L&D Leaders, it’s time to ditch the “order taker” role and Step into the spotlight as a Strategic Business Partner—where you belong!

Ready to make a real impact that turns heads (and gets results)?

Jess Almlie Presentation

We’re shaking things up— because playing small isn’t an option anymore.

My mission?

At almlie consulting

Helping L&D leaders like you stop being Reactive and start being the strategic powerhouse your organization needs.

Together, we’ll turn your learning programs into game-changers, because when learning is done right, everyone wins.

Jess Almlie smiling and standing with arms folded
Jess Almlie Scrunched Eyes

Hi, I’m Jess

With 30 years of navigating the highs and lows of Learning & Development, I’ve been where you are. I transformed my team from “order takers” to strategic business partners, and now I’m here to help you do the same.

From leading VP-level initiatives to practical on-the-ground consulting, I’ve learned one thing: when L&D leads with intentional strategy, the results speak for themselves.

Want to hear more about how I got here? Let’s connect or join my newsletter at the bottom of this page to get all the juicy details.

Jess Almlie looking at laptop screen with virtual meeting

Let’s cut through the noise. You didn’t get into L&D to take orders and check boxes. You’re here to make real, measurable changes. I’m here to help you get there. 

Whether you need one-on-one Coachsulting, dynamic Workshops, or a killer Strategic Learning Blueprint that takes your team from good to unstoppable, we’ll build a plan that puts you in the driver’s seat and delivers results that truly matter.

What Every L&D Leader Should Know about Business: A Checklist for Success
Ready to take your L&D game to the next level?

This checklist is designed to help you become a true strategic partner by understanding the business where you work. With straightforward, actionable steps, you’ll clarify the essentials so you’re not just delivering training programs but driving results that matter. Think of it as your guide to mastering the context of your work. As a strategic business partner, "business" is literally your middle name!

Download your free copy below, and let’s start making an impact that counts.

    Jess Almlie L&D Must Change Podcast cover art displayed on phone screen

    The podcast built for L&D leaders

    Welcome to the L&D Must Change podcast, where we keep it real (and fun) for L&D leaders who are done with just “getting by” and are ready to increase their impact.

    Tune in as I chat with some of the sharpest minds in the biz, offering insights that’ll help you make waves in your organization. Spoiler alert: we don’t shy away from the tough stuff.

    Tune in and let’s level up together.

    The Book - L&D Order Taker No More!

    Coming September 2025

    My new book, “L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner,” is the handbook I wish I’d had—a guide to shifting from reactive training provider to proactive business partner. Published by ATD, this book goes beyond perfecting programs and shows you how to develop the foundational skills, mindset, and approach needed to drive real impact in L&D. Get ready to turn your work into powerhouse initiatives that transform the way you lead and partner in your organization.

    By signing up, you’ll also be joining my weekly newsletter!

    Sun ray graphic

    Need a fresh take on how to up-level your approach to L&D? The L&D Must Change Blog dishes out practical tips, insights, and real talk for leaders ready to become strategic business partners. (No fluff here, just actionable strategies you can use right away).

    L&D Must Change Blog

    Featured
    4 Tips for L&D’s Working With That “Difficult” Stakeholder
    4 Tips for L&D’s Working With That “Difficult” Stakeholder

    L&D needs to work with stakeholders and SMEs in order to create effective learning solutions. We need their feedback, their expertise, information only they have access to, and their partnership to make it all happen.

    So, what are we to do when our work with them includes more blockers than anything?

    Read More →
    What Do Stakeholders Really Think About You and Your L&D Work?
    What Do Stakeholders Really Think About You and Your L&D Work?

    If you truly want to move from a place where you are taking training orders to one where you work with your stakeholders as a strategic business partner, you need to know how they see you. Your stakeholders' perceptions define how they work with you. You can work to shift these perceptions, but first you need to know what they are.

    Read More →
    Train the Business to do Business with L&D
    Train the Business to do Business with L&D

    Have you felt frustrated when a stakeholder comes to you asking for a specific training solution in a shortened timeline?

    One day, as I was sharing these frustrations with my boss in a one-on-one, she simply responded with, "We need to train the business how to do business with us."

