L&D Must Change

Jess Almlie
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Business
  • Updated Biweekly

L&D Must Change is a podcast dedicated to people development professionals (L&D, TD, OD, etc.) who want to make an impact. Through conversations with L&D colleagues passionate about changing our profession for the better and the occasional solo episode, Jess Almlie will uncover practical strategies we can all use to make a positive difference in the world of work. Let's learn from each other and collectively raise the bar for the work we do!

  1. 4d ago

    63. The Problem With Isolating L&D's Impact with Kevin M. Yates

    What if trying to isolate L&D's impact is the wrong measurement goal? Kevin M. Yates, the L&D Detective, challenges the idea that training alone can explain changes in workplace performance. Jess and Kevin explore a performance-first approach that looks at L&D as one contributor within a larger performance ecosystem. They also discuss how to use business KPIs, navigate stakeholder resistance, and shift from proving training worked to investigating what actually influenced performance. Jess and Kevin Discuss Why isolating L&D's impact can create unrealistic expectations about what training can achieve How workplace performance is shaped by multiple factors, not L&D alone What Kevin means by investigating L&D's affect within the performance ecosystem Why L&D should focus on contribution rather than claiming sole credit for business outcomes How a performance-first mindset changes the way L&D responds to training requests Why learning analytics and business performance data tell very different stories How to use existing business KPIs to understand whether performance is moving Why relationships with KPI owners are essential for better measurement How to ask performance-focused questions without becoming a roadblock for stakeholders Why Kevin is moving away from the word "impact" Two questions L&D can ask immediately to redirect the conversation toward performance About Kevin M Yates Kevin M. Yates is known in the global training, learning, and talent development community as the L&D Detective®. He investigates how L&D as a function and training and development as an experience contributes to organization goals within the workplace performance ecosystem. Kevin uses facts, clues, and evidence to uncover what is influencing human performance and organizational results, recognizing that meaningful performance is rarely driven by one solution or contributor alone. He has applied his measurement and performance expertise in roles with world-renowned brands including Grant Thornton, McDonald's, and Meta (Facebook). He is also president and founder of Meals in the Meantime, a nonprofit organization addressing food insecurity in the Chicagoland south suburbs with mobile pop-up food pantries. Find and Connect with Kevin M Yates L&D Detective Kit: https://lddetective.com/ Kevin's Website: https://kevinmyates.com/ LinkedIn Meals in the Meantime: https://mealsinthemeantime.org/ Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

    63. The Problem With Isolating L&D's Impact with Kevin M. Yates

  2. Sep 2

    62. AI Integration Needs Talent Leaders, Not Trainers with Mike Sullivan and Vinay Gidwaney

    What if AI transformation isn't really a technology challenge at all? Jess talks with OneDigital executives Mike Sullivan and Vinay Gidwaney about why they see AI as a talent, leadership, and workforce transformation challenge, and why L&D should be at the center of it, leading the transformation. They explore what it means to treat AI as talent, redesign work around human and AI strengths, activate leaders for new ways of working, and move L&D beyond content creation into a much more strategic role.   Jess, Mike, and Vinay Discuss Why AI transformation is fundamentally a talent and behavior change challenge, not simply a technology rollout What changes when organizations begin thinking about AI as talent Why giving employees access to AI is not enough to create meaningful adoption or business impact How leaders can accelerate AI adoption and behavior change across their teams Why the future workforce is a blended workforce of humans and AI How leaders can distinguish between reducible work that AI may handle and irreducible work that depends on human judgment, creativity, empathy, and experience Why organizations may need to stop tweaking existing job descriptions and instead completely rethink how work gets done The emerging leadership responsibility to manage both human talent and AI talent How L&D can help managers unbundle work, rethink roles, and redesign teams for an AI-enabled future Why people, not AI itself, may become an organization's greatest source of competitive advantage How L&D's role in capturing, codifying, and spreading organizational intelligence becomes even more valuable in an AI-enabled workplace What L&D professionals can do now to move from spectators of AI transformation to active leaders shaping what comes next   About Mike Sullivan Mike Sullivan has spent more than four decades at the intersection of business strategy, mergers & acquisitions and all facets of an evolving American workplace. He has seen firsthand what separates companies that thrive from those that stall. As Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of OneDigital, he has helped build one of the most dynamic insurance and financial services firms in the country, guiding its expansion through acquisition, partnership, and entry into new markets. Outside OneDigital, he is an active investor and board member across a broad set of firms and industry verticals.    About Vinay Gidwaney As Chief Product Officer (CPO) at OneDigital, Vinay Gidwaney is passionate about creating opportunities for employees and families to make better decisions around their finances through OneDigital's integrated offerings. He leads a strong team of technology experts and developers who deliver the latest in innovative products and solutions to OneDigital's customer base.   Find and Connect with Mike and Vinay Mike Sullivan LinkedIn Vinay Gidwaney LinkedIn Book: Workforce Intelligence: The PEOPLE-FIRST Playbook for Leading Your Company Through AI TRANSFORMATION   Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

