Stepping into a new L&D leadership role is challenging, and establishing both yourself and your team can be even harder. It’s not just about filling gaps—it’s about aligning your vision with the business’s needs and building a strategy that delivers tangible results. In this episode, Sam Allen, Global Head of Learning and Development at Ideagen, shares how he has navigated this journey, from understanding the company’s culture and expectations to creating an L&D strategy that drives real performance.

Sam talks about the key steps to establishing yourself in a new L&D role: how to build trust with stakeholders, identify the right learning needs, and bring your team on the journey. If you're a new L&D leader or looking to reposition your team, this episode offers real-world insights into how to take L&D from a function to a business partner.

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Work really hard to understand where the business you have joined is going.


Identify the decision makers and sit down with each one to find out what their priorities are and where they are heading. To do this you need an effective way to take notes and analyse what you learn.


Assess how your team currently performs.


Make it clear to everyone what your approach to L&D is.


Acquire the right tools for your L&D team and for your stakeholders.


Set up self-serving learning resources that enable departments to fill skill gaps themselves.


Break skills content down to enable truly targeted learning.


Establishing yourself is about creating a strategy that truly drives business impact.

BEST MOMENTS

“How capable are the team members within that organisational structure?”

“Build credible relationships with stakeholders.”

“Create content where there are gaps.”

Sam Allen Bio

Sam Allen is the Global Head of Learning and Development at Ideagen, where he leads the company’s L&D strategy to drive performance, capability, and career growth. Before joining Ideagen, Sam was the Interim Head of L&D (Central Functions) at Cazoo, where he established the central L&D function, delivering leadership programs and automating onboarding and compliance. Before that, Sam founded Insightful People, partnering with businesses to deliver strategic L&D projects. He also held senior L&D roles at Whitbread, developing management teams, and at Argos, where he led the L&D strategy for IT, Digital, and Marketing, supporting around 500 colleagues and delivering high-potential and leadership development programs. Throughout his career, Sam has been committed to transforming L&D into a strategic driver of business performance.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523

L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

ABOUT THE HOST

David James 

David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 

As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 

CONTACT METHOD 


Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin 


L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective


Blog: https://360learning.com/blog


L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home

Stepping into a new L&amp;D leadership role is challenging, and establishing both yourself and your team can be even harder. It&rsquo;s not just about filling gaps&mdash;it&rsquo;s about aligning your vision with the business&rsquo;s needs and building a strategy that delivers tangible results. In this episode, Sam Allen, Global Head of Learning and Development at Ideagen, shares how he has navigated this journey, from understanding the company&rsquo;s culture and expectations to creating an L&amp;D strategy that drives real performance.
Sam talks about the key steps to establishing yourself in a new L&amp;D role: how to build trust with stakeholders, identify the right learning needs, and bring your team on the journey. If you're a new L&amp;D leader or looking to reposition your team, this episode offers real-world insights into how to take L&amp;D from a function to a business partner.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Work really hard to understand where the business you have joined is going.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Identify the decision makers and sit down with each one to find out what their priorities are and where they are heading. To do this you need an effective way to take notes and analyse what you learn.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Assess how your team currently performs.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Make it clear to everyone what your approach to L&amp;D is.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Acquire the right tools for your L&amp;D team and for your stakeholders.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Set up self-serving learning resources that enable departments to fill skill gaps themselves.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Break skills content down to enable truly targeted learning.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Establishing yourself is about creating a strategy that truly drives business impact.
</li>
</ul>
BEST MOMENTS
&ldquo;How capable are the team members within that organisational structure?&rdquo;
&ldquo;Build credible relationships with stakeholders.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Create content where there are gaps.&rdquo;
Sam Allen Bio
Sam Allen is the Global Head of Learning and Development at Ideagen, where he leads the company&rsquo;s L&amp;D strategy to drive performance, capability, and career growth. Before joining Ideagen, Sam was the Interim Head of L&amp;D (Central Functions) at Cazoo, where he established the central L&amp;D function, delivering leadership programs and automating onboarding and compliance. Before that, Sam founded Insightful People, partnering with businesses to deliver strategic L&amp;D projects. He also held senior L&amp;D roles at Whitbread, developing management teams, and at Argos, where he led the L&amp;D strategy for IT, Digital, and Marketing, supporting around 500 colleagues and delivering high-potential and leadership development programs. Throughout his career, Sam has been committed to transforming L&amp;D into a strategic driver of business performance.
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Learning And Development Podcast - <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523">https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523</a>
L&amp;D Master Class Series: <a href="https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home">https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home</a>
ABOUT THE HOST
David James&nbsp;
David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning &amp; OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East &amp; Africa.&nbsp;
As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&amp;D.&nbsp;
CONTACT METHOD&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Twitter:  <a href="https://twitter.com/davidinlearning">https://twitter.com/davidinlearning</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin">https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin</a>&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
L&amp;D Collective:&nbsp;<a href="https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective">https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Blog: <a href="https://360learning.com/blog">https://360learning.com/blog</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
L&amp;D Master Class Series: <a href="https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home">https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home</a>
</li>
</ul>

The Learning & Development Podcast is a fortnightly topical podcast show for L&D professionals hosted by David James and presented by 360Learning.

In each episode David James discusses and debates topics affecting the profession alongside expert guests.  David is the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and a highly respected voice in the Learning & Development industry. With a focus on harnessing technology to drive impactful learning strategies, David is recognised as one of the top 10 global influencers in the L&D space. His expertise lies in helping organisations modernise their approach to workplace learning, ensuring measurable results and business alignment.

The Learning & Development Podcast has amassed over 500,000 downloads and ranks in the top 1% of podcasts globally. With nearly 30,000 LinkedIn followers, David continues to shape the conversation around L&D innovation and best practices, drawing on his deep experience, including his time as Director of Learning, Talent & Organisational Development at The Walt Disney Company.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.360learning.com/

The Learning &amp; Development Podcast is a fortnightly topical podcast show for L&amp;D professionals hosted by David James and presented by <a href="https://360learning.com/">360Learning</a>.
In each episode David James discusses and debates topics affecting the profession alongside expert guests.&nbsp; David is the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and a highly respected voice in the Learning &amp; Development industry. With a focus on harnessing technology to drive impactful learning strategies, David is recognised as one of the top 10 global influencers in the L&amp;D space. His expertise lies in helping organisations modernise their approach to workplace learning, ensuring measurable results and business alignment.
The Learning &amp; Development Podcast has amassed over 500,000 downloads and ranks in the top 1% of podcasts globally. With nearly 30,000 LinkedIn followers, David continues to shape the conversation around L&amp;D innovation and best practices, drawing on his deep experience, including his time as Director of Learning, Talent &amp; Organisational Development at The Walt Disney Company.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ Website: https://www.360learning.com/

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