    Read More →
    L&D and the Art of Unintentional Self-Sabotage
    L&D and the Art of Unintentional Self-Sabotage

    Too often in L&D we think that the way we are working is helpful, but these behaviors are exactly what keep us stuck working as transactional order takers.

    In other words, we unintentionally sabotage our own success.

    Read More →

    Don’t just take it from me

    • "Before working with Jess on an Onboarding Strategy project, I was facing several challenges. One major challenge was the lack of a comprehensive and consistent onboarding experience for our Operations roles. The existing onboarding process was fragmented and lacked alignment with processes and protocols, which made it difficult to drive cost-effectiveness and project success. Additionally, there was a significant on-site training burden on existing team members and managers, which needed to be addressed. Working with Jess was a highly positive experience. Jess brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the project, and her guidance was instrumental in creating a successful onboarding program.

      As a result of our work together, we successfully created a comprehensive onboarding program that provided new employees with a structured curriculum to understand the basics of both the company and their role. The onboarding program also included performance metrics and surveys to measure its effectiveness and ensure continuous improvement.”

      Kelly, Director of Talent Development
      Strategic Learning Blueprint

    • “Having Jess speak to our group was an engaging and energizing experience! She brought a combination of warmth, humor, and insight to her presentation, keeping everyone involved and interested from start to finish. Jess skillfully guided us through her five-step process for diagnosing real performance issues - delivering practical strategies and thought-provoking insights on when training is, or isn’t, the right solution. Her approach challenged us to look deeper at performance gaps, while offering tools to help guide stakeholders toward more impactful solutions. Jess’s expertise and friendly, down-to-earth style make her a true leader in the field. She is an invaluable asset to any audience looking to push the boundaries of learning and development.”

      Sarah, Leadership & Organizational Development Program Manager
      Speaking & Workshops

    • “The design of the session was excellent as it shared so many examples and also generated first-rate responses from the participants. Jess’s research and the various ways you demonstrate application make it much easier for talent practitioners to use.”

      Jo, Talent Performance Strategist
      Speaking & Workshops

    • “Jess has helped me focus on understanding my team's current capacity and future needs. This perspective has led to thoughtful plans on increasing capacity where needed to meet the needs of the business and focusing on the ‘strategic yes’ (and strategic no). I have become more adept at thinking strategically and articulating the vision for Talent Development initiatives.

      Overall, my coachsulting sessions with Jess have provided me with valuable insights, strategic direction, and actionable steps to enhance my role and the effectiveness of my team. The most valuable part of my coachsulting has been the clarity and strategic guidance I have gained. Jess has helped me clear away the fog and see a path forward in several challenging scenarios which has been instrumental in developing in my role in a dynamic and rapid-growth environment.”

      Kelly, Director of Talent Development
      Coachsulting

    • “Bringing Jess Almlie onto IACET’s CET Talks Podcast was a dream come true. Over the last several years, I’ve followed Jess’s approach to assessments, data analysis, and insights, often using her thought leadership and expertise to build connections among subject matter experts to create meaningful, organizational change. While her practical skillsets set the stage for an engaging discussion, what struck our team most was her intentionality and humility. Jess shared with our audience — and staff! — the relevance of practical approaches to data alignment, and her personal connection, conversational approach, and inspired passion made the discussion feel less like a consultation and more like a discussion with an old friend. I’d recommend Jess for anyone interested in growing their organization’s practical application; in just twenty minutes, she reshaped our entire data strategy, and I’m excited to see the upcoming results!”

      Bradley, Director of Content & Training
      Speaking & Workshops

    • “It was amazing to have Jess speak to our group. She really challenged us to rethink training, i.e., is that the really the answer?  it is easy to gravitate to, but is that what our business needs and desires?  Jess’s topic came up in our internal talent management workshop a couple of months after when we were road mapping our people leader strategy – we were going down an enviable path of “training” and someone jumped in and brought up a key learning from Jess around this, and the group reset and restarted the discussion questioning that approach, and had a huge impact on our deliverable from the workshop.  Instead of ‘training’ we made the decision to have a people leader 'connection’ event where we would have other leaders 'share’ best practice and focus on cross functional connection.”

      Jeremy, Director of Change Management
      Speaking & Workshops