Shows
L&D Must Change32. When Customer Education and L&D Collide with Debbie Smith L&D and customer education are similar, but not the same. There is a lot L&D can learn from this parallel profession. In this episode, Debbie Smith joins Jess Almlie to reveal the secrets of successful customer education that L&D should adopt as their own. They discuss why learners should feel empowered, not controlled whether or not those learners are external customers. As well as how L&D can adopt the data-driven, outcome-focused mindset that customer education requires. Jess and Debbie discuss The top priorities of customer education vs. L&D. The di...2025-06-2554 min
L&D Must Change31. Context Over Content with Candice Mitchell Too often, training misses the mark because it skips the most important step. In this episode of L&D Must Change, Candice Mitchell joins Jess Almlie to unpack why context should always come before content in L&D. Candice shares practical strategies for uncovering business needs, building credibility, and shifting away from the traditional order-taker mindset. From gathering macro trends to asking the right stakeholder questions, she illustrates how deeper context leads to faster and more relevant learning solutions. Tune in for a lively, honest conversation full of actionable insights and a few nerdy laughs along the way. 2025-06-111h 00
L&D Must Change30. Think Like a Marketer with Mike Taylor and Bianca Baumann What happens when L&D professionals start thinking like marketers? In this episode, Jess Almlie talks with Mike Taylor and Bianca Baumann about how adopting a marketing mindset can transform learning experiences. From learner personas to emotional storytelling and irresistible content design, they share real-world strategies and small shifts with big impact. Discover how to connect more deeply with learners and elevate engagement through their new book, Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro. Jess, Mike, and Bianca discuss The benefits of L&D adopting a marketer mindset How to apply k...2025-05-2852 min
Business BreakdownFrom Corporate to Consultant: How Jess Almlie Designed a Business with Purpose and IntentionJess Almlie is a Learning and Performance Strategist and Founder of Almlie Consulting. In this episode, Jess shares her journey from VP of Learning and Development to independent consultant and how strategic reflection and networking helped her make the leap. During this conversation, Jess unpacks the evolution of her business, including the creation of her “coach-sulting” model and upcoming book on transforming L&D teams into strategic partners. Jess also reflects on what she learned from a failed first attempt at entrepreneurship and how she now defines success beyond just business outcomes. 2025-05-2629 min
L&D Must Change29. Flipping the Script on Your L&D Career with Sarah CannistraThink you need a fancy job title to land your dream L&D role? Think again. In this episode of L&D Must Change, Jess sits down with Sarah Cannistra, L&D career coach, author of Land Your Next L&D Role, and passionate advocate for breaking out of the "one and done" career mindset. Together, they unravel why L&D professionals often don't apply their own learning philosophies to their own career growth and how to change that. If you’re an L&D pro ready to rethink your path and future-proof your career, this conversation is your new...2025-05-1454 min
L&D Must Change28. Maturing the L&D Function with David JamesImagine a world where L&D is a driving force behind business transformation, not just a provider of training. In this episode, David James, former Disney L&D leader and current CLO of 360Learning shares why realizing this vision requires L&D to mature beyond reactive and even proactive operational models. He introduces a new L&D maturity model that lays out a clear roadmap for that shift and explains why this evolution is more urgent than ever. This conversation offers both inspiration and a practical starting point for what’s next. Jess and David dis...2025-04-3052 min
L&D Must Change27. Rethinking Performance Feedback with Dr. Sandra Mashihi and Dr. Kenneth M. Nowack Good feedback fuels performance and behavior change. Poor feedback does the opposite. It’s one of the most powerful tools in a leader’s toolkit, yet one of the hardest to get right. In this episode, Dr. Ken Nowack and Dr. Sandra Mashihi unpack why feedback often fails, and how L&D can help leaders build the skills to deliver it in ways that actually drive results. From the neuroscience of feedback to practical models like the 3E framework and 4-quadrant approach, Ken and Sandra offer L&D professionals a clear path to elevating feedback across the organization. ...2025-04-1658 min
