Building the Learning Function From Scratch

On this episode of the AXIOM Insights Learning and Development Podcast, host Scott Rutherford speaks with Jenessa Dowe Jacobs about what it takes to build an L&D function from scratch. Jenessa shares her framework of the “three Ps” (People, Process, Products) plus a crucial fourth—Politics—along with strategies for securing early wins and stakeholder alignment. She also explains how to turn grassroots learning into a sustainable system, apply Jim Collins’ Hedgehog Concept to culture, and position AI as a tool that frees L&D professionals to focus on people. This conversation is a practical guide for anyone looking to launch or refresh an L&D function that drives real business impact.