Training alone won’t transform an organization—but the right 7 shifts in L&D just might.
In this episode of the Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast, Nicole Greer sits down with learning and talent development strategist Jess Almlie, founder of Almlie Consulting and author of L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner.
Jess shares insights from her decades of experience helping organizations transform their learning and development functions from transactional training providers into strategic business partners. She explains why many L&D teams get stuck as “order takers,” how leaders can begin shifting that dynamic, and why aligning learning with business strategy is essential for driving real performance improvement.
Nicole and Jess explore the cultural challenges organizations face around learning, the importance of measuring impact, and the small but powerful shifts that help L&D leaders increase their influence and deliver meaningful business results.
If you’re a leader, trainer, HR professional, or anyone responsible for developing people, this conversation will challenge the way you think about learning inside organizations—and inspire you to move from reactive training to strategic impact.
Vibrant Highlights:
00:00:32 – Nicole introduces Jess Almlie and her mission to help L&D leaders become strategic business partners.
00:07:58 – The importance of creating a culture where learning is valued and employees actually want to grow.
00:22:46 – Why both teams and organizations win when learning aligns with real performance needs.
00:34:24 – How L&D professionals can begin building a true learning strategy.
00:39:07 – Jess explains why the shift from order taker to strategist happens gradually, through small intentional moves.
Connect with Jess:
Book: https://a.co/d/0dllIdVA
Website: jessalmlie.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessalmlie/
Ready to build a culture where people feel valued, energized, and committed?
Bring Nicole Greer, The Vibrant Coach, to your leadership team, organization, or conference to ignite clarity, accountability, energy, and results.
Visit: vibrantculture.com
Email: [email protected]
Watch Nicole’s TEDx Talk: vibrantculture.com/videos