L&D Must Change26. AI Isn't a Tool; It's a Team Member with Josh PenzellEveryone’s talking about AI—but are we thinking about it the right way? In this special one-year anniversary episode, I finally dive into the AI conversation with Josh Penzell, who challenges us to see AI not as a tool, but as a teammate. This conversation isn’t about learning prompts—it’s about shifting mindsets and imagining what’s possible when we stop trying to make faster horses and start building something entirely new. Josh and Jess Discuss Using AI as a collaborative team member and not a tool. Working with AI as a brainstormi...2025-04-021h 12
L&D Must Change25. L&D in the Startup World with Tom BowenWhen does the L&D function form in an organization? What's the first order of business when it does? Today's guest, Tom Bowen, is known as the L&D pro who can get an L&D function up and running in the startup world and he's done that job over and over again. He even calls himself a "serial startup guy" for L&D. In this episode, Tom will share what it's like to be the first L&D pro hired into a small start-up business including when he's usually brought in, what he does first, and what makes w...2025-03-1947 min
Circle Up & Get REAL PodcastGetting REAL About Learning & Development With Jess AlmlieToday's guest is Jess Almlie, a Learning and Development Specialist who is living her best life as the Founder of her own company, Almlie Consulting. Jess holds a B.A. in Organizational Communication and an M.S. in Educational Leadership, where her thesis explored, “Can leadership be learned in a classroom?” She's also certified in Improving Human Performance through ATD, with 30 years of experience in the L&D industry, having done it all—from orientation coordinator to VP of Learning Experience. She's led teams, developed strategies, and measured impact. As a dedicated volunteer, Jess has served...2025-03-061h 00
L&D Must Change24. What L&D Can Learn From Product Management with Rashi KakkarThere's nothing I love more than when someone takes on an L&D role from another industry and becomes immediately confused as to why our profession functions the way it does. It provides an immediate opportunity for new ideas and conversation. This was the case for today's guest, Rashi Kakkar, when she moved from a career consulting in product management into an L&D leadership role. The result was a marriage of the two professions. One where the best pieces from each were elevated and the confusing bits eliminated. It turns out L&D can learn a lot from...2025-03-0555 min
L&D Must Change23. Is It Time to Ditch Your LMS? with Sarah MercierHow do you feel about your LMS? If you're like most you may have a love + hate relationship with the platform. Today's guest, Sarah Mercier, found herself working with client after client trying to solve clunky LMS issues, so she threw out the LMS playbook and created an alternate tool. What does that mean for you? Well, you just might not need your LMS any longer. Sarah and Jess discuss: The evolution of learning platforms Ongoing issues with traditional LMS systems like complexities in user access, content delivery, and data fragmentation The creation of the new, XCL...2025-02-1952 min
The Fabulous Learning Nerds117 - From Order Taker to Partner Featuring Jess AlmlieVisit us at https://www.thelearningnerds.comEver feel like your L&D team is stuck in the cycle of saying “yes” to every request, churning out training that doesn’t truly move the needle? It’s time to break free! In this episode of Fabulous Learning Nerds, we’re joined by Jess Almlie, a seasoned learning and performance strategist, who shares how L&D professionals can shift from order takers to strategic business partners.Jess unpacks how learning teams can drive real business impact, push back against ineffective training requests, and build credibility by alignin...2025-02-1141 min
L&D Must Change22. Designing and Measuring on Purpose with Chris TaylorIt's time to clarify the purpose of our learning programs with our stakeholders, and I mean really clarify. Not just write the learning outcomes and create an evaluation form, but zero in our stakeholders' real needs and expectations. According to today's guest, Chris Taylor, CEO of Actionable.co, taking the reins to clearly define the purpose behind the request should drive everything else we do from design through measurement. Armed with a few practical questions, a strategy for continuous alignment, and clear measures to define our next steps, we can uplevel the effectiveness and impact of our programs. ...2025-02-0557 min
L&D Must Change21. Should L&D be Adding, Subtracting, or Changing? with Lavinia MehedintuIt's time for L&D to both amp up our toolbox and become a tad more critical of our own work. Instead of adding content, we need to think about subtracting it or better yet, make changes that enable performance. Too often we prioritize activities over goals. Lavinia Mehedintu is known for this type of progressive thinking about the work of L&D, but she also believes in the necessity and power of supporting each other through changes in our profession that may feel risky. Join us in this conversation where we discuss some of the challenges L...2025-01-2253 min
