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Jess Almie: From Squeegeeing Locker Rooms to Elevating Talent Development
Manage episode 471520449 series 3614645
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What happens when you go from squeegeeing a locker room floor for $3.85 an hour to leading Learning & Development strategy at a Fortune 500 company? Jess Almie knows firsthand. Her journey from babysitting her nine younger siblings to shaking up the L&D industry is nothing short of fascinating. In this episode, Jess gets real about the pivotal moments, career detours, and hard-won insights that took her from being an "order taker" to a true business partner. Whether you're feeling stuck in your career or looking to drive real impact in L&D, this conversation is a must-listen.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Paying Attention – How Jess developed her L&D mindset long before she knew the field existed.
- Stepping Back to Step Forward – Why taking a perceived “demotion” was actually her smartest career move.
- Breaking Free from the Order-Taker Trap – What holds L&D professionals back and how to shift into a strategic role.
- The Self-Sabotage of L&D – Why we unintentionally keep ourselves stuck—and how to stop.
- The Book Every L&D Professional Needs – A sneak peek into L&D Order Taker No More! launching September 2, 2025.
Guest Bio
Jess Almie is a former Vice President of Learning and a dynamic leader in the learning and development field. She is passionate about empowering L&D 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. Jess also hosts a podcast called, L&D Must Change. Her book, L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner will be available on September 2, 2025.
Connect with Jess:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessalmlie/
Website: https://www.jessalmlie.com/
Podcast: https://www.jessalmlie.com/podcast
Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:
Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd
Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda
Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven
Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd
Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda
Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven
60 episodes
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