Finally, the ability to scale emerged as a defining capability. Many organizations are global, yet they expect learning to feel local. Scaling leadership and development programmes across geographies — without losing quality or human connection — remains one of the biggest challenges in the market. 

What skills and challenges are leaders focusing on?

The research also sheds light on the skills organizations are prioritizing as they navigate an increasingly complex business environment. 

At the top of the list is crisis and risk management (19%), followed by entrepreneurship (18%) — reflecting a growing focus on resilience, innovation, and strategic thinking. Leadership development remains consistently important, ranked among the top three priorities for 44% of respondents, while digital and data literacy is rapidly rising as organizations embrace AI and new technologies. 

These skill areas tell a clear story: leaders are expected to guide teams through uncertainty, adapt quickly to change, and make informed decisions in a digital-first world. Learning partners who can help organizations develop these capabilities are likely to remain in high demand. 

Which learning priorities guide decisions today?

Beyond skills, the research identifies the broader learning priorities driving decisions. Change management and compliance and regulatory learning tied as the most frequently cited top objectives (both at 19%), showing how organizations are balancing strategic transformation with operational stability. Employee engagement and retention also featured prominently, with 42% of leaders ranking it among their top three priorities. 

For providers, these findings underline the importance of connecting learning solutions to real business challenges — from supporting change and compliance to building engagement and leadership strength.

The Nexed Insight and UNICON report paints a clear picture: today’s organizations seek learning partners who are aligned, flexible, and capable of delivering meaningful, applied learning experiences. Success is no longer about content or reputation alone. It’s about partnership — understanding the client’s reality, adapting quickly, and creating learning that makes a measurable difference. 

To explore the complete findings and better understand what organizations value most in their learning partnerships, you can download the full Nexed Insight and UNICON report “Choosing the Right Learning Partner for the Right Job.” It provides detailed data and recommendations for Talent and L&D leaders shaping the future of learning in their organizations.