L&D Must Change20. The Intersection of L&D and Change Management with Jody LumsdenL&D and change management may be different professions, but they are deeply interconnected. In today's episode, Jody Lumsden shares how the intersection of these two approaches benefits everyone involved. This episode covers: How L&D practitioners add value to change management initiatives. Key change management models that can enhance L&D effectiveness. The importance of zooming out to see the bigger picture of the change beyond training requests. Aligning the timing of learning/training interventions with the change curve. L&D as an advocate for the "people side" of change, complementing technical focuses. Tailoring the me...2025-01-0858 min
L&D Must Change19.What It Takes to Hire and Develop an L&D Team with Laurel SchulertHiring and developing the best L&D team isn't easy. Determining needed roles, writing a clear JD, selecting the appropriate amount of prior expertise needed, and working with recruiters (who may or may not "get" what L&D does) all add to the complexity. Then, there's the issue of developing the teams we have - ensuring team members continue advancing their L&D skills and expertise. We need to keep pushing team members (and ourselves) outside of our comfort zones to make a bigger impact! Join Jess Almlie and guest Laurel Schulert as they discuss these challenges a...2024-12-1141 min
L&D Must Change18. Do You Have Trainer Bias? With Jay JohnsonMost L&D pros operate and design from a particular bias based on our primary behavioral (biological/neurological) drivers - the drive to learn and the drive to bond. Spoiler alert, not everyone is driven by these. If we design, promote, and deliver our learning solutions with our drivers leading the way, we become less effective for certain groups. Join Jess Almlie and guest Jay Johnson to talk about how L&D can combat "trainer bias." In this episode you'll hear: Definitions for the four biological and neurological drivers dictating how our brain makes choices on wh...2024-11-2750 min
Human Capital LabUnleashing Human Potential: Strategic Employee Engagement and Leadership DevelopmentIn this episode of the Human Capital Lab podcast, we delve into the strategic deployment of resources to enhance employee engagement, productivity, and fulfillment. Topics include the importance of reflecting on learning experiences, the newfound flexibility and freedom of talent in the post-pandemic workforce, the essential skills needed for leadership, and the critical role of trust in human leadership. We also explore effective mentoring practices, the integration of neuroscience in learning, and the significance of data in talent development. Join us as we unlock the long-term potential of human capital.00:00 Introduction to the Human Capital Lab Podcast2024-11-2118 min
L&D Must Change17. The Simple Power of Book Discussions with Jeannine LanouxSometimes, in L&D, we get buried in our thinking about fantastic, carefully designed, detailed programs. So much that we can miss the simple, inexpensive, powerful solutions that are right under our noses. In today's episode, Jeannine Lanoux discusses the simple power of book discussions in the workplace, including the results of her research on their effectiveness. You'll hear: The power of book discussions as a simple, inexpensive, quick learning intervention with lasting results. The benefits of book discussions for leadership development, culture change, alignment, relationship building, and more. How book discussions strengthen teams. The most imp...2024-11-1343 min
L&D Must Change16. Data Literacy and Business Acumen for L&D with Dr. Alaina SzlachtaData literacy and business acumen are important concepts for the L&D professional who works (or wants to work) as a more Strategic Business Partner. In this episode, Dr. Alaina Szlachta helps us break down and simplify both concepts. She also offers a few questions to ask when learning more and an activity to get started. You'll hear: The need to change L&D's brand to one of measurable business impact An explanation of both data literacy and business acumen for L&D How to develop skills surrounding data literacy The importance of understanding your organization's business model The need fo...2024-10-3055 min
The Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonElevating L&D: From Fast Food to VP with Jess AlmlieJoin us as we explore the fascinating world of Learning and Development with seasoned expert Jess Almlie, whose nearly 30-year journey reveals the art of crafting impactful learning experiences. From her early days at McDonald's to her pivotal role as VP of Learning at WEX, Jess shares her unique insights into transforming traditional classroom leadership development. Her master's thesis challenged conventional methods, emphasizing the synergy between education and continuous practice. Discover how Jess turns everyday training into opportunities for real behavioral change, offering a fresh perspective on the evolution of L&D. Meet the Host 2024-10-1755 min
