37. Order Taker No More! with Jess Almlie
L&D Must Change
The tables have turned! In this episode, Jess Almlie steps into the guest chair as Sarah Cannistra interviews her about her brand-new book, L&D Order Taker No More. Together, they explore why the learning and development profession must shift from being transactional “order takers” to strategic business partners, and how small, intentional steps can create massive impact. Sarah and Jess discuss Why L&D must urgently move from transactional order-taking to strategic partnership, especially in the age of AI The critical mindset shift from “helper” to “partner” and how...
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36. Measuring Talent Intangibles with Colin J. Hahn
L&D Must Change
How do you measure what you can’t easily see? For L&D and talent development pros, measuring improvement in skills like leadership, collaboration, and communication is a constant challenge. It isn't as easy as measuring technical outputs like sales numbers, quality scores, or production time. We often find ourselves wondering where to begin and how to proceed. In this episode, Jess and Colin J. Hahn explore why this problem keeps resurfacing followed by three highly practical ways to measure these intangibles. From operational definitions to breaking big questions into estimable parts...
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35. Conducting Tiny Experiments in L&D with Anne-Laure Le Cunff
L&D Must Change
What if the best way to change and develop isn’t with big plans, but "tiny experiments"? Neuroscientist and author Anne-Laure Le Cunff joins Jess to explore how small, low-risk actions can unlock powerful learning, creativity, and change. Whether you’re an L&D leader navigating uncertainty or designing experiences for others, Anne-Laure offers a fresh, science-backed mindset shift. You’ll walk away with new tools to beat perfectionism, escape outdated scripts, and turn curiosity into real progress, one tiny experiment at a time. Jess and Anne-Laure Discuss Why tiny...
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34. When Promotions Aren't Possible with Al Dea
L&D Must Change
What can you do when an employee insists on a promotion, but you don't have one to give? Jess and Al Dea dive into one of the most pressing challenges in today’s workplace: how to keep top talent engaged and growing when promotions are scarce, or not the answer at all. They explore the psychology behind promotion expectations, the systemic gaps in career development, and how L&D teams and managers can lead a smarter, more human-centered approach to growth. You’ll leave with actionable ideas, real-world examples, and a new way to think about employee development. Jess and Al...
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33. Let Learning Roam Free with Anamaria Dorgo
L&D Must Change
What if learning didn’t need to be controlled to be powerful? In this episode, Jess sits down with Anamaria Dorgo, a learning and community consultant and founder of L&D Shakers, to explore what happens when we let learning unfold organically. From redefining the role of L&D to creating emotionally rich, immersive learning experiences, Anamaria challenges traditional models and invites us to embrace “scandalous learning” and the power of community. Tune in to discover how to decentralize learning, build learning ecosystems, and design experiences that leave a lasting impact....
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32. When Customer Education and L&D Collide with Debbie Smith
L&D Must Change
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...
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31. Context Over Content with Candice Mitchell
L&D Must Change
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...
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30. Think Like a Marketer with Mike Taylor and Bianca Baumann
L&D Must Change
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...
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29. Flipping the Script on Your L&D Career with Sarah Cannistra
L&D Must Change
Think 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 roadmap. Sarah and Jess...
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28. Maturing the L&D Function with David James
L&D Must Change
Imagine 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 discuss The need for...
info_outlineImagine 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 discuss
- The need for L&D to mature beyond providing learning.
- How most of the L&D profession is operating at a low level of maturity, stuck in reactive and proactive models.
- Why shifting stakeholder expectations and organizational mindsets is essential for maturing the L&D function.
- An overview of the 5 levels of a new L&D maturity model: Reactive, Proactive, Impacting, Strategic, and Transformative.
- Using this maturity model as both a vision and roadmap for the future.
- The potential a maturedL&D function has to close a $6.5 trillion skills gap.
About David James
David James is the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and a highly respected voice in the Learning & Development industry. With a focus on harnessing technology to drive impactful learning strategies, David is recognised as one of the top 10 global influencers in the L&D space. His expertise lies in helping organisations modernise their approach to workplace learning, ensuring measurable results and business alignment.
David is also the host of The Learning & Development Podcast, which has amassed over 500,000 downloads and ranks in the top 1% of podcasts globally. With nearly 30,000 LinkedIn followers, he continues to shape the conversation around L&D innovation and best practices, drawing on his deep experience, including his time as Director of Learning, Talent & Organisational Development at The Walt Disney Company.
Find and connect with David James
- Podcast: The Learning & Development Podcast
- Website
- Take the L&D Maturity Model Assessment
Find and connect with Jess Almlie
Coming soon!
Jess's book, L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner will be published by ATD Press later on September 2. To be the first to get behind-the-scenes updates, early sneak peeks, and join the virtual launch party, join Jess's email list! You'll get the L&D Must Change newsletter delivered to your inbox weekly as well as special updates on the book when available. Click here to join!