Performance Improvement PDN: Breaking out of the order-taker box: a practical approach to become a strategic business partner

How Can L&D Stop Being Seen as Order-Takers?

Join this engaging session featuring Jess Almlie, author of the upcoming ATD Press book L&D Order Taker No More: Become a Strategic Business Partner, for a candid fireside chat that blends powerful insights from her book with real-world lessons for today’s talent development professionals.

We’ll explore the hidden barriers that often prevent talent development teams from operating as true strategic business partners and learn practical ways to reposition work with internal stakeholders. Expect honest reflection, fresh perspective, and actionable ideas to help you step beyond execution and into influence.

About Jess Almlie
Jess Almlie is a former Vice President of Learning and a dynamic leader in the learning and development field. She is passionate about empowering L&D professionals to increase our impact by evolving from order takers to strategic business partners. With three decades of experience and a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives, Jess helps organizations solve talent challenges and improve performance. In addition to consulting and speaking, Jess hosts the podcast, L&D Must Change and is author of the book, L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner, to be published by ATD Press in September 2025. 

About the Performance Improvement PDN

The SEWI-ATD Performance Improvement PDN is a collaborative group focused on practicing the skills of human performance improvement. We are talent development leaders, OD professionals, consultants, and other TD professionals who want to improve the performance towards our organization's goals.

The Performance Improvement PDN is led by Colin J. Hahn, Ph.D., CPTD (FranklinCovey).