L&D Must Change15. What's a Digital Coach Anyway? with Chris KingWhat if there were tools available to everyone in our organizations that would answer our questions and guide us through complicated tasks exactly at our moment of need? What if we, as L&D pros, could intentionally design such tools to provide informal learning in the flow of work? We can! It's called a "digital coach" and it just might be a game changer. Join me and today's guest, Chris King, to talk about this concept, when it's best to use it, and how fancy (or not) it needs to be. You'll hear: The most important purpose of L&D = en...2024-10-1652 min
L&D Must Change14. The Landscape of L&D Roles with Abigail Wheeler CharluIn the last year, Abigail Wheeler Charlu (Abby) interviewed 50 L&D professionals in a variety of roles to learn more about the L&D landscape. She was curious about what people do in this profession, the breadth and depth of different roles, the skills and knowledge in each. In this episode, she shares her key takeaways and insights as well as a bit about her subsequent thoughts on how L&D needs to change as a result. Tune in to hear Abby and Jess discuss the results of Abby's informal research study including: Why study all t...2024-10-0245 min
L&D Must Change13. Career Development as a Team Sport with Julie Winkle GiulioniWhy do we try to navigate complex, ever-changing careers relying on only ourselves or a manager? Why do we tend to think that career development needs to be a program or process? According to Julie Winkle Giulioni, career development champion, thought leader, and guru, we are making it too complicated. We need to simplify career development down to quality conversations. Conversations that we have together with our peers, our managers, and more. Career development should be a team sport. Tune into this episode and hear Julie and I discuss: Making career development a team sport How ca...2024-09-1850 min
L&D Must Change12. Upping Our Strategic Thinking Game with Mary RapaportIs a lack of strategic thinking holding us back? Today's guest, Mary Rapaport, believes that when we channel a more strategic mindset, the business culture thrives, teams become more creative, and employees lean in and engage more. The challenge is that we are up against a work culture that rewards execution over thinking, reflection, and strategy. Let's change that! In this episode you'll hear: Upping the impact of L&D by thinking of ourselves as businesspeople first and L&D functional experts second. Strategic thinking as a mindset and a skillset. Turning data into insights. Maturing the...2024-09-0445 min
CET Talks: Accreditation, Learning and LeadershipE22: The Metrics of Change: Navigating Purposeful Measurement in L&D In the dynamic field of Learning and Development, understanding and applying effective measurement strategies is key to demonstrating value and enhancing organizational performance. Join Jess Almlie, a seasoned Learning and Performance Strategist, as she unveils how L&D professionals can shift from a "prove it" mindset to a more strategic, decision-making approach. In this episode, Jess will explore best practices for defining, implementing, and leveraging measurements that align closely with business goals, ensuring that L&D initiatives drive tangible outcomes. Tune in to learn how you can start measuring what truly matters and transform the impact of learning in...2024-08-2722 min
L&D Must Change11. L&D as an Organizational Contributor with Robyn A. DefeliceWhat if L&D showed up as an organizational contributor instead of a service provider? Today's guest, Robyn A. Defelice regularly models this approach and also partners with L&D leadership and teams to help them make the change. Turns out, it's about seeing the bigger picture and getting real curious. She asks why a lot. Oh, and it might have something to do with Captain Kirk from Star Trek. Listen in and hear about: L&D as a business function Shifting from complaining to contributing The mission statement as a rolled up version of capabilities in the organization The ne...2024-08-211h 01
L&D Must Change10. Designing for Neurodiversity with Jessica MichaelsThere are a lot of different brains in the world and all of them are good. But they may process information in alternate ways that don't look "typical" from the outside. It doesn't mean learning isn't happening. The goal of designing for neurodiversity is to make learning accessible for all those brains. Today's guest is neurodiversity expert, Jessica Michaels. After receiving her own diagnosis of autism and ADHD in her late 30's, Jessica started to use her own personal experiences combined with her knowledge of L&D to amp up learning design with options that make sense f...2024-08-0744 min
