Don't forget to hit the subscribe button and join Shannon Tipton and Brent Schlenker for a blend of LinkedIn hacks, business smarts, and L&D war stories. Don’t miss our happy hour recommendations at the end of these notes!

(00:00) Shifting Landscape of LinkedIn Marketing

(16:06) Business Acumen in L&D Professionals

(25:33) Business Acumen in L&D

(37:06) Building Business Acumen Skill

Today, we're peeling back the layers of today's LinkedIn, revealing how it's morphed from a professional networking utopia into a marketing coliseum.

Then, cheers to the 78% of L&D professionals who ventured into this domain from other careers—because today we're addressing the elephant in the room: business acumen. Discover how understanding the financial heartbeat of your organization and aligning with your leader's vision can catapult L&D from being a just another pretty PPT creator to a real problem solver.

Next, we share our thoughts to help you cement your value, from aligning with business needs to building bridges across departments. It's a cocktail of humor, wisdom, and actionable advice to make your L&D department invaluable.

So grab your drink, tune in, and get ready to:

• Navigate LinkedIn's marketing maze
• Master business acumen for L&D pros
• Give your L&D department a fighting chance of being future-proof

Cheers to all the L&D rockstars!

Check these resources:

• The uncomfortable truth: L&D leaders are not prepared for executive conversations https://www.linkedin.com/posts/guywwallace_the-uncomfortable-truth-ld-leaders-are-activity-7156301427546472450-otUi
• Aligning learning: 3 essential skills executives need in L&D managers: https://www.chieflearningofficer.com/2023/09/08/aligning-learning-3-essential-skills-executives-need-in-ld-managers/
• Why Business Acumen is an L&D Professional's Most Underrated Skill: https://360learning.com/blog/business-acumen/

Because it wouldn’t be a Happy Hour without the Happy, here are our recommendations for your Frosty Adult Beverage (FAB) of choice:

Brent: Sunday Drive by Motherload Brewing! This beer is hop-derived and has notes of citrus, leading to a gentle malt body that ends in a crisp, dry finish.

Shannon: I cannot get this FAB out of my mind! Roasted Pineapple Margarita. With Spring just around the corner, it’s a must-try! https://boulderlocavore.com/grilled-pineapple-margarita/