Data Literacy and Business Acumen for L&D (Podcast Episode 16)

Data literacy and business acumen are important concepts for the L&D professional who works (or wants to work) as a more Strategic Business Partner. In this episode, Dr. Alaina Szlachta helps us break down and simplify both concepts. She also offers a few questions to ask when learning more and an activity to get started.?

What You'll Hear

• The need to change L&D's brand to one of measurable business impact
• An explanation of both data literacy and business acumen for L&D
• How to develop skills surrounding data literacy
• The importance of understanding your organization's business model
• The need for curiosity as a critical skill
• The difference between evaluation and measurement
• Why measurement should be continuous and sustainable
• An exercise to determine L&D alignment to business goals
• And more!

About Dr. Alaina Szlachta

Dr. Alaina Szlachta , an academic-turned-entrepreneur, is the founder of By Design Development Solutions , a consulting firm specializing in data enablement. Drawing on her background as a researcher and public health educator, she partners with learning and operations teams to integrate measurement and evaluation systems into their daily practices. She is also the author of an upcoming ATD Press book, "Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring," a resource written to make Measurement & Evaluation easier and more accessible for anyone - regardless of their expertise.?

?Find and connect with Dr. Alaina Szlachta here:

• LinkedIn
• Website: dralaina.com
• Book: Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring
• Measurement and Evaluation Weekly Virtual MeetUp

Additional Links from the Show:?

• Book: Alilgning Instructional Design with Business Goals: Make the Case and Deliver Results by Kristopher Newbauer
• Book: Partner for Performance: Strategically Aligning Learning and Development by Ingrid Guerra-Lopez and Karen Hicks

?Episode/Show Links:

• Episode website: https://sites.libsyn.com/479145/16-data-literacy-and-business-acumen-for-ld-with-dr-alaina-szlachta
• Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l-d-must-change/id1739639756
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3bfiGoAfX368JUfkkHYZL2
• RSS: https://feeds.libsyn.com/479145/rss

L&D Must Change content jumps back and forth from a newsletter one week and a podcast episode the next.

Please share your takeaways, questions, and ideas alongside each one. If we are really going to improve this profession, we need to keep learning from each other and that includes you!

Jess Almlie, M.S. is dedicated to helping L&D leaders stop working as order takers and start working more strategically, intentionally, and with measurable impact. Jess typically works with L&D leaders and teams in the following ways:

• Personalized Professional Development a.k.a."Coachsulting". Elevate your work as a Strategic Business Partner, solve your current L&D challenges, or prepare you for the next level of L&D leadership with this one-on-one combo of coaching, mentoring, and consulting.
• Speaking/Workshops. Expand the thinking of your L&D team or group to that of Strategic Business Partners through facilitated interactive experiences (virtual or in-person).
• Customized Strategic Learning Blueprint. Squash your overwhelm at where to begin or how to structure your next learning program. Jess will conduct a full analysis of what is needed and then provide you with a blueprint for action, designed for maximum impact from modality through measurement.

Ready to work together? Message Jess Almlie, M.S. to talk about it!