L&D Must Change9. Measurement is a Change Effort with Peggy ParskeyIt's one thing to try and gather a few numbers, it's another to integrate measurement into every fragment of L&D. But yet, this is where measurement becomes most valuable. When integrated, measurement can provide the insights and actions needed to inform decisions. It doesn't just fade away, it endures as a valuable source of quality information. This is why today's guest, Peggy Parskey, co-author of Measurement Demystified and other books, insists that measurement needs to be tied to a change effort. But she also insists that starting to measure is better than waiting to know everything. I...2024-07-2448 min
L&D Must Change8.Online Training That's Better Than In Person with Kassy LaBorieOnline training can be better than in person training. Are you a believer? Or are you thinking that will never be true? Today's guest is none other than online learning pioneer and virtual training hero, Kassy LaBorie who is a firm believer that online training is equal to and can be better than in person training. Of course, the trajectory of online and virtual training shot up after the COVID pandemic and associated lockdowns. We all realized that online learning can be engaging and efficient. It can help to scale and save us time and money. But...2024-07-1039 min
Human Capital LabBecoming Strategic Business Partners: Insights from Jess AlmlieIn this episode of the Human Capital Lab podcast, host Rich Douglas converses with Jess Almlie, an experienced talent developer and the founder of Learning Business Advisory Consulting. Jess shares her professional journey, highlighting her transition from various roles in talent development to leading her own consulting business. She emphasizes the importance of being a proactive business partner rather than an order taker, and discusses her consulting strategies that focus on learning, leadership development, and technical training. Jess also explains the significance of effective collaboration, measurement, and continuous learning within talent development. The episode offers valuable insights for talent d...2024-07-0440 min
L&D Must Change7. Stop Onboarding, Start Everboarding with Amber WattsIt's time to ditch the way we view onboarding. In most companies, onboarding is a formal time period that ends when the L&D team walks out, and the manager walks in. But new employees aren't ready to work autonomously after onboarding and far too many managers aren't set up to continue developing them to get there. This often results in anxiety, confusion, and even regression on the part of the new employee. It's time to stop onboarding and start everboarding, a systems approach that swaps a defined training time period for a continuous development cycle focuses on longevity...2024-06-2646 min
L&D Must Change6. The Power of Stories to Connect, Train, and Humanize with Rance GreeneStories have the power to hold us in anticipation, motivate us to learn more, and connect with others on a human level. Rance Greene discovered this by accident when he made the move from directing actors on the stage to directing the creation of compliance training in business. Suddenly, ethics and compliance jumped to the top line item in the company culture survey. People knew what to do, listened to the stories, and reported that they were looking forward to the next round of compliance training. Can you imagine this happening in your company? Rance achieved this s...2024-06-1244 minL&D Must ChangeThe Performance Consulting Mindset Shift with Christopher AdamsIt's time to dive into performance consulting with today's guest, Christopher Adams, Principal Consultant for Performance Change Strategies LLC. Performance consulting focuses on the gaps that exist between the performance of people and the desired business results. Sometimes training can help to close those gaps and sometimes it cannot. We owe it to our stakeholders, who come to us with a pain point that needs solving, to help figure out the best solution. Christopher and I discuss: Why it isn't enough for L&D to be experts in producing specific learning solutions. How L&D needs to...2024-05-2959 minL&D Must ChangeIt's the Little Things: Cultivating Belonging Through Small Actions with Wendy Gates CorbettIt's episode 4 and we're talking all things belonging with researcher Wendy Gates Corbett. She's on a mission to show everyone who wants to make a difference in their work culture how easy and possible it is to do just that, especially when it comes to belonging in the workplace. It turns out, a sense of belonging doesn't stem from big engagement programs and events, but from small (free) actions that anyone can do. As L&D professionals, we are in a unique position to help lead the way for these small actions to ultimately turn the tide on retention...2024-05-1547 minL&D Must ChangeSelf-Compassion as a Key Leadership Skill with Massimo BackusIn Episode 3, I'm starting with a topic that's currently abuzz in the L&D Must Change community, check the box training. Then, I'll talk with Massimo Backus, executive coach and leadership development consultant about a leadership