When Gemma Glover joined LearnAmp, it was a 37-person employee experience platform. Following its acquisition by Cezanne HR, she transitioned into Head of L&D within a combined business of over 215 people across multiple global offices. Almost overnight, the tight-knit atmosphere of a small startup dissolved into a complex company filled with new management layers and separate team cultures.

Brigid McCormack talks with Gemma Glover, Head of L&D at Cezanne HR, about what happens to culture and credibility when an L&D leader guides their business through a major acquisition while navigating the uncertainty themselves.

Gemma’s early career in operations and HR started when she tackled company culture issues in cybersecurity, shaping her practical approach to training. When her company was acquired, she asked her L&D network for advice, landed quick wins like updating the LMS platform, and built trust with new leadership by being authentic instead of overly polished.

They also discuss how culture splits into micro-cultures as companies scale, why L&D leaders must be present with their teams on the change curve rather than forcing them through it, and the importance of over-communicating key messages. Gemma also highlights why L&D professionals must prioritise their own development and know their personal toolkit during times of high stress.

What you'll learn in this episode

• How to assess whether leadership views L&D as a cost centre, a compliance exercise, or a performance driver
• Practical first steps during an acquisition, from leveraging peer networks to tackling high-impact platform migrations
• How company culture changes when scaling from 37 to 215 people, and how to adapt when you can no longer know everyone individually
• How casual leadership coffee chats and showing personality in company syncs build cross-functional credibility
• Why employees move through the change curve at different speeds and require compassionate, repeated communication
• Why L&D professionals need to protect their own development and personal toolkit during organisational change

🔗 Connect with Gemma via LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmaglover/

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We're always keen to hear what's resonating or what you're seeing in your world.

Adam Lacey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey/

Brigid McCormack - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigidmccormack/

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