    62. AI Integration Needs Talent Leaders, Not Trainers with Mike Sullivan and Vinay Gidwaney

  3. Aug 19

    61. Simplifying Leadership Development with Matt Gjertsen

    Leadership development has become far too complicated. In this episode, Jess and Matt Gjertsen strip away the jargon and return to the fundamentals busy managers can actually use. They explore the Minimum Viable Manager mindset, three core skills every leader needs, and why iteration matters more than perfection. You'll also hear how L&D can help employees navigate the career change into management, make feedback a daily habit, and combine high-impact in-person experiences with digital learning to create lasting behavior change. Jess and Matt Discuss Why leadership development has become unnecessarily complicated How first principles thinking can simplify manager development The Minimum Viable Manager mindset and the power of iteration Three essential manager skills: building trust, setting expectations, and giving feedback How a clear definition of done prevents the delegation doom loop Why managers should ask for feedback before giving it Why becoming a manager is a career change, not a promotion How L&D can help employees decide whether management is right for them Why in-person learning still matters for behavior change How to reframe leadership development as a facilitated conversation About Matt Gjertsen Matt Gjertsen is the founder of BUILT, a leadership-development company focused on helping technical professionals become exceptional people leaders. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Matt spent nine years as an instructor pilot before leading training and development at SpaceX. With two decades of experience developing high-performing teams, he now helps organizations strengthen their managers, improve performance, and prepare leaders to solve complex challenges. Find and Connect with Matt Gjertsen LinkedIn Website: BUILT Leaders Book: Minimum Viable Manager Find and Connect with Jess Almlie   LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

    61. Simplifying Leadership Development with Matt Gjertsen

  4. Aug 5

    60. The Brain Science Behind Better Learning Design with Lauren Waldman

    Our learning design could be better if we understood how the brain is taking in and processing what we share. It would help us to know what's effective, and what's having the opposite effect. In this episode, Jess sits down with learning scientist Lauren Waldman to explore why neuroscience should be a foundational skill for every L&D professional. They discuss how memory really works, why most training never reaches long-term memory, how cognitive overload undermines learning, and practical ways to design experiences that work with the brain instead of against it. Jess and Lauren discuss Why every L&D professional should understand how the brain learns The difference between content delivery and the biological process of learning How working memory limits affect learning design Why repetition and retrieval are essential for long-term memory How cognitive overload prevents learners from retaining information Practical ways to reduce distractions and guide learner attention Designing learning that supports focus instead of competing for it Using neuroscience to confidently push back on stakeholder requests that hinder learning A simple design question every L&D team should ask before building training About Lauren Waldman Lauren Waldman is a learning scientist, founder of Learning Pirate, and one of the leading voices bringing neuroscience into the world of learning and development. With advanced neuroscience studies from Harvard, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Michigan, she helps organizations design learning experiences that align with how the brain actually learns. Lauren is a sought-after keynote speaker known for challenging conventional thinking and making brain science practical, engaging, and impossible to ignore.  Find and Connect with Lauren Waldman LinkedIn Learning Pirate Website: https://www.learningpirate.com/ Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess Additional Links from This Episode L&D Must Change Episode 22: Designing and Measuring on Purpose with Chris Taylor L&D Must Change Episode 45: Ensure Learning is Worth the Expense with Melanie Martinelli

