68: Your Training Isn't the Problem. Your Positioning Is. | Jess Almlie

Sometimes, the biggest transformations in business start with one uncomfortable question: What if L&D stopped “taking orders” and started leading change?

On this energizing episode of The Learnit Lounge, host Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins sits down with Jess Almlie—author, consultant, and champion for L&D professionals who want more influence and impact. Together, they peel back the curtain on Jess’s new book, L&D: Order Taker No More. Become a Strategic Business Partner, and explore how learning teams can shift from transactional “yes-people” to trusted, strategic business partners. Jess shares the stories, setbacks, and practical strategies that fueled her own journey, and gives listeners a playbook to transform their teams, their mindsets, and their results.

From busting legacy mindsets to mastering the art of ‘strategic yes and no,’ this conversation delivers real tools and perspective shifts for anyone ready to move the needle—whether you’re in L&D, HR, or simply curious about how learning drives business.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why so many L&D teams get stuck as “order takers”—and what it takes to break free
• How to build true partnerships with the business (and what “strategic business partner” really means)
• The hardest lessons from Jess’s career—including handling tough feedback and shifting stakeholder perspectives
• The critical skills L&D leaders need now, from business acumen to operational savvy and performance consulting
• Why “getting a seat at the table” is the wrong goal (and what L&D should focus on instead)
• How to drive culture and mindset change across the whole organization

In This Episode:

• 00:00 – Welcome to The Learnit Lounge & intro to Jess Almlie
• 02:44 – What inspired Jess to write L&D: Order Taker No More
• 03:37 – The pivotal moment that changed Jess’s approach to L&D
• 06:29 – How the book became a practical handbook for transformation
• 09:15 – The challenge of saying “strategic yes and strategic no”
• 11:17 – The “sharpened pencil” analogy: Getting laser clarity in L&D
• 12:14 – Why organizations fall into the order-taker trap
• 14:39 – What it really means to be a strategic business partner
• 18:13 – “Partners in problem solving”: Changing the L&D conversation
• 21:53 – Core skills L&D needs to be strategic: Influence, business acumen, operations
• 26:56 – What to say to those who still think L&D shouldn’t be “strategic”
• 30:57 – Jess’s biggest leadership lesson: Assume positive intent
• 33:00 – The myth of ‘seat at the table’—and why it’s time to move on
• 34:58 – Where to find and connect with Jess Almlie

About Jess Almlie:

Jess Almlie is a dynamic leader, former Vice President of Learning, and the author of L&D: Order Taker No More. Become a Strategic Business Partner (ATD Press). With nearly three decades in learning and development, Jess is passionate about equipping L&D professionals to move from order-takers to influential business partners. She consults with organizations to solve complex talent challenges, speaks frequently on transforming L&D, and hosts the L&D Must Change podcast.

Resources Referenced:

• Jess’s website: jessalmlie.com
• Jess Almlie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessalmlie/
• L&D: Order Taker No More. Become a Strategic Business Partner by Jess Almlie: jessalmlie.com/book
• Jess’s podcast: L&D Must Change: jessalmlie.com/podcast

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