This session clarifies a critical skill for L&D in the current day and age: Business Acumen. Many L&D pros struggle to understand what business acumen is and isn’t (hint: it isn’t just finance and spreadsheets), they also aren’t sure what they need to know (and what they don’t) as well as how to find that information.

This session covers everything business acumen for L&D in a way that’s interactive and practical. Attendees leave with more confidence in business acumen and they even practice finding some information during the session. The session starts with an overview of how strong business acumen improves L&D professionals work and career trajectory, then it dispels myths about what business acumen is (and isn’t) and instills confidence that it is possible to learn more. Next, we sort what an L&D professional needs to know about business acumen into 5 categories. Finally, we do some work to identify where in the organization to find this information. Those who are great at business acumen aren’t given a handbook (those don’t exist), but they are scrappy, picking up information in all different places and learning continuously. Finally, we will give everyone an opportunity to make a plan for improvement including an activity to build a new habit for business acumen learning success. See the description below for something that is meant to be shared with potential attendees.

Learning Objectives:
-Define and categorize business acumen using five practical dimensions relevant to L&D
-Distinguish the business information that is most critical for L&D from information that is less essential
-Locate and access key sources of business insights within your organization, even without formal access
-Develop a realistic, personalized plan to strengthen your business acumen and increase your strategic impact

About the Speaker

Jess Almlie is an award-winning Learning & Talent Development strategist, consultant, and speaker who helps organizations unlock the full strategic potential of L&D. A former Vice President of Learning with three decades of experience, Jess partners with organizations to align learning with business strategy, close performance gaps, and lead change through people.
She is the founder of Almlie Consulting, host of the podcast L&D Must Change, and author of L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner (ATD Press). Recognized as a 2025 Learning Guild Master for outstanding contributions to the L&D profession, Jess is known for turning insight into action and helping L&D professionals shift from reactive order takers to influential business partners.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessalmlie/
https://www.jessalmlie.com/