Some collaborations are years in the making. Others ignite in a single conversation at a November networking event — and end up winning national awards.
For Valerie Merrill, founder and MD of Merrill Consultants Ltd, that November 2023 meeting with Julia at a Women’s Collaboration Event wasn’t just another networking opportunity. It was the beginning of a creative partnership that would lead to 65 podcast episodes,
thousands of listeners, and the prestigious Podcast of the Year Award 2025.
“We hit it off immediately,” Valerie recalls. “We have a super vibe.”
Decades of Expertise, Fresh New Voice
Valerie’s journey in the Learning & Development space began in the early 1990s — a lifetime ago in tech terms. Since then, she and her husband have built Merrill Consultants Ltd into a boutique training company with 50 associates, specialising in IT and people skills training.
“We’ve seen huge changes in how we deliver, what we deliver, and what skills are required,” Valerie explains. “From traditional IT training to AI, Microsoft, and people skills — we’ve kept pace with every transformation.”
As an IT Trainer with decades of experience navigating technological evolution, Valerie brings structure, systems thinking, and an innate understanding of how people learn in the digital age.
The Chemistry That Creates Magic
When Valerie met Julia — a coaching expert with her own impressive credentials — something clicked.
Their podcast, The Secrets of Learning and Development, goes beyond surface-level success stories. They dig into “the secrets,” the under-the-hood realities, the sliding door moments that changed everything for their guests.
As an IT Trainer with decades of experience navigating technological evolution, Valerie brings structure, systems thinking, and an innate understanding of how people learn in the digital age.
“We discuss a myriad of topics which encompass the stories beneath the surface — new ways of working in coaching and learning,” Valerie says. “We collaborate in a structured way with a framework and planning, which is exactly what you’d expect from Julia, a Process Analyst and myself as an IT Trainer.”
It’s this blend of structure and spontaneity, systems and soul, that makes their partnership work.
“We play to our strengths with joint decision-making,” Valerie notes. “We support each other and learn from each other every day.”
Visibility, Voice, and Giving Back
Launched in Autumn 2024, the podcast quickly gained traction. With 65 episodes already released — including bonus shows highlighting
Julia’s coaching work and Valerie’s IT expertise — they’ve created a platform that celebrates learning journeys, career pivots, and professional evolution.
“Our main reason for starting the podcast was visibility, to have a voice, and to share our guests’ learning journeys and great work,” Valerie explains. “Ultimately, to give back and celebrate.”
The format works because it’s genuine. These aren’t polished,
PR-approved stories. They’re real conversations about real challenges, real breakthroughs, and the moments that redirected entire careers.
The Award That Changes Everything
Applying for the Podcast of the Year Award was Julia’s suggestion. Winning it? That was a surprise that left both hosts “astonished and delighted.”
“What the award means: Recognition. Being seen, heard, and appreciated,” Valerie says simply.
But recognition is just the beginning.
“I think it consolidates our work, our aim, and our voice,” she reflects. “We have a book in the wings. More listeners, more audience
comments and interaction. The show is incredibly important to us, and we want to explore more stories and learning journeys.”
What Happens When Two Experts Stop Networking and Start Creating
The story of Valerie and Julia’s podcast is a reminder that the most powerful collaborations often happen when two experienced
professionals decide to simply share what they know — not for personal gain, but to give back.
From a networking event to national recognition in just over a year,
The Secrets of Learning and Development proves that there’s an
appetite for authentic conversations about career evolution, learning journeys, and the messy, magnificent reality of professional growth.
And with a book on the horizon and an award-winning podcast gaining momentum, this is clearly just the beginning.
Listen and Learn
Ready to discover the secrets beneath the surface?
🎧 Podcast:
🌐 Merrill Consultants: https://www.merrillconsultants.com/