Yes, LinkedIn Learning is owned by Microsoft. LinkedIn Learning was originally founded in 1995 under the name Lynda.com by Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin. Lynda.com offered online video tutorials and courses on topics like software, creative skills, and business. In 2015, Lynda.com was acquired by LinkedIn for $1.5 billion. LinkedIn then rebranded Lynda.com to LinkedIn Learning in 2016.
In 2016, Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. As part of this acquisition, Microsoft gained ownership of LinkedIn Learning. So while LinkedIn Learning operates as a subsidiary under the LinkedIn brand, it is ultimately owned and operated by Microsoft.
History of LinkedIn Learning
Here is a more detailed overview of the history and ownership of LinkedIn Learning:
- 1995 – Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin found Lynda.com as an online learning platform offering video tutorials on topics like design, business, software, and more.
- 2002 – Lynda.com introduces monthly and annual subscriptions, allowing users unlimited access to the video library.
- 2015 – LinkedIn acquires Lynda.com from founders Weinman and Heavin for $1.5 billion.
- 2016 – LinkedIn rebrands Lynda.com to LinkedIn Learning. The video library contains over 9,000 courses at this point.
- 2016 – Microsoft acquires LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. This gives Microsoft ownership of LinkedIn Learning.
- Present – LinkedIn Learning continues to operate as a subsidiary under LinkedIn and Microsoft. The platform offers over 16,000 expert-led courses.
So in summary, LinkedIn Learning was founded as Lynda.com in 1995. Lynda.com was then acquired by LinkedIn in 2015, rebranded in 2016, and ultimately came under Microsoft ownership through the LinkedIn acquisition in 2016.
LinkedIn Learning’s Offerings and Features
Here is an overview of some of the key offerings and features of LinkedIn Learning under Microsoft’s ownership:
- Expert-led courses – Courses are taught by industry experts and professionals.
- Variety of topics – Courses cover business, creative, and technical skills across a wide range of industries and disciplines.
- Bite-sized videos – Courses consist of short video lessons, usually between 3-10 minutes long.
- Mobile access – The LinkedIn Learning app allows for viewing courses on mobile.
- Course assignments – Some courses include assignments to reinforce the material.
- Skill assessments – Assess your skills before and after taking a course.
- Certificates – Earn a certificate to showcase your completed courses.
- Course recommendations – LinkedIn Learning makes personalized course recommendations based on your goals and interests.
- Integration with LinkedIn – You can showcase your course certificates and skills on your LinkedIn profile.
These types of offerings and features have expanded and improved under Microsoft’s ownership of the platform. Microsoft has invested resources into growing LinkedIn Learning’s course catalog, functionality, and integrations.
LinkedIn Learning User Statistics
Here are some key statistics on LinkedIn Learning’s user growth and engagement:
- Over 30 million learners use the platform worldwide as of 2022.
- There has been a 60% increase in the number of active monthly learners in the past 2 years.
- 73% of learners use LinkedIn Learning on mobile.
- 92% of Fortune 100 companies have employees using LinkedIn Learning.
- Users have watched over 350 million learning hours on the platform in 2022 so far.
- The average time spent per user session is 27.5 minutes.
- 67% of learners take courses related to their current job role.
- 92% of learners say they were able to apply what they learned back on the job.
Year | Active Monthly Learners |
---|---|
2020 | 15 million |
2022 | Over 30 million |
These metrics highlight LinkedIn Learning’s substantial growth under Microsoft’s ownership. The number of active monthly learners has doubled over the past 2 years. Engagement is also high, with the average session length being over 25 minutes long. Microsoft’s investments into the platform have helped drive increased user adoption.
Integration with Microsoft Products
Since acquiring LinkedIn and LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft has worked to integrate the learning platform into its other products. Here are some of the key integrations:
Microsoft 365
LinkedIn Learning is integrated directly into Microsoft 365. Users can access courses through the same dashboard they use for Outlook, Word, Excel and other Microsoft apps. This makes it easy to learn new skills for Microsoft products within one interface.
Teams
LinkedIn Learning courses can be shared within Microsoft Teams. Team members can watch courses together, discuss the content, and learn skills relevant to collaborative projects.
Dynamics 365
For users of Microsoft’s CRM software Dynamics 365, LinkedIn Learning offers tailored courses on using and getting the most out of Dynamics 365. This helps customers improve their use of Microsoft’s CRM solution.
GitHub Learning Lab
Microsoft has incorporated LinkedIn Learning courses into its GitHub Learning Lab. Developers can access relevant courses on programming languages and frameworks as part of GitHub’s learning environment.
These types of integrations were made possible by Microsoft’s ownership of LinkedIn Learning. They demonstrate how LinkedIn Learning is increasingly becoming unified with Microsoft’s broader product portfolio under its ownership.
The Benefits of Microsoft Owning LinkedIn Learning
Microsoft’s ownership of LinkedIn Learning has had a number of benefits for the continued growth and development of the platform:
- Investment in content – Microsoft has invested over $100 million into LinkedIn Learning’s content catalog, doubling the number of courses.
- Focus on quality – LinkedIn Learning prioritizes high-quality courses and vetted experts as instructors.
- New features – Microsoft has accelerated feature development, like improved mobile apps, skill assessments, and integrations.
- Broader distribution – The Microsoft and LinkedIn platforms offer massive distribution for LinkedIn Learning to reach new learners.
- Enterprise reach – Microsoft’s relationships with enterprises has helped drive LinkedIn Learning usage among large companies.
- Tech integrations – Tight integrations with Microsoft 365, Teams, Dynamics 365 and other products add value.
- Industry adoption – LinkedIn Learning has become an industry leader in corporate learning/LMX under Microsoft.
While LinkedIn Learning was already growing before the Microsoft acquisition, it has greatly expanded its market share and offerings as part of the Microsoft ecosystem. The technology, investment, and distribution Microsoft provides has fueled substantial growth for LinkedIn Learning.
The Future of LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is poised for continued growth and impact within the Microsoft organization. Here are a few areas we may see further expansion from LinkedIn Learning:
- Further enterprise adoption, potentially bundled with Microsoft 365 licenses.
- International growth, by expanding localization and translating courses.
- Additional integrations with Microsoft products, like Power BI, Power Apps, and Azure.
- Virtual and augmented reality course formats, expanding beyond video tutorials.
- Expanded skills profiles and certifications that integrate with LinkedIn profiles.
- Targeting lifelong learners beyond those using it for professional development.
- Partnerships with higher education institutions to offer accredited courses or degrees.
Microsoft is likely to continue investing heavily in LinkedIn Learning. It represents a key part of Microsoft’s strategy to increase engagement across its product portfolio. LinkedIn Learning offers a major revenue opportunity as both individual and enterprise subscriptions continue growing under Microsoft’s leadership.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn Learning is comprehensively owned by Microsoft. It was acquired as part of Microsoft’s larger purchase of LinkedIn in 2016. Microsoft has invested heavily in expanding LinkedIn Learning’s content library, features, and distribution since acquiring it. Integration with Microsoft 365, Teams, Dynamics 365, and GitHub have strengthened its ties with other Microsoft offerings. Under Microsoft’s ownership, LinkedIn Learning has experienced rapid growth, passing 30 million learners. It is in a strong position to continue gaining market share across both individual professionals and enterprise customers thanks to Microsoft’s resources and expanding integration.