Know the Business. Be the Partner.
The Business Acumen Skills
That Change How L&D Shows Up
Why Attend?
Want to be seen as a strategic partner? Start by understanding the business you’re partnering with.
Business acumen is one of the most powerful skills Learning & Talent Development professionals can build. It changes the questions we ask, the conversations we have, and our ability to connect learning and talent solutions to the challenges that actually matter to the organization.
And as AI takes on more transactional work, that ability becomes even more important. Understanding the business helps us move beyond taking orders and toward solving problems, influencing decisions, and creating meaningful value.
The good news? Business acumen isn’t something you either have or you don’t. It’s a skill you can build.
Learning Format
Interactive Virtual Workshop
What You’ll Experience
This 90-minute workshop with Jess Almlie will help you take a practical look at what business acumen means for L&TD and where you can strengthen yours.
You’ll explore five key areas of business knowledge, assess where you already have insight and where gaps exist, and identify ways to find the information you need.
You’ll also begin creating your own Business Acumen Handbook, a practical tool you can continue building long after the workshop ends.
Through discussion and breakout activities, you’ll practice connecting business knowledge to the talent, performance, and organizational challenges your partners bring to you.
You’ll Leave With
- A clearer understanding of business acumen and how it changes the way L&TD shows up with business partners
- A five-part framework for identifying the business knowledge that matters most
- Your own Business Acumen Handbook template for capturing information, resources, insights, and questions
- Practical ways to find and use business information to connect learning and talent work to organizational priorities and performance challenges
- A clearer picture of where to build next to strengthen your own business acumen
Meet Your Facilitator
Jess Almlie is an award-winning Learning and Talent Development strategist who helps organizations transform L&D from reactive order takers into trusted strategic business partners.
A former Vice President of Learning with more than 30 years of experience, Jess brings deep expertise at the intersection of business strategy, performance, and people development. In 2023, she founded Almlie Consulting, where she helps learning and talent teams clarify business problems, align solutions to strategy, and deliver measurable impact.
Jess is the author of L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner (ATD Press), host of the L&D Must Change podcast, and a frequent industry speaker. She was named a 2025 Learning Guild Master in recognition of her contributions to the profession.
Program Details
Registration Details
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Online registration available until 10/27
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Early bird registration until 10/7
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Registration is available for our partner organizations
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No refunds or credits for future events given after that time.
CPTD Recertification Credit
CPTDs earn one recertification point/credit for each physical hour of continuing education within one’s current role/job or involving a new experience or content. You will need to keep records of the event and prepare any required paperwork. Visit the CPTD webpage for complete information.
The Chapter estimates 1.5 recertification hours for this workshop.
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HRCI and SHRM Recertification Credit
This program may be eligible for self-certification for HRCI and SHRM recertification credits. You will need to keep records of the event and prepare any required paperwork. Visit the HRCI recertification webpage or the SHRM recertification webpage for more information.
Capability Model Focus Areas -Developing Professional Capability, Career & Leadership Development, Evaluating Impact, Communication, Collaboration & Leadership, Business insight, Consulting & Business Partnering, Organizational Development & Culture
