Embrace Disruption. Direct the Future. That was the rallying cry at this year’s ATD International Conference & Expo in Los Angeles, and honestly, it couldn’t have been more fitting for where L&D finds itself right now.
We came to ATD as exhibitors, energized to connect with practitioners, leaders, and innovators from across the industry. We left with confirmation that the conversations happening in the field are exactly the ones our research has been tracking.
Puppies, Quizzes, and Real Human Connection
Let’s start with the best part: puppies.
We were proud sponsors of the Bark Break, a chance for conference-goers to take a breather and spend a few minutes with some very good rescue puppies who were looking for their forever homes. The response from attendees was overwhelming. Whether it was the mid-conference stress relief, the irresistible charm of a rescue pup, or both, the Bark Break drew a crowd, and we’re thrilled to know that more than a few of those dogs may have found families because of it. Many thanks to all those who put in an application to help get those pups adopted.
Our booth activity brought its own kind of energy. We invited attendees to take our “Unleash Your Leadership Style” quiz, which gave participants insights into their leadership style through the lens of a dog breed (yes, really) and more importantly, practical guidance on how to lead, communicate with, and develop team members who lead differently than they do. The response was fantastic. People were laughing, sharing their results, and having genuine, meaningful conversations about self-awareness and team dynamics. It was exactly the kind of connection we love creating.
The Report Came to Life
We published our 2026 State of the L&D Industry Report not long before ATD, and walking the conference floor felt like watching the data walk around in real life.
Conversation after conversation reinforced what we heard from respondents: expectations are rising, budgets are flat, teams are being asked to do more with less, and everyone is trying to figure out how AI fits into their workflow without losing the human core of what L&D does. The themes of capacity constraints, measurement pressure, and the push to align learning to real business outcomes weren’t abstract—they were the words coming out of people’s mouths at our booth, in the aisles, and over coffee.
If you haven’t read the report yet, we’d love for you to check it out. The industry is at a genuine inflection point, and the data tells a clear story.
A Deadline That Can’t Wait: ADA Compliance in 2027
One topic that came up repeatedly, and urgently, was the approaching ADA compliance deadline.
By April 2027, all public entities serving a population of 50,000 or more must meet modern ADA and Section 508 standards across all digital content, including websites and mobile applications. For many L&D teams, that means a significant portion of their existing digital learning content needs to be audited, updated, or rebuilt to meet accessibility requirements.
We had a lot of rich conversations about what that actually looks like in practice: what needs to change, where organizations are in the process, and how to approach remediation strategically rather than reactively. If your organization is navigating this, we’re here to help. The deadline is real, the requirements are clear, and the time to act is now.
See You in Boston in 2027!