning works best in small, focused bursts

Andrew believes 90 minutes is the optimal maximum learning window, allowing facilitators to work with the brain rather than against it.

2. Learning transfer matters more than learning delivery

The real value comes from helping people apply ideas back in the workplace through simple experiments and deliberate practice.

3. Curiosity is one of the most important skills in L&D

Great practitioners resist jumping to solutions and instead spend time understanding the real business problem.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Welcome to Rogue L&D

[00:00:45] Andrew's origin story: struggling at school, falling for how memory works

[00:03:00] David Rock, the AGES model, and standing on giants' shoulders

[00:04:15] Winning L&D Professional of the Year 2026

[00:06:00] Betting on neuroscience while the industry chases AI

[00:07:15] Bite Size Learning: why 90 minutes is the ceiling

[00:12:00] The program that beat ”eight years of learning in eight months”

[00:13:40] The special sauce: contracting, context, and tiny experiments

[00:15:15] Interlude: the three-tier thumbs up (and when it offends)

[00:18:20] The facilitation skill he never trained for

[00:21:00] Proudest moment, and why peer validation hits different

[00:24:00] Starstruck: the day a Brumbies legend walked into his workshop

[00:27:00] The thing nobody knows: economics, surf lifesaving, and a career pivot

[00:31:30] The model: Time, Attention, Relevance, Generation, Emotion, Retention

[00:36:15] Best advice: stay curious, don't jump to the solution

[00:38:00] When half the room got laid off on Friday

[00:41:00] ATD America and the bucket-list conference

[00:43:30] Where to find Andrew

Links:

• Andrew Lawson on LinkedIn
• The Learning Zone
• Just Ninety
• Best Practice Consulting
• Tom Bailey on LinkedIn
• Tom Bailey Website