    60. The Brain Science Behind Better Learning Design with Lauren Waldman

  5. Jul 22

    59. L&D Has a Data Problem with Nolan Hout

    What if the biggest thing holding L&D back isn't AI, but our data? Jess sits down with Nolan Hout to explore why Learning is often "data poor," why completion metrics aren't enough, and how stronger partnerships unlock the business data that proves impact. They discuss AI, measurement, ROI, cost efficiency, and practical ways to connect learning initiatives to business outcomes. If you want L&D to influence business decisions instead of simply reporting training activity, this conversation is a great place to start. Jess and Nolan Discuss Why L&D is often "data poor" compared to other business functions The difference between learning activity and business impact Why SCORM data limits meaningful measurement How AI amplifies both good and bad data practices The business metrics L&D should pursue with stakeholders Why measurement begins before training starts Building partnerships to gain access to business data Using AI to create better business hypotheses Rethinking cost per learner and learning ROI Reinvesting AI efficiencies into higher-impact learning experiences About Nolan Hout Nolan Hout is the Senior Vice President of Growth at InfoPro Learning. He has more than 15 years of experience in learning, talent development, and workforce transformation, and  helps global organizations align learning strategies with real business outcomes. He's also the host of The Talent Equation podcast, where he interviews leading voices in leadership, AI, and the future of work.  Find and Connect with Nolan Hout LinkedIn Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

    59. L&D Has a Data Problem with Nolan Hout

  6. Jul 8

    58. Secrets to Optimizing L&D with Brad Batesole

    What if L&D has been optimizing all the wrong things? Jess sits down with Brad Batesole, founder of Madecraft and former LinkedIn Learning leader, to explore why learning often feels harder than it should. They discuss designing learning that matches how people actually consume content, advocating for resources in budget-conscious organizations, using AI to personalize rather than replace learning, and setting realistic stakeholder expectations that move L&D beyond checking boxes toward creating meaningful business impact. Jess and Brad Discuss Why L&D often optimizes for cost, completion, and volume instead of learning effectiveness. How poor learner experiences create compliance instead of engagement. Why workplace learning should mirror how people naturally consume content outside of work. Designing for "interstitial time" with short, meaningful learning experiences. Layering just-in-time, durable, and long-tail learning to support real skill development. How L&D can advocate more effectively for budget by connecting learning to business outcomes. Setting realistic expectations with stakeholders when resources limit what's possible. The role of AI in personalization, practice, and learner support without replacing human expertise. Why experimentation should be treated as a necessary investment for L&D teams. Small changes L&D teams can make today to create learning people actually want to use. About Brad Batesole Brad Batesole co-founded Madecraft in 2018 after two decades at the forefront of online learning. At Lynda.com and LinkedIn Learning, he created top-performing marketing courses that amassed over 20 million views and built a LinkedIn following of 96,000 professionals. An internationally recognized speaker and storyteller, Brad advocates for learning strategies that match how people consume content today. Find and Connect with Brad Batesole LinkedIn Madecraft Find and Connect with Jess Almlie   LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