skill that we rarely discuss and even more rarely include as part of our leadership development strategies - self-compassion. Based on his experience with over 3,000 leaders, Massimo has found that a lack of self-compassion is the thing that is most often likely to contribute to leaders feeling "stuck" and also most likely to make them ineffective. How can we, as L&D practitioners...2024-05-0152 minL&D Must ChangeDevelopment in Real Life (vs. Idealistic Pristine Environments) with Stephen MostromHere we go! Diving into Episode 2 of the L&D Must Change Podcast, I start off with a few thoughts on what's "abuzz" in the L&D Must Change community these days: Measurement and... emotion! Then, I talk with Stephen Mostrom, founder of Develop Daily, about how learning happens in the context of real life more often than it happens in the pristine environments of classrooms and e-learnings. Thus, the question becomes, how can we, as L&D professionals, develop learning experiences that align with our learners' real lives, amidst the chaos, stressors, and growing 'to do' lists? 2024-04-1747 minL&D Must ChangeShifting L&D Mindsets with JD DillonIt's Episode 1 of the L&D Must Change podcast and we are starting off with a bang! Today we welcome talent development leader, author, speaker, and Back to the Future aficionado JD Dillon to talk about shifting our L&D mindsets to creatively match the needs of the people in our businesses. In many ways, we need to get out of our own way and move away from our own legacy thinking. You'll hear: The math problem that makes up our biggest challenge in L&D today and why it can no longer be addressed with t...2024-04-0258 minL&D Must ChangeWelcome to the L&D Must Change PodcastWhy the L&D Must Change Podcast? In this brief introduction, Jess Almlie, host of the L&D Must Change podcast will share a little about her background as well as the reason for starting the podcast. Jess has worked in people development fields for over 25 years from crew trainer at McDonald's to Vice President of Learning and everythign in between. Through this time, there has been one phrase that has plagued her, "There is a better way." This evolved throughout her life in the following stages: There is a better way to engage pe...2024-04-0123 min
Learning Rebels PodcastBridging the Business Communication GapIt all started with the BIG question on the table.
What strategies can L&D professionals employ to enhance cross-departmental communication and put us on a more even playing field with the business?
This was a hot conversation - I think we all had some latent feelings about how we want and need to communicate with the business.
I'll repeat this in case you missed it. Many times we focus on having a "seat at the table," which is great, but we're focused on the wrong table. We're focused on...2023-06-2148 min
#IDIODC Instructional Designers In Offices Drinking CoffeeHow L&D Can Become a Trusted Business Advisor with Jess AlmlieLearning and Development leaders and their teams support many different stakeholders. But all of these stakeholders play an important role in the success of each enterprise. If our job is to help them improve their performance than we must learn to become better advisors to those lines of business.Jess Almlie joins us to talk about becoming a trusted business advisor. For Jess, this is key in doing our best work as L&D professionals. Working as a trusted business advisor allows us to get out of the order-taking business and into the business of working strategically...2023-05-0339 min
The Leadership MindHow to Take a Consultative Approach to Sustainable Learning Programs with Jess AlmlieIn today’s episode, Massimo is joined by Jess Almlie. Jess has worked in the talent development field for more than 20 years in nonprofit, for-profit, and higher education organizations. She is currently serving as Vice President of Learning Experience in the Benefits Division of WEX, a leading financial technology service provider with over 5,000 associates around the world. In this role, she is responsible for casting vision, defining effective learning strategy, developing learning leaders, and working collaboratively across the organization.
Jess has a BA in organizational communication and a Master’s in educational leadership as well as a cert...2022-02-0754 min
The L&D Career Club PodcastFrom Drive-Thru to L&D Leader - Insights from a VP of LearningWant to know what it's like to go from self-appointed drive-thru queen to VP on Learning Experience? Jess Almlie is on the show today to share her journey from starting as a cashier and trainer at McDonalds to her current position as VP of Learning Experience at Wex. In this episode, Jess dives deep into:
📚 Her journey from corporate, to higher-education, and then back to corporate again
📈 What learning and self-development looks like for her at her level
🏆 What she looks for as an L&D hiring manager, and how to demonstrate skills such as "hard work...2021-06-0852 min