What moves L&D from invisible to indispensable?

Allyson Roote, VP of Learning and Organizational Development at The Bonadio Group, shares the realities of building strategic influence in an organization where credibility must be earned long before learning is invited into the conversation. Drawing from her experience building the learning function from a team of one into a true business partner, Allyson will explore how curiosity, relationship-building, and a relentless focus on capability—not ownership—helped transform a potentially difficult stakeholder dynamic into a powerful partnership. She’ll unpack what was at stake, the decisions she made in the moment, and how shifting the conversation from training to performance and capability uncovered opportunities neither side initially saw. Throughout the session, you’ll engage with fellow senior learning leaders to examine similar moments in your own organizations, reflect on where influence is gained or lost, and discuss practical approaches for navigating stakeholder dynamics, diagnosing underlying business needs, and positioning L&D as a partner in solving business challenges rather than simply delivering learning solutions.