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Founder of The Learning Stack | 30 years of scars from sitting in your seat trying to translate vendor promises into practical business reality | Aiming to know enough to be dangerous

Founder at The Learning Stack

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Hey, I'm Mark. After 30 years in the learning leader's seat, I’m building the trusted, independent voice I wish I’d had in my corner.I am obsessed with closing the gap between technology's promise and the reality of implementation.In my recent roles leading global academies and education teams at Spryker and Tealium, I was exposed to a persistent, industry-wide frustration. We’ve all seen it: the $100k+ learning platform that becomes a glorified PDF library, the "AI-powered" features that never get used, and L&D teams stuck reporting completion rates while the C-suite demands ROI.I realised that the market doesn’t need more analysts or vendors. It needs practitioners who have actually lived through the renewal deadlines, the budget cuts, and the high-stakes scaling moments.With that in mind, I created The Learning Stack.I am building this consultancy and media business to bring clarity and honesty to the complex world of learning tech. Through independent analysis, deep-dive reviews, and strategic advisory, I help learning leaders at scaling start-ups and mid-market companies cut through the noise and make smarter, revenue-aware technology decisions.I am also committed to building this business in public. I’ll be sharing the entire journey, including the wins, the challenges, the pivots, and the hard-won lessons, as I grow The Learning Stack from scratch to a sustainable solo practice.

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Career: 8

Founder

The Learning Stack

GB

Jan 2024 - Present

Building in public, from scratch

Senior Director of Academy

Spryker

GB

Sep 2024 - Oct 2025

In my role at Spryker, I spearhead the Academy, ensuring we provide top-tier training to our customers and partners, enhancing their technical skills and driving their business success.In my role at Spryker, I spearhead the Academy, ensuring we provide top-tier training to our customers and partners, enhancing their technical skills and driving their business success.

Director of Academy

Spryker

Nov 2020 - Sep 2024

Director of Education Delivery

Tealium

Reading, GB

Jan 2018 - Nov 2020

At Tealium, I championed the Education Delivery team, guiding customers to success with our unified marketing solutions, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and business growth.

Senior Solutions Trainer - EMEA

Tealium

Reading, GB

Feb 2015 - Jan 2018

I provided strategic leadership for Tealium's real-time unified marketing solutions, helping brands seamlessly integrate their siloed applications and data, driving more profitable interactions across digital touch points.

Training Project Manager

Teradata

Sep 2013 - Feb 2015

Leading delivery of Teradata Applications training programs to customers and business partners in the International region

Technical Enablement Specialist - Cloud & Smarter Infrastructure

IBM

Dec 2006 - Jul 2013

In my role at IBM, I was responsible for designing, developing, and delivering training for three large-scale Netcool Network and Service Management products, resulting in an average student satisfaction rate of 86%. I served as a subject matter expert during sales, presales, and service engagements to understand client training requirements and developed customized training plans based on their unique needs.

Senior Technical Trainer

Comverse

Oct 1999 - Dec 2006

Led numerous formal training needs analysis sessions in order to deliver focussed, cost-effective training curriculum for Tier 1 service providers. As a result of the analysis and subsequent delivery, customer satisfaction was increased and the number of calls to support was decreased by 20%. Designed and delivered an intensive curriculum for on boarding new hires in the Services and Support organisations which was delivered to more than 150 people in 2 years. Responsible for the setup, maintenance and administration of the EMEA training server environments. Worked as the prime trainer and content developer for all installation and administration training classes across the EMEA region. Designed and developed a web based tool for tracking and reporting the technical and business skills of the internal services team in order to provide targeted 3rd party skills training.

Education: 1

University of life

Education

Publications: 1

Skills: 35

Technical

DatastageIntegrationLinuxRequirements AnalysisSolarisTechnical Training

Business

Billing SystemsBlended LearningCurriculum DevelopmentCustomer Experience ManagementData Analysis & Learning Impact AssessmentDigital MarketingE-LearningEnablement Program Design & Delivery
Generative AI for Learning and DevelopmentLearning ManagementLearning Management SystemsLearning Strategy DevelopmentNeeds AnalysisProduct Trainingtag managementTechnical Education LeadershipTechnical Product TrainingTelecommunicationsTelecommunications BillingTelecoms Billingtraining evaluationTraining Needs Analysis

Interpersonal

Classroom ManagementTrainingTraining Delivery

Other

Pre-salesService Quality ManagementSolution ArchitectureTraining & Development

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