    58. Secrets to Optimizing L&D with Brad Batesole

  7. Jun 24

    57. Tech Anxiety in the AI Era: You Are Not Alone with Betty Dannewitz

    Does the pace of new technology have you in a bit of a spiral? If the amount of tech and learning about tech coming at you these days is making you question your skills, your role, and the value of your expertise, or if you simply feel like you cannot possibly keep up, you are not alone. In this conversation with Betty Dannewitz of "If You Ask Betty," we dig into what Betty calls tech-induced imposter syndrome: the spiral that happens when a new tool makes you question your own value. You will walk away with practical, research-backed strategies to tame your inner critic, build confidence through action, and rethink how you design learning experiences so your learners can do the same. Jess and Betty Discuss Why tech adoption is a confidence problem just as much as a skills problem, and what L&D needs to do differently as a result What tech-induced imposter syndrome actually is and why even experienced L&D pros are not immune Betty's story of a 3-day ChatGPT spiral that had her searching for jobs at Target (and what snapped her out of it) Practical tools to tame your inner critic when it's activated by technology Why confidence comes from action, not before it, and how to build "receipts" of your own capability How to stop losing the comparison game on LinkedIn and take control of your digital presence How to design learning experiences that build learner confidence early, before the fear takes hold Why measuring your value by speed is a losing game against AI, and how to reframe your human strengths around judgment, context, ethics, and relationships What it really looks like to be "in cahoots" with AI rather than in competition with it About Betty Dannewitz Betty Dannewitz is a speaker, learning innovator, and the founder of "If You Ask Betty" and host of the podcast by the same name. She has spent more than two decades helping organizations create better learning experiences through leadership development, immersive technologies, and innovative learning strategies. She's also a sought-after voice on topics like imposter syndrome, human-centered leadership, and the future of workplace learning.  Find and Connect with Betty Dannewitz LinkedIn Website: https://ifyouaskbetty.com/ Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

    57. Tech Anxiety in the AI Era: You Are Not Alone with Betty Dannewitz

  8. Jun 10

    56. LIVE from ATD 2026: Working with SMEs with Jeff Daigle and Tami Reiss

    If your SME projects keep stalling, it's possible the SME isn't the problem. Recorded LIVE at the ATD 2026 International Conference and Expo in Los Angeles, this special episode brings together influence strategist Tami Reiss and Sr. L&D Manager Jeff Daigle to tackle what can be one of the most universal frustrations in our field: working with subject matter experts. Together, Jess, Tami, and Jeff dig into why content overload kills clarity, how to position L&D as a true business partner, and what it actually looks like to stop persuading SMEs and start aligning with them. Plus, hear Jeff's rare perspective as someone who has sat in the SME seat himself. Jess, Tami, and Jeff Discuss Why SME projects stall when L&D focuses on collecting content instead of defining clear learner outcomes The critical difference between persuasion and alignment, and why alignment gets SMEs to actually show up, engage, and champion your work How Jeff, as a former field SME, felt pressure to share everything, and what good L&D partnership looked like from that side of the table Practical strategies for earning and keeping SME time, including doing your homework before meetings and following through on every promise, even small ones The "need-to-know vs. nice-to-know" framework and why nothing the SME shares should ever get thrown away How to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to build draft structures before meeting with SMEs, shifting their role from content creator to expert editor and reviewer Where SME partnerships are headed in the future About Tami Reiss Tami Reiss is a global speaker and trainer specializing in strategic influence and leadership communication. She has worked with professionals across industries to help them gain buy-in, lead without authority, and communicate with clarity. Tami is the creator of Just Not Sorry, author of a book on management, a respected authority on communication, and the voice behind the Confident Communicator GPT, a tool for leaders building executive presence and strategic influence. Find and Connect with Tami Reiss LinkedIn Website: https://tamireiss.com/ About Jeff Daigle Jeff Daigle is a Senior Learning & Development Manager based in Kenner, Louisiana. He bridges big‑picture strategy and real‑world execution, helping organizations turn complex goals into clear, practical learning that drives performance. Jeff specializes in competency‑based talent development, organizational frameworks, and technical training, with a knack for making complex concepts easy to understand. Known for his approachable style, he supports people while thoughtfully challenging them to grow, believing the best development happens when clarity, trust, and high expectations come together. Find and Connect with Jeff Daigle LinkedIn Find and Connect with the host, Jess Almlie   LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

    56. LIVE from ATD 2026: Working with SMEs with Jeff Daigle and Tami Reiss
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5
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About

L&D Must Change is a podcast dedicated to people development professionals (L&D, TD, OD, etc.) who want to make an impact. Through conversations with L&D colleagues passionate about changing our profession for the better and the occasional solo episode, Jess Almlie will uncover practical strategies we can all use to make a positive difference in the world of work. Let's learn from each other and collectively raise the bar for the work we do!

Information

  • Creator
    Jess Almlie
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    L&D Must Change

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